Do you know why the Ballerina Doll in Bolshoi’s Petrushka is performed by soloists and not the principals?
It might be a subjective opinion that comes down to director preference. I haven’t seen the ballet.
Anon, thanks for the question! I’ve been seeing a lot of clips of the Bolshoi’s Petrushka which is gorgeous/ I believe that casting is based on height, so at the Bolshoi, most of their principal dancers are quite tall, but (IIRC) both Kokoreva & Staskevich have danced the ballerina role recently in the current revival.
I love Stravinsky’s score to Petrushka — and the Slavic flair of the libretto and set design just immerses you into a magical Russian fairytale. The one big drawback (very big) is the use of blackface, which is so unnecessary to tell this story about magical puppets.
Anyway, if you haven’t seen the ballet, it’s very short and easy to watch in one sitting. This version is a ballet film rather than a stage recording but I love the energy you get from being right next to the dancers, and weaving through the crowds as if you were also at the fair.
Petrushka is a wonderfully dramatic role for a male dancer, full of pathos and creativity. Hope you enjoy it!
