OVERVIEW PRESS QUOTES MARIINSKY BALLET RESIDENCY AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF, 2016
Independent – 4* dance review written by Zoë Anderson
“The dancers carry themselves with aristocratic grandeur, while attacking new territory.”
Guardian – 4* review of Peter and the Wolf written by Rian Evans
“[…] conducting and narrating, tiny baton in right hand, microphone in the left. He opted for a simple telling of the tale but, with his resonant voice, warm in tone plus the authentic Russian accent, Gergiev sounded the part.”
Times – 4* review of the triple bill written by Donald Hutera
“the dancing was such a rich marriage of technique and passion that there was scant chance of dissatisfaction.”
The Arts Desk – 3* review of Concerto DSCH/Sacre written by Nadine Meisner
“The Mariinsky Ballet have proved they can “do” expressionist dance”
Bachtrack – 4* review of Concerto DSCH/Sarcre written by Mark Pullinger
“In Sacre […] Gergiev unleashed a tempest of sound. […] Concerto DSCH proved the perfect show opener – a zinging cocktail before the bitter vodka shot of Sacre.”
Telegraph – 3*review written by Jane Shilling
“the Mariinsky dancers combine precision with emotion to luminous effect, with quicksilver duetting in rectangles of light […] Kondaurova and Konstantin Zverev bring a blaze of wit and charm to Robbins’s teasing contrasts of formality and trembling abandonment, concluding the evening in magical style.”
Wales Arts Review – review of full residency written by Cath Barton
“a privilege to see this famous company dance. Impressive as they were throughout, it was their classical ballet skills which defined them for me, nowhere more so than in the exquisite pas de deux sequences of In the Night.”
The Review Hub – 5*review written by Barbara Michaels
“Superlatives are usually to be avoided in writing a review. There are, however, exceptions. The MariinskyBallet, at the Wales Millennium Centre for their only UK performances in 2016, is one of these. Perfection is the word that springs to mind. […] a clever move by the Mariinsky who, in showcasing a broad spectrum of the diversity of their talent, give ample proof that the company is indeed the crème de la crème.”
Cardiff mummy says – review of Peter and the Wolf written by Cathryn Scott
“Minor gripes aside though, this was a wonderful first introduction for children to classical music, allowing them to experience a full orchestra in a child-friendly atmosphere”
The Guardian – 4*review of Concerto DSCH/Sacre written by David Jays
“The dancers look sickly in sludge-coloured costumes, shivering feverishly, clinging to each other. Abject, desperate, their hands flail at the skies or batter at their hearts; they judder like zombies on the soles of their bare feet. Two children anxiously thread their way through the adults, but are soon subsumed into the group. There’s no hope of renewal here.”
The Spectator – review of the triple bill written by Ismene Brown
“a superb triple bill […] The Russians seized McGregor’s choreography with a will, applying richly soulful essences to those splays and wrenches that ballet dancers love to bits.”
Seen and Heard – review of Prokofiev’s score to Romeo & Juliet by Mariinsky Orchestra written by Alan Sanders
“As a whole the orchestra gave an outstanding demonstration of corporate virtuosity. Particularly noticeable was the unfailingly firm sound of the brass section and the lower brass in particular – no wobbles in the deep here!
There wasn’t a page in the score that didn’t make a deep impact under his
[Gergiev’s] super-concentrated direction.”
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
14,15 April – Ballet Triple Bill – Five Tangos, Infra, In the Night
16,17 April – Ballet Double Bill – Sacre, Concerto DSCH
17 April – Concert – Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf, Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite
Cadogan Hall
18 April – Concert – Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet
October – Complete Prokofiev Symphony Cycle
