observations 12/27

Former NYCB principal Sébastien Marcovici, currently Ballet Master at Benjamin Millepied's L.A. Dance Project, has just taken up the additional post of Ballet Master at the Paris Opera Ballet - this according to several FB pages. That seems like a good idea in order to maintain and expand the Balanchine rep and POB's more ecclectic works.

Meanwhile, former ABT principal and recent accomplished/respected/knows-what-he's-doing Artistic Director at RNZB, Ethan Stiefel, is now officially listed as a member of the company's teaching staff at ABT.

How about some requisite daily push-ups for the ABT principal men who can't lift Giselle over their heads?

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[Wrapping the H.H. Speculating Spectacles around the ears.] We wonder if Angel Corella has noticed that beautiful Sarah Lane's schedule is free during Pennsylvania Ballet's second week of Swan Lake performances in March. Wouldn't that make for some craziness if Sarah and perhaps also Herman Cornejo showed up for a performance of Christopher Wheeldon's Swan Lake? Come on, Angel, think about it. Please. You could charge double for the seats and still sell out in the blink of an eye.

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As the Mariinsky Ballet's January visit to BAM growers closer, we've noticed a slew of very interesting sponsors for their visit.

In addition to the leadership support from Frederick Iseman (thank you very much, Sir), the principal partners include Yoko Nagae Ceschina who is a friend of Valerie Gergiev and violinist Maxim Vengerov for whom she purchased a 1727 Stradivarius. Ms. Ceschina sponsored the New York Philharmonic's controversial trip to Pyongyang, North Korea in 2008 and currently sponsors Maestro Alan Gilbert's Music Director Chair.

Huge Russian corporate sponsors have signed on, too. VTB Bank (60% owned by the Russian government), Sberbank of Russia (also majority government-owned), and the Russian conglomerate Renova Group that holds interests in oil, aluminum, energy, and telecom sectors now have their logos prominently featured on the BAM website.

Renova Group's main owner, Viktor Vekselberg, is the third richest person in Russia with some calling him the number one wealthiest. Mr. Vekselberg holds the largest collection of Faberge eggs in the world - 15 in all. He has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to return Russia's great art to its homeland. In addition to the Faberge eggs, he returned the Lowell House Bells at Harvard University back to the Danilov Monestary. In 2005 he got burned by Christie's auction house after paying millions for a famous painting purportedly by Russian artist Boris Kustodiev which turned out to be a fake. Mr. Vekselberg was able to recover his millions from Christie's, but it took about seven years to do so.

We wonder if these extremely important and generous sponsors will show up for the Mariinsky Ballet's performances in Brooklyn. We hope so, because we need to thank them.

Wow, that's a lot of year-end news. Hope it's not too much for the BalletAlertniks to copy & paste.

 

Comments

[jose]

Yes, i did noticed of Ethan joining the teaching staff.He should be a Ballet master next then as an AD. Maybe, bios presence will improve the partnering /lifting skills of the men.

[Haglund]

Hi Jose. I'm sure his presence will have a positive effect, and possibly help to stop the hemorrhaging of talent. However, I'm still convinced that Gorak should make a bee-line for the Mariinsky when they visit Brooklyn and try to hook up with them.

Stiefel doesn't have to proceed up some chain of command at ABT. He's already proven himself to be not only totally competent to lead an organization, but an inspired, inspiring, and imaginative leader who dancers trust and respect.

[angelica]

I'm praying to Terpsichore that Stella will get her New York Giselle.

[Haglund]

... as am I.