Bolshoi's Sergei Filin, unbowed by attack, is determined to innovate
Russian troupe's artistic director hails emerging talent but insists Bolshoi has no 'star system', and remains committed to new work in spite of critics
While Filin fought for his sight in hospital, one of his dancers, Pavel Dimitrichenko, was arrested for ordering the attack, plunging the Bolshoi into a maelstrom of scandal. Today Dimitrichenko is serving a six-year prison sentence, major figures from both the pro- and anti-Filin camps have quit the Bolshoi and an uneasy peace has descended on the 239-year-old Moscow theatre.
The company appears in the Hong Kong Arts Festival this week, and Filin talked exclusively to the South China Morning Post about the two highly contrasting ballets they’re presenting and the dancers performing in Hong Kong.
“Alexei Ratmansky’s Flames of Paris is a narrative ballet which will showcase the outstanding dramatic and emotional power of our dancers.” As for George Balanchine’s abstract Jewels, Filin says simply, “It’s just very, very beautiful.”
Around 100 of the troupe’s 220 dancers are in Hong Kong. Among those in leading roles are the dazzling young principals Ekaterina Krysanova and Vladislav Lantratov, the exquisite Nina Kapstova and the elegant Semyon Chudin. Rising stars to watch out for include Anastasia Stashkevich and Vyacheslav Lopatin.
However, Filin, says proudly that the company’s greatest strength is that it’s an ensemble. “There’s no star system – the fantastic thing about our dancers is how they all work together, they’re all equally committed to creating something exceptional on stage.”