Cupid Variation (Don Quixote) - Nagahisa, Kaptsova & Obraztsova

[@DavidLeBlanc]

Nagahisa had a pixyish quality that really fit the role. All three were delightful and seeing the variations in their style was fun to watch. Thanks again for a wonderful compilation, Bundu Ballerina.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Well-put. Thank you for all your appreciative comments!

[@NoliMeTangere1163]

You can't beat Obraztsova. This is truly her variation.

[@timothyk9086]

Kaptsova will always be supreme! Lightning quick yet still graceful, that takes amazing skill

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Very true. Thanks for your comments!

[@kv6268]

amazing kaptsova. so fast and accurate. very few dancers can be as elegant with that tempo

[@TheBunduBallerina]

True

[@peppacat4139]

nina kaptsova was in a different realm! she was THE cupid and everything about the way she moved said it. she flitted across the stage with incredible lightness and was just so quick and precise with all her movements

[@ade6400]

Evgenia Obraztsova's variation is so lovely 😍 💖

[@TheBunduBallerina]

I agree, although I love all three. Thanks for your comments 💖

[@jophillips111]

Coffee and the BB a great way to start the day thankyou! I enjoyed them all and always love watching May. However I found myself mesmerised by Evgenia. Thankyou again BB.

[@casteretpollux]

That held pose! Cheeky! She was way the best.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

@@jophillips111 You're so welcome, Jo! Thanks for your comments.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

@@casteretpollux Yes, I also just love Obraztsova's cheeky held pose with the sudden change of head position to look at the audience!

[@yqy8388]

May❤

[@ruldali615]

Мне нравиться танец Евгения Образцова, но все же Нина Капцова сыграла более идеально в нужном быстром темпе. Именно в таком темпе нужно играть купидона, тогда это вращение из одного угла в другой будет происходит более органично без затягивания. Хотя конечно дело вкуса и замысла постановщика и какую атмосферу он хочет создать. В любом случае все являются классными профессиональными артистами балета.

[@cynthiafletcher9845]

They are all adorable in this role and able to show their amazing talents but Nina really captures the essence of"Cupid" . Thank you for another enjoyable video. 🌸🌸💞💞💞

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thanks for your wonderful observations! 💖

[@mauriziopaggio6970]

Kaptsova best one ! Very quick And accurate movement ❤

[@tomcooper3286]

Obraztsova FOREVER!

[@oreochicken4218]

Holy hell, Kaptsova's tempo is really fast! She's so sharp with her quick movements. Obraztsova is so clean and precise and ugh I love her port de bras! Love the way how she moves her hands. Obraztsova and Nagahisa's tempos are a bit slow for my taste but I really liked those interpolated chaines in Nagahisa's pique diagonal. I kept replaying that part because it looked really good!

[@francescadarimini1430]

Beautiful! Kaptsova absolutely stunning. Noticing she can handle the faster exciting music 🌹

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thank you! Yes, indeed - Kaptsova is so spritely and fleet-footed!

[@lisamuse574]

nagahisa IS cupid! 💘

[@colinalexander1507]

Loved all three of them. They were different but still charming.

[@MarySSpeer]

Obraztsova totally captures the moment.

[@nicolehourcade]

I like the grace and the precision of May Nagahisa, She is exquisite. The tempo of the 3 variation is not completely the same, for the third more legato, Kapsova was great but i prefer her in Spartacus where she was amazing and Obratzova she is excellent with the French choreographer P Lacotte especially in Mario Spada, i like her work on legs and pointe, here not enough graceful but she is bright.It always difficult to compare.the three are excellent🌸🌼🌹🌺

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thanks for your comments! I also find May Nagahisa exquisite 🌺 I enjoy seeing how unique and excellent each interpretation is.

[@nicolehourcade]

@@TheBunduBallerina i agree, when the messy sanitary situation will be better, i hope to come back to Petersburg☄️

[@nadya7575]

I agree, the first dancing was perfect. May is the real mischievous Cupid

[@zeddnl6514]

I’ve always seen Obraztsova’s performance as the standard Mariinsky cupid performance. Elegant, light and bubbly. Kaptsova on the other hand is the epitome of the Bolshoi technique. Bold and virtuosic. Thanks for the lovely compilation ❤️

[@levondelite4072]

Obratsova is with the Bolshoi, but she was trained at Vaganova, and I don’t believe Kaptsova was. Do you think the difference you notice is from their training?

