Veronika as Giselle!

Thanks millions to Genna for finding this first clip of Veronika Part's debut in Giselle at the Mariinsky tonight. But most of all, thanks to MagicDance46 wherever you are for sharing this with everyone. Our deepest gratitude to you!

Veronika is Giselle, finally.

 

AND THE MAD SCENE:

 

Comments

[angelica]

Haglund, you are first in the hearts of us balletomanes! Thank you so much for posting this video. It is such a joy to see Veronika dance the role she has been denied at ABT, and to see her bring so much life and joy to it. Alas, although her partner may be taller and have a nice line, his acting falls so far short of Veronika's high octane performance, that it feels as if we're back at square one for finding her an adequate partner.

The woman dancing the Peasant Pas De Deux was quite lovely, and after just having seen the Bolshoi Ballet in New York, I can truly say there is nothing like Mariinsky training for that upper body fluidity.

[Haglund]

To be truthful, Angelica, I have not yet noticed our Albrecht ;-)

[K]

I thought Ivanchenko looks pretty alive for how he usually appears onstage, actually.

Veronika looks so youthful and joyful, especially in that important first meeting scene. I don't know how you could watch that and think she is too [tall, mature, womanly, insert adjective here] for this or Juliet or... . Ferri looked more youthful near her retirement than women half her age onstage--it's call being a good actress and dancer. I hope we get to see Veronika's mad scene and second act.

[K]

Whoops! When I viewed the clips a few hours ago through my feed on Youtube, the mad scene hadn't been uploaded yet. I'm settling in to watch now.

[Dreamer]

Congratulations to Veronika. What a shame that we can't see her dance this role in NY. Hopefully more clips of this performance will get posted.

Although I resent bringing any negative thoughts to this thread but I can't help thinking that instead of a pathetic Alina Cojocaru, whose performance of Giselle last June was disastrous, to say the least, we could've seen divinely beautiful Veronika.

[Haglund]

Hi, K.

Maybe McKenzie didn't like seeing Martine van Hamel and Cynthia Gregory as Giselle. So, he doesn't want to give Veronika even a chance. But to give that chance to an equinarina whose dancing is homelier than Olive Oyl is proof enough that McKenzie's artistic tastes are not in line with classicism and do not jibe with the fundamental American concept of meritocracy. His ass should have been kicked to the curb ten years ago.

[Haglund]

Hi Dreamer.

I totally agree with you.

These clips of Act I are very interesting. I keep thinking about the different way in which Diana Vishneva dances Giselle when she is at the Mariinsky versus with Gomes at ABT. Diana is much more academic and less spontaneous in her drama at MT. Although I love what I see in Veronika's Act I, I can't help but wonder what she would be like opposite Marcelo's Albrecht.

I must say that the Mariinsky face makeup certainly makes this already beautiful woman look gorgeous and very youthful, especially during the Mad Scene.

[fondoffouettes]

Haglund, THANK YOU for re-posting these videos! What a treasure. I can only imagine, as you say, how Marcelo would crank up the passion factor. He, and even David, seem to bring out the naturalism in Russian ballerinas.

The makeup does look particularly well-done here. I always love how Veronika paints her face at ABT (a la goddess of the silver screen), but here, it does look really fresh and youthful - just right for Giselle.

If nothing else, CLEARLY these clips show that she is more than qualified to dance Giselle (at least Act I) at ABT. I have my fingers crossed for clips of Act II, though I might pass out if I see what those arms of hers can do with the white act choreography.

[Haglund]

Hi fondoffouettes.

I think MagicDance46 must have stayed up all night in St. Petersburg loading these clips to YouTube. After he or she gets some sleep, hopefully we will see some of Act II.

[Minnie]

I must admit that Ms Part is winning me over in this role. I have had reservations about her in the past but this looks lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this. There are so few clips of her on youtube... Why?

[Marta]

A million thanks, Haglund! Along with all the other Veronikophiles, I'm hoping to see more clips.

[J]

What a joy to see these videos of Veronika in Giselle at last. Her arms are breathtaking. I'm beside myself to see her in Act II and hope something shows up of that act. Thank you, Haglund and MagicDance 46!

[Haglund]

Hi J.

I'm hopeful that our hero, MagicDance46, will be able to post some clips of Act II soon. It may be that MD46 left the performance at intermission. It's been a tough week in St. Petersburg weather-wise with extremely high temperatures and high humidity. The Mariinsky Theater isn't air conditioned. During the clips that we are lucky enough to have (thank you again, MagicDance46), you can hear children fussing in the background. It may not have been a comfortable night in the theater.

[Elizabeth]

Oh thank you for these videos!!!! I love Veronika in this role. Her approach is so fresh and unique. When she first meets Albrecht it's as if she's a young girl who is experiencing attraction for the first time and allowing herself to indulge in the pleasure of it mischevously. She'll.allow herself to be seduced and then pull back coyly almost guilty for her openness. Iit seems to me that a lot of ballerinas play Giselle as just coy and innocent but hers is very three dimensional. like it. NYC and Los Angeles audiences should have the pleasure of getting to see her in this role.

[Haglund]

Hi, Elizabeth. I don't know about the chances of LA audiences ever seeing Veronika's Giselle. You may have to make plans to come east next spring if she gets cast in the role. It may be your only chance to see her.

[Nick_C]

Well, ANOTHER confirmation that Kevin McKenzie has been destroying the ABT, piece by piece for a long while now.

[Haglund]

Ain't it the truth, Nick.

[MRR]

I have to agree with the comments above. For some reason I haven't always been moved by Veronika's work, but I find her Giselle very unique and even more interesting than a lot of her "typecast" roles. That part in the mad scene where she laughs after Hilarion takes the sword is riveting: it looks like she is being pushed upstage by a gust of wind. I don't usually take note of that during the mad scene, but with Part that detail really stuck with me.

[Haglund]

Hi MRR.

I thought Veronika did a super job in the Mad Scene. Very compelling without employing any histrionics which, unfortunately, some people expect these days.

I like the idea of seeing Veronika's performance (at least some of Act I) in the Mariinsky version before seeing what she does in ABT's version. The Mariinsky's is really "by the book" with little leeway for engaging in extracurricular drama that isn't achieved through musicality and nuance. It is interesting to watch the clips of several current Mariinsky ballerinas and observe how the details in the mime are close to identical. There's no Vishneva let-it-fly drama when dancing Giselle on the St. Petersburg stage.

I really hope that we get to see Veronika's Giselle next spring, along with Stella's which will be minted in a few weeks in Manila. ABT's bevy of Giselles is in comically sad shape.