Boishoi Ballet: Swan Lake

I am a massive fan of Boishoi after seeing their productions on TV and being able to see their Copelia last year at the Royal Opera House my expectations of one of the best loved ballets and one of the best ballet companies in the world were high.

I wished, hoped to be transported; the music and the dancing all coming together in seamless joy! However this did not happen. Don’t get me wrong the Boishoi dance seamlessly (besides a few exceptions) and the technique is unparalleled. It is a beautiful thing to witness the precision of 20 to 30 dancers moving as one but the duff note was, I’m afraid to say main couple. Olga Smirnova (who was our big star that night) is great and effortless performs the emotions of the Odette with the technique of Odile (her 32 fouettés en tournant were performed so casually you could have missed them!) but I’m sorry to say Artemy Belyakov gives a wooden perform. He is fine as a dancer but his part demanded some characterisation and he didn’t do anything except be a prop for Odette. His performance especially jarred because the supporting cast were so good with excellent performances from the evil wizard, the fool and the princesses. I was also unhappy with the ending (is it so wrong to want a leap to her death? They taunted us with a rock at the back of the set for the whole ballet!) and the whole thing just sort of petered out at the most dramatic moment in the music. If I didn’t know the ballet or score I would have been surprised to discover it was over. The set was dull but the costumes, while old fashioned seemed to sparkle.

I really wanted to love this and I’m very sad that I did not. Jane Eyre is looking good in comparison and I really want to go and see Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake again. Maybe I am just spoilt for good dance productions in London but this is the Boishoi and what should have been a highlight of the year has turned out to be a forgettable experience.

Jane Eyre by The Shanghai ballet Company at The Coliseum

This is only available for 4 more performances so if you get a chance go grab a seat for this interesting and sensual take on the well-known classic.

A bold choice has been made to place Bertha front and centre in this production contrasting the passionate and physical relationship she shares with Rochester and the innocent, graceful one he shares with Jane. Because of this focus on Bertha the story starts with Jane arriving at Thornfield Hall and quickly dashes through the rest of the story.

The first half is beautiful paced and I fell instantly in love with the costumes (especially in the ball scene) Fan Xiaofeng as Bertha is a wonder, sensual and controlled she frames and haunts the scenes between Jane and Rochester (along with, what appears to be the wet Japanese girl from the Ring which is never explained apparently this is Helen Burns the childhood friend who dies). Jane is dressed in a pinafore like a school girl at the beginning but her costumes mature throughout the production.

The second half seemed less polished. Some of this was because of the music, by choosing recognisable pieces such as Clair de Lune and Adagio air on the G string it was a little jarring and felt more like these were rehearsal music choses rather than suiting the mood and attitude that the action suggested however the act is saved by the excellent Rivers scenes which are amazing and especially St John Rivers who, I always liked in the books, but is excellent in this production and I overheard some ladies discussing how they were totally rethinking his character.

The Finale is a little… odd. I’m not sure that they were trying to achieve with it. Over all it is an excellent and interesting production which blends contemporary ballet moves with beautiful Victorian costumes. Personally I would look into getting an original score for this but otherwise an enjoyable evening and excellent performances. I would see it again and will look out for this company touring again.