Lopatkina is the Moon among the stars. She is the best for me. I am so happy I was privileged to see her on stage in many parts and in every role she was stunning and amazing. Her dancing had a soul and deep feelings. Isabella, thank you for calling Lopatkina a genius!

@TheJodilious

3 ай бұрын

We

Pavlova is the real thing! Actually this role was made for her since she was at the Ballets Russes at that time. Pure naturalism, pure emotion, she does the bourees infinetely, she floats on stage, I have no words, the best for ever and ever

Lopatkina is so incredibly stunning. Brought me to tears.

Pavlova's dying swan is... disturbingly beautiful. It's so jarring how modern it is?

I KNEW Ulyana Lopatkina would be my favorite because she was my vision as I studied in Moscow… she brought me to tears. She combines the old generation imperfections of death with the sheer beauty of her lines. She’s a swan 🦢👏🏻🩰

@elenas3963

7 ай бұрын

I’m in tears after watching Ulyana. She’s unbelievable

My favorite is Zakharova! I find her version more poetic. The dying swan can be interpreted as gradual disappearance of something that once is grand, glorious or endearing (the swan is a symbol of such things), such as fondness towards a person or passion towards something somehow disappear mysteriously as time passes by. I also find the music has a melancholy feeling rather than sadness, and in the end, there is a relief and soothing feeling. Zakharova's dance conveys the idea that the disappearance could be calm and pleasant precisely.

@Swimmer47

22 күн бұрын

Svetlana is simply magnificent…

Lopatkina is amazing ❤❤

Lopatkina is for me the gold standard for this piece

Lapatkina made me cry buckets

Zakharova is beautiful yes! I love how she absolutely embodies the Swan, her facial expression is stunning! The highlight of her interpretation, to me, is the dynamic contrast between the fouetté relevé, as though she is desperate to fly away, with then the suspension and stillness of her position on the floor as she kneels down… it is as though she surrenders to the music, and becomes a physical embodiment of the musical score….. finding beauty in stillness: to me this encapsulates artistry, which is a gift that Zakharova certainly has. And Lopatkina! Lopatkina’s Swan is like a porcelain figurine, fragile yet steely, which does not surrender easily to death, but rather, confronts it defiantly until the very end. Every movement is carefully considered, sculpted to tell her own unique swan story. I would love to see how Victoria Tereshkina and Olesya Novikova would dance this variation, as they are two of the most artistic dancers of the current generation, in my opinion. Aside from Lopatkina and Zakharova, I love Oksana Skorik’s interpretation of the Dying Swan. Her physique is perfectly suited to the swan; her limbs are long and willowy, with a pliable back and arched feet, but beyond her physicality, her artistry is also sublime. Like Zakharova, Skorik embodies the music with an innate depth, like heart-rendering poetry in motion.

Lopatkina moved me to tears!!!😢

I’m not going to try to change your mind. Nope. Never never never will we have another Ulyana ever again. So perfectly swan-like. ❤❤❤

I’ve never seen much ballet and understand very little of it so I really valued your analysis. I didn’t realise how different are the performances of the same role. Please do more analysis.

Till this day...there is no better swan, and for that matter no better ballerina tan Lopatkina!

I too LOVED the last performer! Moreover I throughly enjoyed listening to your reaction, feeling the emotion and noticing details like arms behind, neck partially back, the swan dying and slight bursts of energy. I will watch this with even more appreciation in the future.

Of the ballerinas presented in this video, absolutely Lopatkina is the most swan-like. Her timing and musicality and intelligence was impeccable.

There are better Dying Swan videos of Plisetskaya. When she did Dying Swan on the Ed Sullivan show in America she transfixed people. There is a version when she is younger. The arm waves are an incredible fascimile of a swan floating on a pond.

I think there are two dying swans, and the rest are Odettes from swan lake with different music. Different times, different tastes. Back then ballerinas were dancing actresses, today ballerinas have perfect extensions, turnous, balance.... and i think, in trying to find a perfection somethings got lost. Don't get me wrong - all ballerinas on this list are legends. But i like Mikhail Fokin's choreography better. It was made for Anna Pavlova for reason.

Je vois l'évolution de l'interprétation en parallèle de l'évolution de la technique. Il est certains que la Pavlova ne pouvait pas le danser comme les danseuses les plus contemporaines. Merci à toutes celles qui ont interprété cette pièce au fils des décennies. Merci à vous pour votre travail d'observation et de montage. Vous nous faites un très beau cadeau ! 😊

Lopatkina for me, every time, although I enjoyed all of them. Osipova's ending made me feel (unfortunately) that she had been caught by a crossbow - which I'm sure she didn't intend. Lopatkina made me feel she was seeing eternity in that final glance.

