Am a big fan of ballet, ever since 6 years old with 'Swan Lake', and have always seen since the ballet/opera live cinema transmissions first came about as many ballet and opera productions as possible, one of my favourite things to do. One of the joys of going to the cinema to see these productions is how authentic the experiences feel despite the price being much cheaper and the location more accessible than when you are actually there in the house.
'Coppelia' has always been a special ballet to me, grew up with it watching a couple of productions of it over and over at my grandparents' (who also love classical music, opera and ballet) house. Along with 'Giselle', it is my favourite of the non-Tchaikovsky ballets and in my top five ballets along with 'Giselle' and all three Tchaikovsky ballets ('Swan Lake', 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'The Nutcracker'). So seeing any available production of 'Coppelia' wouldn't be an option, haven't seen a bad performance of it (cannot say that for every ballet, there have been not so good productions of 'The Nutcracker' for instance) and this Bolshoi production for me is up there with the best. One of my favourites too actually of Bolshoi Ballet Live from Moscow cinema transmissions too.
The production is very pleasing on the eye for starters. Nothing is too simple that it's simplistic and sparse, neither is it too fussy or over-elaborate that it swamps the action. It is full of vibrant colour and dark atmosphere when necessary, with it never being too much of one mood. Found a lot to admire about the choreography, traditional and tasteful it is also full of charm and wit with things still coming over as fresh, nothing stale here at all. Nothing is distracting from the story and everything makes sense and really loved the grander than usual mazurka and czardas.
Musically, the production is tight and polished. The orchestral playing has energy and nuances while also the right amount of dramatic depth. The conducting is alert to the lively yet slightly more multi-layered to usual storytelling while being accomodating to the needs of the dancers and players. The Corps-De-Ballet throughout dance gracefully and with character.
Natalia Osipova is the main reason to see this 'Coppelia', evident from that whenever she is on stage the attention is pretty much completely on her. She is a technical marvel and absolutely thrilling to watch right from her nuanced, floating arms and enviously flexible feet that help make the smaller movements elegant, while she is far from cold from an interpretation perspective with her looking so alive even when still. Vyacheslav Lopatin is a boyish, youthful and dashing partner, matching Osipova in every ounce of thrills and charm with powerful jumps and appealing impishness. It was great and very interesting to have Dr Coppelius played with pathos and warmth as well as the eccentricity, Gennadi Yenin brings all those qualities out beautifully and with adept balance.
Summarising, beautiful and charming like the titular character herself. 10/10 Bethany Cox
'Coppelia' has always been a special ballet to me, grew up with it watching a couple of productions of it over and over at my grandparents' (who also love classical music, opera and ballet) house. Along with 'Giselle', it is my favourite of the non-Tchaikovsky ballets and in my top five ballets along with 'Giselle' and all three Tchaikovsky ballets ('Swan Lake', 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'The Nutcracker'). So seeing any available production of 'Coppelia' wouldn't be an option, haven't seen a bad performance of it (cannot say that for every ballet, there have been not so good productions of 'The Nutcracker' for instance) and this Bolshoi production for me is up there with the best. One of my favourites too actually of Bolshoi Ballet Live from Moscow cinema transmissions too.
The production is very pleasing on the eye for starters. Nothing is too simple that it's simplistic and sparse, neither is it too fussy or over-elaborate that it swamps the action. It is full of vibrant colour and dark atmosphere when necessary, with it never being too much of one mood. Found a lot to admire about the choreography, traditional and tasteful it is also full of charm and wit with things still coming over as fresh, nothing stale here at all. Nothing is distracting from the story and everything makes sense and really loved the grander than usual mazurka and czardas.
Musically, the production is tight and polished. The orchestral playing has energy and nuances while also the right amount of dramatic depth. The conducting is alert to the lively yet slightly more multi-layered to usual storytelling while being accomodating to the needs of the dancers and players. The Corps-De-Ballet throughout dance gracefully and with character.
Natalia Osipova is the main reason to see this 'Coppelia', evident from that whenever she is on stage the attention is pretty much completely on her. She is a technical marvel and absolutely thrilling to watch right from her nuanced, floating arms and enviously flexible feet that help make the smaller movements elegant, while she is far from cold from an interpretation perspective with her looking so alive even when still. Vyacheslav Lopatin is a boyish, youthful and dashing partner, matching Osipova in every ounce of thrills and charm with powerful jumps and appealing impishness. It was great and very interesting to have Dr Coppelius played with pathos and warmth as well as the eccentricity, Gennadi Yenin brings all those qualities out beautifully and with adept balance.
Summarising, beautiful and charming like the titular character herself. 10/10 Bethany Cox
