The Kirov Ballet - Chopiniana/The Kingdom of Shades/Le Spectre de la Rose

Published Monday 19 May 2008 at 10:15 by Natalie Anglesey

The second splendid programme, presented by the Kirov, is an excellent example of the diversity of this prestigious company. Chopiniana, with Fokine’s classical choreography set to Chopin’s music, is a superb showcase for the superior corps de ballet, which danced with precision timing but retained the important lyrical feel. Principals Anastasia Kolegova and Evgeny Ivanchenko also made a mark.

The dazzling divertissements which followed may have opened with an ill-balanced partnership, but saw Anton Korsakov shine in the Harlequinade Pas De Deux, with great elevation throughout Petipa’s challenging choreography, danced to Drigo. The same creative combination saw Tatiana Tkachenko and Mikhail Lobukhin impress with a partnership of equals in the Talisman Pas De Deux.

Anton Korsakov and Alina Somova danced the Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux to Balanchine’s choreography, with Ekaterina Kondaurova and Evgeny Ivanchenko leading the company in The Kingdom of Shades from La Bayadere.

But both critics and audience were bowled over by an outstanding performance from Viktoria Tereshkina and Leonid Sarafanov in the Grand Pas Classique, with choreography by Gsovsky, danced to Auber. When two dancers are at one with both the music and the challenging choreography, their obvious enjoyment is transmitted to the audience during a technical tour de force of dance at its best. The remainder of the programme was rather an anti-climax after such a brilliant performance by principals in their prime. It simply took dance to another level.