Andrey Merkuriev & Anna Leonova - Toreador Scene Don Quixote Act I

Andrey Merkuriev as Espada, leader of the toreadors, & Anna Leonova as Mercedes, a street-dancer in Act 1 of Don Quixote. Bolshoi Ballet 2011.

[@MegaMesozoic]

Brilliant dancing! Merkuriev is a marvellous Espada and all Leonova's grand jetes are full jetes!

[@ballet701]

Absolutely fabulous.

[@nicolehourcade]

Amazing Espada.Excellent dancer.Why he was not Principal in Bolshoi?

[@elizzy8754]

A good question. Other examples I can think of off the top of my head are Emmanuel Thibault (Paris Opera Ballet), same situation for François Alu (POB), Anna Antropova (Bolshoi), I'm thinking Mayara Magri (Royal Ballet) should be nominated some time soon - will she make it?, and I can't speak about Vienna, Madrid, Milan, Mariinsky, the USA companies, etc. etc. as I don't know other companies very well. I think there are a lot of factors involved and they are not necessarily connected to the talent, hard work, physical and psychological aptitude, and stage charisma of the person concerned. I think it is probably more to do with hierarchy, influence, lobbying, money, and possibly other more insidious factors such as the person responsible for promotions just does not like you, your teacher or your mentors. You could have had an injury at the 'wrong' time, be highly sought after as a guest elsewhere and the company takes a dim view of that, had children if you are a woman (but Novikova had three!), and the list could go on... Succeeding at the highest levels of dance is a terribly difficult quest and those who become étoile/principal are to be heartily congratulated. But let's keep on watching, enjoying and praising all dancers who give us joy in their own, always unique way.

[@tenretnit]

Thank you so much for posting this! x

[@normamimosa5991]

Andrey Merkuriev is absolutely the best Espada ever, no matter which performance, or which theatre.

[@AnyaV]

Мне нравится

[@normamimosa5991]

Andrey Merkuriev the best Espada ever, whatever the production.

[@АлександрПЕТРОВ-р1п]

сколько перевидал Тореро - Меркурьев в этой партии лучший Обратите внимание на взаимодействие с партнёршей с самого выхода и великолепную работу с мулетой!

[@larswahlin1029]

Александр ПЕТРОВ Согласна с вами: Андрей -замечательный Тореро. Могу посоветовать посмотреть еще Родькина . Он тоже великолепен

[@ИринаГромова-п5и]

​@@larswahlin1029да, Подъёме тоже прекрасен, эта роль ему идёт больше, чем Базиль

[@aniriyoga1438]

OMG! I know Andrey since he was teenager …

[@simaraft7373]

What a stupendous performance. Merkuriev dances with such abandon, thrilling.

[@susanasneider6560]

A.Merkuriev es el mejor Toreador que he visto.Y A.Leonova ,excelente y sugestiva.!!!!

[@susanasneider6560]

Andrei Merkuriev ,el mejor Espada que he visto.BravoAndrei !!!!❤❤❤❤

[@pepiconesa7397]

Magnífico Espada 👍

[@АлександрЯрков-ш2з]

Bravo bravo bravo brilliance fantastic dance

[@passionballettopfru]

the best Espada - Andrey Merkuriev. A wonderful dancer and a great artist.

[@judithbooth4855]

passionballet.topf.ru. Check out Patrick Bissell! Lol

[@passionballettopfru]

judith booth Have done! But he doesn't dance with veronicas - does he? I suppose it's only in Russian versions in this beauty.

[@judithbooth4855]

passionballet.topf.ru. What are Veronica's?

[@passionballettopfru]

judith booth torero coats

[@AleksandrovaM]

Ну, несравненный! Великолепный танцовщик, гениальный, думающий актер. Обожаю.

[@pepiconesa7397]

Espectacular 👏👏

[@ЕленаМороз-с2х]

ВЕЛИКОЛЕПНЫЙ АНДРЕЙ МЕРКУРЬЕВ 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏и АННА ЛЕОНОВА 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💐💐💐💐💐Первый раз вижу 👏👏👏🍀🍀

[@peggyfoster1495]

Wow! Wow! Wow!! He is gorgeous - and he can dance!!

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Yes, indeed!

[@user-zn4yp6iv1f]

🎉Класс, браво Меркурьев, такое взаимодействие с партнершей, до мурашек❤

[@opensecret51]

Nice ..I saw that he is Leading Soloist at the Bolshoi but the last entry performance was 2009 ..did he stopped performing ..?

[@TheBunduBallerina]

***** Thanks! Merkuriev has not stopped performing. On the 28.02.2015 he performed the role of gamekeeper in Giselle at the Bolshoi with N. Osipova and Steven McRae. There are videos of it on YT.

[@opensecret51]

TheBunduBallerina thank you ..best wishes .

[@passionballettopfru]

He performed the best Drosselmeyer ever in the worldwide broadcasting of the "Nutcracker" in December 2014. Besides it he works as choreographer.

[@tenretnit]

I last saw Merkuriev in this role at The Bolshoi last year. Not only is he the definitive Espada, he's also a superb Basilio. The next stagings of DQ at The Bolshoi are April and May 2015, I live in hopes! And I agree that he is the Bolshoi's finest Drosselmeyer! Merkuriev has also produced and choreographed a wonderful full length ballet 'Крик' which premiered in Odessa in 2014. I have two KZbin Channels of Merkuriev (total 337 clips to date) if you'd like to see more. I also administrate an active Facebook Group for followers of Merkuriev x

[@opensecret51]

Gina Milroy Thank you !