[@TheBunduBallerina]

You're welcome. Thanks for your beautiful comment.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Yes, Levon - Obraztsova is now with the Bolshoi, but after graduating from the Vaganova Academy, she danced with the Mariinsky Ballet for several years. This recording is from one of those Mariinsky years.

[@levondelite4072]

@@TheBunduBallerina Oh yes, that’s right … I’d forgotten that. Thanks for the correction, and as always, thanks for posting! 💝😊

[@TheBunduBallerina]

@@levondelite4072 You're more than welcome. Thanks for all your lovely comments!

[@rehmatkaur8607]

I'm biased when it comes to nina because of that speed and precision! Love May's interpretation and evgneia's smile is just so sweet that she makes cupid come to life.

[@grapeball20]

I've seen Kaptsova's and Obraztsova's performances many times before, both remains unsurpassed for me

[@yukivigntet1cinq]

I LOVE Obraztsova in this role❤ She is like a real Cupid 💘 So adorable ❤

[@ileanamuntean7338]

What a treat. They are all superb but Nagahisa IS Cupid.

[@alexs8845]

Nagahisa has this unusual ability to seem like a creature taken human form, as the way she moves is so birdlike and ethereal. She’ll always be my favorite for nonhuman roles.

[@rlatimer10]

Wow, Obraztsova owns this one! Bravo!

[@levondelite4072]

They’re all 3 marvelous, and I’m a big fan of each of them in any role. The choreography was slightly different for each one, but the thing that caught my eye, or ear I should say, was how much faster the music was for Kaptsova! I went back and timed it ….. Nagahisa-1 min., Obratsova-58 secs. (although you could take a second off hers for that incredible balance at the end), and Kaptsova-48 secs.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Wow! That's an amazing difference in speed - Kaptsova is the fastest by a whole 10 seconds. Thank you for timing them!

[@neatodude3339]

This Obraztsova variation is the most incredible one I've ever seen - that pause 🙏

[@agosballet]

Evgenia is the best one in this role ! 🥰 The finale is great 🤩

[@lollylula6399]

For me - I could see strain in Nagahisa's performance, not so enjoyable. Kaptsova's natural charm, her technique, her characterisation, her musicality, her presence - wonderful performance and I enjoyed the different steps in the variation. Obraztsova is 'The' Cupid for me, her petite and cute look is perfect for the role and then she makes the steps look so easy and natural, and I love her musicality and acting - exceptional 😍🤩

[@Lapidu18]

Kaptsova is the best always for me..

[@kristiLB93]

All were wonderful in their own right, but I think Nagahisa takes the cake for me.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Yes I love each one too and Nagahisa has a special place in my heart.

[@sarahsz949]

Like them all!

[@Ариансании]

А мне очень понравилась Нина Капцова, настолько точные движения, как настоящий Купидончик!❤

[@carlaalmasiciliotti432]

Nagahisa... Assolutamente! L'innocenza amorosa di Cupido 💘

[@yxlrei]

They all are so graceful and sharp but not messy. I like Obraztsova

[@cristinapuenterios7976]

Maravillosa esta adaptación del Cupido de Don Quijote! Gracias por compartirla!

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Gracias!

[@galinayepanchina6443]

Thank you for this video! I personally like Kaptova most, but Obraztsova comes as a close second! I noticed that Nagahisa doesn't role through her pointe shoe like the other two, which gives a messy and unorganized air to her Cupid. Thank you once again for this video, I enjoyed watching it very much!

[@kdub10009]

They’re all quite good, but i much prefer the faster, more musical versions of this variation, so Kaptsova is the best of these three. But I prefer it faster still, and more on top of the music. Like Cheryl Yeager Cupid variation in Baryshnikov’s ABT production or Leta Biasucci’s from PNB or Clara Blanco at SF Ballet.

[@ellest1485]

This is a real problem with the tempo nowadays. It has been a while since some ballerinas started performing slower and orchestras have to play the way they can dance. Either you dance with the music or do not dance. Obraztsova is slower than Kaptsova and Nagahisa. Another thing is that ballet became more acrobatic so ballerinas need more time for moves that are more like showing extension than dancing. Unfortunately, virtuosity is disappearing. Kaptsova showed most virtuosity. Thank you for a rare presentation.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thank you for your comments! I am always interested to hear everyone's opinion. What puzzles me are the complaints about the slower tempo that dancers are able to perform to nowadays. To dance slowly takes great control and virtuosity of a different type. Think of Giselle - that ballet has been around for ages and has super-slow adagios in the second act. The slower the ballerina was able to perform it, the more her virtuosity was praised. Of course the brilliant fleet-footed sprightliness of a dancer like Kaptsova is greatly to be admired. I just believe that all tempos have their place, just as music isn't always allegro/vivace or adagio/lento.

