Center Favorites Make Olympian Impressions in Sochi

Ivan Vasiliev in the opening ceremony

Among Russia’s great artists and cultural ambassadors to the world who performed during the opening ceremonies at the Sochi Olympics were Maestro Valery Gergiev, general and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, and dancers Diana Vishneva and Ivan Vasiliev. Gergiev has appeared at the Center many times and is probably best remembered for bringing the Mariinsky Orchestra, Ballet and Opera for the opening celebrations of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in 2006. 

Maestro Valery Gergiev conducts in the 
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in 2006

The brilliant Diana Vishneva swirled among other dancers on the Sochi stadium floor until they eventually created the shape of a dove, which was followed by opera star Anna Netrebko singing the Olympic anthem. Among Vishneva’s many appearances at the Center, she has starred in two solo evenings created for her by the Center in association with Ardani Artists – Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion and Diana Vishneva: On the Edge. Her performance in Beauty in Motion won Russia’s prestigious Golden Mask award for the Center, that nations’ highest accolade for achievement in the arts. 

Diana Vishneva in the opening ceremony

Following his appearance in the opening ceremony, one report said, "The brilliant Ivan Vasiliev brought the stadium down with astonishing leaps.” Vasiliev has also appeared at the Center. He has been seen here with the Bolshoi Ballet, in two Tour de Force gala evenings, Reflections and Kings of Dance. He returns in July with Natalia Osipova in a special night titled Solo for Two. Included in that program will be two world premieres.

Dancers with Diana Vishneva, center

On-the-Air about On the Edge

On the Edge Choreographers Carolyn Carlson and Jean-Christophe Maillot

When Diana Vishneva: On the Edge premieres at the Center on November 6, the world of dance will have two brand new works to experience and embrace – Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Switch and Carolyn Carlson’s Woman in a Room. But what exactly are these two dances about? What is the inspiration? How involved was Ms. Vishneva in this process? Are you pondering similar questions? 

Good news, you can tune to classical KUSC-FM this Saturday morning (8 a.m. PT) November 2 when the weekly arts program “Arts Alive” airs interviews with choreographers Maillot and Carlson as well as Segerstrom Center Executive Vice President (and dance lover) Judy Morr about all things dance and On the Edge. 

On the Edge Choreographers Carolyn Carlson and Jean-Christophe Maillot
with "Arts Alive" Executive Producer Kelsey McConnell

Not a morning person? Fret not, you can visit KUSC-FM's website and listen to the podcast online. 

For more information about our International Dance Series, please visit www.scfta.org/dance.

Segerstrom Center Executive Vice President Judy Morr
and "Arts Alive" Executive Producer Kelsey McConnell

Diana Vishneva: Artist & Muse

Diana Vishneva, who has thrilled Center audiences many times, returns in Diana Vishneva: On the Edge. The brilliant dancer will perform two world premiere works choreographed especially for her by Carolyn Carlson and Jean-Christophe Maillot: Woman in a Room by Carlson and Switch by Maillot. In their respective interviews here, Carlson and Maillot discuss their collaborations with Vishneva and what to expect from these much anticipated new works. 

Woman in a Room, choreographed by National Centre for Contemporary Choreography Director Carolyn Carlson focuses on a woman reminiscing about many of her important life experiences. In Carlson’s interview, she explains how Woman in a Room is heavily inspired by Vishneva’s imagination. Carlson hopes that Woman in a Room will reveal a more personal side of this great dancer. The audiences, of course, are encouraged to interpret both the dancing and symbolism utilized in the work. 

With Switch, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo Director-Choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot praises Vishneva’s ability to portray a personal relationships and experiences as well as a range of human emotions while dancing. Maillot’s choreographic vision is a reflection of a star’s life and her interactions with others – perhaps his interpretation of elements in Vishneva’s own life.

In both pieces, Vishneva’s talent and creative sensibilities come to life. Audiences are invited to view these revealing performance in Segerstrom Hall on November 6, 7, 9 and 10. For more information about Diana Vishneva: On the Edge, please visit www.SCFTA.org.

To enhance your experience, please join us for the free Preview Talks, one hour before each performance. 

Awards Galore!

It was an exciting weekend for the Orange County Performing Arts Center with the announcement of the Pulitzer Prize winners and Russia's coveted Golden Mask Awards.

Famed minimalist composer Steve Reich won the music Pulitzer for "Double Sextet," a piece co-commissioned by the Center and performed here last year by eighth blackbird. Though he has been a finalist several times, this award marks Reich's first Pulitzer. Said Reich in the LA Times, "I said, 'You know me, I've got to have pairs of identical instruments, that's really my life's blood. And I thought, what if eighth blackbird recorded themselves, then played against themselves? I'd have two clarinets, two pianos, two percussionists -- I'm home free." NPR aired a great story about Reich and the prize yesterday - click here.

Across the globe, Russia's Golden Mask Awards were announced at the annual festival of performing arts. Celebrated ballerina Diana Vishneva, a familiar face to Center audiences, took home the Best Dancer award for her work in Beauty in Motion, another Center co-commission which received its world premiere here in February 2008. The dance production was also hailed as Best Ballet and winner of the Critic's Prize. Center patrons will have another chance to see Vishneva in action when she dances in Tour de Force: A Gala Dance Spectacular featuring the dance world's brightest stars on May 21.

Congratulations to Steve Reich and Diana Vishneva!