Midsummer's Night Dream - Apr 18th, 2013
Wiener Staatsballet: Midsummer's Night Dream (April 18th, 2013)
A delicious performance, a delightful evening...
“Midsummer’s Night Dream” seem to be one piece of ballet which agrees very much with the atmosphere (and audience) from the “Volksoper”. Funny, witty… The whole ensemble surprised me, much more than three years ago… Jorma Elo’s choreography is inventive, dynamic, full of surprises… and extremely musical!
Olga Esina, fabulous as Titania (I don’t know why but I always “think” of Titania as a blonde): her far-away looks and her distant manner suit this role perfectly.
Roman Lazik, a sensual Oberon, very much in the Rupert Everett-manner (who played the role in the last film version). I would have liked very much to have seen my friend Vladimir Shishov again in this role…
(above Olga Esina, programme picture)
(above Vladimir Shishov as Oberon, programme picture)
(above Natalie Kusch & Greig Matthews – Copyright: Staatsballet Wien)
Prisca Zeisel, Greig Matthews ( Hermia & Lysander), Rui Tamai and Dumitru Taran ( Helena & Demetrius) as the two couples that in fact “move” the play forwards, strong key roles, showed lots of humour, sense of timing and, although this was the first time that Miss Zeisel danced the role with Mr. Matthews. Greig Matthews was last year’s “boy-sensation”, now with 19 years old he’s turning into a man and a very fine dancer… I am sure that we will be hearing/seeing a lot of Prisca Zeisel and Greig Matthew in the near future!
(By the way: Congratulations to Greig Matthews and Dumitru Taran’s perfect Arabesques. Such clean lines…).
(above Alexis Forabosco. Copyright Casanova Sorolla)
Ryan Booth was, also due to his height, an impressive Theseus. Alexis Forabosco, a dancer I admire very much, stayed in the Corps de Ballet, for the most time but had the chance to show his precise French technique and great stage presence, with Gala Jovanovic as one of the “Athenian” couples…
But the Star of the evening, the real Star of “Midsummer’s Night Dream” is (and will always be) Mihail (Misha) Sosnovschi: this very gifted dancer from Moldavia is THE perfect incarnation of Puck, a – also technically – very demanding role! His rapport with the audience is incredible and there was not only applause for him yesterday but also screams of joy! A beautiful, exciting performance!
(above Mihail Sosnovschi as “Puck”, pictures: "Wiener Staatsballet" and Photograph of the programme)
Audiences are madly in LOVE with “Midsummer’s Night Dream”!
The choir, the violin soloist Bettina Gradinger), the children, the sets and costumes (Sandra Woodall/Jorma Elo) simply perfect. It all reminded me of the old film by Max Reinhardt, Austrian… such a magical atmosphere… William S. would have liked that very much. Bravo!
How wonderful to be a witness of such a performance… even tough Lorenz C. Aidner conducted Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s music so quickly – making it quite hard for the dancers – as if he was playing for himself… Can you believe that the performance finished nearly twenty minutes earlier? And that the Corps de Ballet Dancers couldn’t nearly close a position? Perhaps he had a date for supper?
To be honest: It is a good, warming feeling to go home, and arrive there, still smiling, after a such beautiful and happy performance.
I had not enjoyed Ballet this way for a long time…
Ricardo Leitner / Attitude-devant
