THEATRE REVIEW: The Sleeping Beauty (The Russian State Ballet of Siberia) - at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, on Tuesday, February 9, with other performances through to Saturday, February 13, 2016.
FOUR separate ballets are on offer this week from the Siberian company and the glittering Sleeping Beauty, with its subtle references to a number of other fairy tales, was a near perfect way to set it all in motion.
Performed, as usual, to Tchaikovsky’s outstanding score the familiar tunes heralded some fine performance of ballet, particularly from the graceful ‘grown-up’ Princess Aurora (Ekaterina Bulgutova) and her suitor, Prince Charming (Yuri Kudriavtsev), although here he is Prince Desire.
The music, provided by a sizeable orchestra - part of which had to be squeezed into the slips of the stalls, was totally in keeping with the traditional tale. Music director and chief conductor, Anatoly Tchepurnoi ensured it was regal for times of celebration, brash and bold when the Evil Fairy Carabosse (Demid Zykov) wheezed and then whirled around the stage, but also delightfully delicate for Aurora’s christening and other moments of compassion.
While there is plenty of athletic energy around them it’s a pity the King’s Chamberlain Cattalabutte (Kirill Starkov), the King (Alexander Kuimov) and the Queen (Vera Surovtseva) were by and large quite static. Lots of posturing and flouncing, with gestures to others close at hand, but providing little to light any fires.
Someone who did was the skilful and powerful Daniil Kostylev whose Bluebird merited the warm applause he was afforded.
Puss-in-Boots, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood are other fairy tales alluded to during the two-hour long performance, with an amusing confrontation between the booted Puss and White Cat.
Yes, there are one or two flaws but overall a colourful and entrancing evening to open the company’s regular and ever popular visits to the Malvern Hills.
Tackling four ballets in a week, five on occasions on this latest UK tour, is quite ambitious for the company and it’s possible it might be stretching it to its limits.
A brave decision. It deserves to be pulled off and in the main they do succeed, but only just!
Other ballets being performed throughout the week are Swan Lake (Wed), The Snow Maiden (Thu/Fri) and The Nutcracker (Sat).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here