Eifman Ballet wins the hearts of London spectators once again

Last Saturday, December 10, Eifman Ballet completed its London tour started on December 6 at the London Coliseum. The Company presented the ballet Up & Down for the first time in the British capital. London demanding audience lapped up Boris Eifman’s new work.

Premiered in early 2015 the ballet Up & Down has already made a conquest of the audience in America and Continental Europe. Now British connoisseurs of dance can be considered as fans of this ballet as well: they thanked the artists with a hurricane of applause and cries of admiration after the end of each performance.

Londoners actively shared their impressions of the production online. One of the spectators describes the performance as “awe-inspiring”. Another one calls Up & Down “utterly captivating” in the Instagram. “Magnificent choreography and breathtaking dancers,” says another review.

Despite the busy theatrical life of the British capital in the pre-Christmas period, the London critics expressed a great interest in the tour of the St. Petersburg Company and modern Russian ballet art developed by Boris Eifman. Almost all the experts noted the choreographer’s creative audacity and his brilliant ability to create large-scale theatrical works with a delicately constructed dramaturgy. In particular, Siobhan Murphy from The Times gives Up & Down 4 stars and resumes: “The tale of Dick Diver... is delivered with crystal clarity and gripping propulsion.” The authoritative web site British Theatre Guide highly rates the plastic interpretation of the novel Tender Is the Night and characterizes the choreography as “astonishing”. “Eifman, of course, excels at danced psychological drama,” says the portal calling Eifman Ballet “one of the world’s largest non-classical ballet companies”. Neil Norman from The Stage describes the Eifman’s choreography as “fearlessly inventive”.

British reviewers pay special compliments to the Company dancers. Margaret Willis in her piece for Bachtrack compares Eifman Ballet soloist Oleg Gabyshev (the role of Dick Diver) with a gem. She writes: “Slim and handsome, his seemingly easy manner can suddenly erupt into powerful leaps and strong physically exhausting partnering. Lyubov Andreyeva as Nicole showed fluid lyricism in her eloquent arms and graceful legs. Maria Abashova (Rosemary) played the glamorous movie star with assurance, flashing her eyes and looking stunning in her sunshine yellow trouser outfit. She, like Andreyeva, showed off high extension and rock-steady technique along with great stamina during the physical duets.”

London press also admires the Up & Down scenography. The popular portal Broadway World describes the set design by Zinovy Margolin as “luxurious”. According to the British Theatre Guide the costumes by Olga Shaishmelashvili “are to die for” and “make a stunning stage picture that Diaghilev would have been proud of.”

“Tender is the Night, Fitzgerald’s final novel, was never very popular. <…> Eifman brings it to life with his intense, detailed, honed choreography and dramatic maturity, intelligent use of lighting and judicious stripping away of sub-plot. Almost better than the book,” resumes SeeingDance.

Performances in London became one of the key events of Eifman Ballet's jubilee 40th season opened in August. VTB Bank was the General Sponsor of the tour.