[@kellyantoniadou8897]

I agree with your comment! It is not that they just slow down adagios (and in my opinion they are too slow these days, Ulanova was not dancing Giselle in these funeral tempos) they also slow down allegros such as this variation. As fantastic as Obraztsova is, the fast/normal tempo results in a playful/flirtatious sound and interpretation, which I believe fits this role way better.

[@ioioioioio265]

@@TheBunduBallerina True, but Evert coreography has a sense related to his time. You can't change it without losing soul of music.

[@ioioioioio265]

I agree, Kaptsova another world.

[@martadickson5272]

Delightful, delightful and delightful! 😊😊😊

[@valentina.living]

For me Evgenia is the best

[@성이름-c4e9x]

Obraztsova가 제일 춤을 잘 춥니다.

[@motogp2008champion]

Eugenia is so cute! Adorable!

[@МотяМотя-у6я]

Капцова

[@СветланаСалтанова-ш1м]

Эти Амурчики прелестны, но Образцова - идеальна!

[@williamdeng1870]

Evgenia's version is more vivid with musical rhythm. Kaptsova performance is good, but the pace of dance seems to be very fast, and Nagahisa's version is very good.

[@rudkelena]

Образцова на этом видео лучшая. Изящная, лукавая - чистый Купидон! Ну и мастерство на высшем уровне. Капцова хороша, но, как мне кажется, темп очень быстрый, она просто не успевает делать всё чисто. Нагахиса - милая девочка, но тут уж совсем медленно выходит все, хоть и точно по движениям. Мне не хватает озорства.

[@ゆらゆら-r6d]

最後のアチチュードで綺麗に止まれるダンサー好き

[@girlsdance5370]

Ohbraztsova has a potential In this cupid

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thanks. I believe Obraztsova has more than "potential" as Cupid. I find her one of the best ever in this role.

[@The444traveler]

MAY ALL DAY!!!😄🔥🔥🔥 Eugenia then Nina. Imo.

[@kellyantoniadou8897]

Thank you for this interesting comparison, it is always fun to compare different interpretations or variations. I had never seen Nagahisa in this role but to be honest, I am not interested in her and I did not care much for her variation. Kaptsova is the true star in this and Obraztsova, despite the very slow tempo, is also amazing. The way she works her lines to the end of her feet in the back attitudes, especially at the jumps towards the end, make her simply a pleasure to the eye. And the balance at the end was a perfect finish! From Mariinsky recent Cupids I remember I liked Oxana Marchuk and from Bolshoi Stashkevich and Khokhlova (not saying that your video lacked anything, it reflects your taste which I very much like, just my suggestions for more research to anyone interested!)

[@marcel950]

La deuxième danseuse a je pense de l huile sur le feu

[@иринашкрябенкова]

В этой вариации Капцовой нет равных!

[@mikiohirata9627]

Who decides tempo of a piece ? It was startlingly different from 1st to 2nd then back to 3rd .obviously more difficult when it's so slow but Nagahisa killed it despite.

[@galinayepanchina6443]

The speed, in Russia, is primarily decided by the dancer. The conductor follows the dancer, and the orchestra follows the conductor. The dancer has more freedom of speed than in other countries, where they generally collaborate with the conductor. In France, the dancer has to follow the conductor, like when dancing to recorded music. It's much more difficult to stay on the music, but rehearsals always keep the same speed, so they know when to dance what.

[@АлисаЖемчужникова]

@@galinayepanchina6443 Может быть сейчас в России скорость определяется танцором. Но в то время, когда танцевала Купидона Капцова, темп заказывал Дирижер и руководитель балетной труппы!

[@IceOfPhoenix88]

Kaptsova's music seemed sped up.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Kaptsova is dancing at a faster tempo than the other two dancers.

