Tales from the harem: Kazakh State Ballet makes its UK debut

By Mark Pullinger, 18 November 2019

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“Malika Elchibayeva was sweet rather than sultry in the central role of Zobeide”

Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 17 November 2019

Shéhérazade (Gulzhan Tutkibaeva, Mikhail Fokine)

Chopiniana (Mikhail Fokine, Toni Candeloro)

Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Vyacheslav Okunev, Set Designer

Rahim Dairov, Dancer

Dinara Yessentaeva, Dancer

Zhanel Tukeeva, Dancer

Arisa Hashimoto, Dancer

Malika Elchibayeva, Dancer

Nelson Joaquin Peña Núñez, Dancer

Nurzhan Baibusinov, Dancer

Azamat Askarov, Dancer

Ulan Badenov, Dancer

Mira Nadon’s sparkling debut in Firebird with New York City Ballet

Ivy Lin, 25th April

A triple bill comprising Balanchine's Symphony in C, Agon and Firebird could not have been more inspiringly danced by New York City Ballet.

*****

American Ballet Theatre's legacy works: vintage or dated?

Ivy Lin, 17th October

An uplifting triple bill by American Ballet Theatre with three contrasting ballets. Especially entertaining were Tudor's Gala Performance and Agnes de Mille's Rodeo.

****1

A Diaghilev celebration from BRB2

Mark Pullinger, 6th May

Carlos Acosta devises a programme of Ballets Russes highlights to celebrate Serge Diaghilev and to showcase the young dancers of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s junior company, BRB2.

****1

National Ballet of Japan’s new triple bill is full of bold challenges

Naomi Mori, 15th March

While National Ballet of Japan’s latest triple bill presents many challenges, one hopes these valuable masterpieces will be revived, enabling the company to develop its virtuosity and artistry.

****1

Ballet Nights: an intimate evening with star quality

Deborah Weiss, 29th September

Ballet Nights offers a wonderful variety of dancing and genres. Whatever your preference, there are quality performances to enjoy.

***11

BRB2 in Carlos Acosta's Classical Selection is full of vitality

Graham Watts, 25th April

With five founding dancers in BRB2, this inaugural dance salad was embellished with other ingredients including the addition of seven members from the main company.

****1

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Sylphs and tales from the harem: Kazakh State Ballet makes its UK debut