----------------------------------- Zarevich Sabato, 24 Aprile 2010, 14:52 Festival Internazionale di Balletto «MARIINSKIJ»  ----------------------------------- X Festival Internazionale di Balletto «MARIINSKIJ» 2010 X Международный фестиваль балета «МАРИИНСКИЙ» 2010 X International Ballet Festival «MARIINSKY» 2010 The 10th International Ballet Festival «Mariinsky» («Мариинский») opened in St. Petersburg on April 15 with an unprecedented action – a live 3D broadcast of the event. For the first time in the world a gala concert of the «Mariinsky» stars was broadcast with the help of a new technology – in a 3D format. Hundreds of thousands of people in Russia and Europe, who on that very day made themselves comfortable in the viewing halls with special equipment, or tuned their home receivers to a 3D channel, had a chance to see the gala concert of the «Mariinsky» ballet stars. «To test, to experiment and to give a boost to budding ballet dancers» – such are the tasks of the «Mariinsky» ballet festivals, according to the world-famous conductor Valery Gergiyev (Валерий Гергиев). There’re 5 premieres on its programme. The «Anna Karenina» («Анна Каренина») ballet by Rodion Shchedrin (Родион Щедрин), in the choreographic version of Alexei Ratmansky (Алексей Ратманский), was shown on the first day. Earlier Alexei Ratmansky made his debut as a producer here on the «Mariinsky» stage. Alexei Ratmansky has become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the world today. He produced «Anna Karenina» for the Royal Danish Ballet. This ballet was also staged in Helsinki, Warsaw and Vilnius, and was awarded the prestigious Benois de la Danse prize. Among those who added more pearls to the St. Petersburg crown of the «Anna Karenina» ballet were the two stars of the «Mariinsky» Theatre – Diana Vishnyova (Диана Вишнёва), who danced the part of Anna Karenina on April 15th, and Ulyana Lopatkina (Ульяна Лопаткина), who performed the same part on April 16th. They are absolutely different Vishnyova is spontaneous, young and impetuous, and Lopatkina is a very restrained person, who is unwilling to show her feelings. Their participation alone stirs the feelings of the audience. Ulyana Lopatkina is also engaged in one more premiere – in the «Carmen-Suite» («Кармен-Сюита») by Bizet-Schedrin. «Such a whirlwind of feelings is simply a present for any dancer», Lopatkina noted. It would also be good to mention here that Maya Plisetskaya, the first performer of the part of Carmen, who so far remains unparalleled in this part, consulted Ulyana Gromova. The world ballet stars, performing on the leading stages of New York, London, Paris, Berlin, and Moscow, will dance in the unfading ballet classics, which is richly presented on the festival’s play-bill. Our compatriot Vladimir Malakhov (Владимир Малахов), who has danced on the leading stages of the world, comments It is necessary to dance ballet classics – it prolongs your life. But on the other hand, it would be good to surprise the audience with something that would be absolutely new. That is why we address new things. The original version of the ballet «Giselle» («Жизель»), presented by the cult choreographer Mats Ek, is classics and an innovation at one and the same time. And of course, an international team of young choreographers has demonstrated its thirst for novelties in a special programme, titled «New Generation», which consists of 3 one-act ballets. Presenting the current festival, which will continue till April 25th, Valery Gergiyev said «The “Mariinsky” Theatre is called the «Mecca of Ballet». The works, which later became known as the most important landmarks in the development of the world choreography, appeared here. And our festival must show everything the Russian choreography school is proud of today»