[@iskander21024]

Смотрим, как эту вариацию танцует Светлана Ефремова и видим - фантастический темп и фантастическую технику - длительность .. 48 секунд. Но кто сейчас так может? Или Лариса Лежнина - 51 секунда. А уж как это делала М.Кулик! Ведь это Купидон, а не фея. чтобы так медленно и тягостно, как Мэй. Скоро от духа Петипа ничего не останется, если такие темпы начнут считать нормой.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Spasiba... If you time these dancers: Kaptsova - duration 48 seconds. Kaptsova is as fast as Efremova :) Nagahisa 60 seconds, Obraztsova 58 seconds. Thanks for your comments.

[@iskander21024]

@@TheBunduBallerina Thanks for your comment. I myself like Kaptsova very much. My comment was mostly about Nagahisa.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

@@iskander21024 Yes, I am also a huge fan of Kaptsova. And as you say, Cupid must be fast and sprightly, which Nina really is.

[@А-у1ъ2я]

Помним ещё как у нас в Мариинке Амура танцевали чудесные девушки - "инженю", небольшого роста, изящнейшие Ольга Вторушина, Маргарита Зенина,Тамара Мирзоян...

[@iskander21024]

Да, конечно. Но пока речь только тех, кто на "пленке". Мне кажется, что даже Маргариту Кулик не запечатлели. А она была безумно хороша.

[@ulan1408]

Все три хороши, но у Капцовой выше темп и это не на пользу роли - ощущение когда человек быстро говорит, глотая слова. Мне очень нравится Нагахиса и я не могу быть объективной.

[@sophiebowman456]

Obraztsova is my favorite here, but that tempo is soooo slow!

[@zinam5795]

It's a "personage"

[@antevenio8303]

K and O more soft and natural

[@clairstberry5315]

Obratzova was best.

[@PalacinkyPDX]

Obraztsova is lovely and perfect for this role... but the SLOOOW tempo ruins the entire variation. It feels sluggish. It's amazing Kaptsova is able to keep up with the orchestra speeding through it... what is it with Russian conductors messing with tempos?? Nagahisa did an excellent job even if she didn't put as much 'character' into it. I remember seeing Rebecca Wright as Cupid in ABTs version (in the late 1970s) and thinking she was flawless.

[@TheBunduBallerina]

Thank you for your comments! I am always interested to hear everyone's opinion. What puzzles me are the complaints about the tempi of Russian orchestras. Most Westerners don't know that in Russia the conductor adapts to the desired speed of the dancer. The dancer doesn't have to try and keep up with the orchestra's tempo because the conductor constantly checks how fast/slow the music needs to be to suit the dancer's performance. Also, Soloists, Ballerinas and their coaches will discuss their desired tempo beforehand. If a dancer has the brilliance to be as fleet-footed and sprightly as Kaptsova, excellent! Slower tempi also have their place and allow the dancer to dance with great control and full expression.

[@PalacinkyPDX]

@@TheBunduBallerina Understood, but these ad hoc decisions often ruin the music (and impact the expressive emotion of the piece). Honestly, I don't think it should be up to the dancer. Just my opinion.

[@АлисаЖемчужникова]

@@TheBunduBallerina Я хотела бы немного уточнить. Вы не совсем верно сказали. Заказывать темп иногда может руководитель балетной труппы, а балерина должна с этим темпом справиться. И дирижер в этом случае не учитывает пожелания танцора. Оркестр действительно играет свой определёный быстрый темп, а балерина , в данном случае , обязана успеть станцевать музыкально в этом быстром темпе! Успеть в темпе со всеми нюансами: корпус, руки, кисти, стопы, острота и четкость движений, стиль и лёгкость!!! И этот номер именно в быстром темпе станцевать невероятно трудно. То же самое в более медленном темпе уже легко и всегда возможно для балерины. А вот наоборот, в этой вариации , к сожалению, Нет!

[@johannastromberg1307]

Obraztsova is delightful, always. This is such a lovely variation for her. Kaptsova is fantastic too: so fast and so precise. Nagahisa is not my favourite dancer. She has lovely lines and technique, but seems so very bland and flat to me when she dances. And she's worryingly thin, even compared to the other Mariinsky dancers.

[@Marta44339]

Loved I agree. Obraztsova is wonderful, even if the tempo is too slow. Kaptsova too, her movement is flowing within the allegro tempo, even if it's too fast. Nagahisa is not a favorite of mine. Her interpretation seemed metronomic and flat, and her thinness also disturbs me.