Zakharova and Lopatkina are my favourite variations. They made me feel so emotional, especially with how drawn out and how beautiful the death is. I don't know, these versions just give me that feeling of inspiration and awe. Magic. Love the video, Isabella ❤

Pavlova for me for sure. The evocation of a swan actually undergoing the last minutes of life before succumbing to death is almost harrowing.

Pavlova brought me to tears. I could see a swan dying not a human. I love animals and fear for how most of them would die alone. They are all too beautiful. I liked Lapotkina (end piece) very much especially how she made both arms and her head together outstretched gracefully at the end.

Beautiful presentation and discussion of these exquisite ballerinas Isabella. Thank you. Hard to choose which interpretation I prefer, but if I had to, it would be Lopatkina first and Pavlova second. And so much gratitude to M. Fokine for choreographing this beautiful, stunningly expressive ballet as well as to Camille Saint-Saens for the music we all love so much. ❤

Thank you so much for this very thoughtful comparison. I saw Plitsetskaya dance The Dying Swan at Penn Station in NYC when she came to visit in the 1960s. The audience made her dance it twice. I do miss terribly, though, that you did not include Natalia Makarova, whose interpretation was so incredibly moving.

To me there was and will always be only one Dying Swan, Thank You Maya!

Ballet novice here. I felt Lopatkina’s ethereal, less is more, dying swan with minimal flapping of the arms was more exquisite than the rest.

Svetlana Zhakarova I adore, but Lopatkina is divine. Perfection. Both of them have such perfect ballerina physiques, absolutely stunning and spent on it is also beautiful in the face. But forget her beauty, she's also gorgeous to watch just perfection. That said, Lopatkina also has a perfect ballerina physique she's absolutely stunning to look at and really evokes emotion and embodies the swan

Lopatkina is perfection

Pavlova and Lopatkina 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Loved this analysis! And Wow i was at this performance of Maya P a Long time ago in Boston.. I was thrilled to see this legendary ballerina, but not touched by it as I was by Lopatkina .. the perfect balance of beauty and artistry ♥️🕊🎶♥️

23 years ago I played this on my flute for an audition and it's always been one of my favorite songs. Today I learned it's from Swan Lake. What's amazing is the reason I picked it was because it was so beautifully sad but peaceful. What a perfect song for this dance.

@arbaros22266

4 ай бұрын

It’s not from Swan Lake, it is a solo that was choreographed by Michail Fokine to the music of The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens. I understand the confusion.

@Cove_Blue

4 ай бұрын

@@arbaros22266 Ah ok. So this dance isn't in Swan Lake?

@user-sx3wy7mh9g

4 ай бұрын

@@Cove_Blue This dance is not in Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake.

@Cove_Blue

4 ай бұрын

@@user-sx3wy7mh9g Yes, the other commenter already told me

Anna Pavlova and Natalia Osipova made me quite emotional ❤😢. That’s what Russian ballet is about! To transform very complex human feelings through the dance. And whoever can do it stay in the history of ballet. Lopatkina is my least favorite because her face is absolutely blank during whole performance and no amount of beautiful movements can compensate the absolute lack of emotions. She didn’t touch the nerve….only aesthetics….beautiful but cold and empty

Thank you very much, Isabella! I really enjoyed this video! I liked Anna Pavlova and Ulyana Lopatkina!❤❤❤

In my personal experience, Nina Ananiashvili had the most amazing Swan wings of all the ballerinas I have had the privilege to see. Every single performance she danced this role, the audience would gasp in awe and then applaud. This is when the art of ballet unifies the audience and everyone is connected heart to heart. So beautiful and such a privilege to witness and share this moment in time.

@disiluzhund

2 ай бұрын

I hope to find this on KZread!

All of them are phenomenal!

Thank you so much for this amazing video🙏🏻 love it!

Thank you, Isabella! You always do a great job on these videos! ❤😍😍

Just awestruck by all these beautiful dancers...great show idea!!

Isabella, my life has been cursed in 2 ways. First, I have been blessed with verbosity…not necessarily a characteristic one is particularly proud to possess!!! Second, my knowledge of ballet on a scale of 1 to 10 is regrettably a negative 7. Therefore, please consider this when reading this uneducated commentary. I believe that there is no right answer to your question regarding which ballerina performed the piece best…it’s all a matter of opinion. That being said, I, like you, preferred Lopatkina’s rendition for all of the same reasons that you mentioned. However, she is not my outright favorite. (And yes, I spelled “favourite” incorrectly because I am from the United States.) My clear winner was someone you did not offer as a candidate. I’m talking about YOU. While the other ballerinas provided abundant visual evidence to judge their performance, it was you, through your thoughtful descriptions, your extremely descriptive commentary, and your emotive facial expressions who literally made me feel every aspect of the swan’s eventual demise. Watching your emotional facial expressions and listening to the heartfelt raw emotions in your voice transformed the way I watched your video. It did one other thing too. It made this viewer feel just how very much you love this piece. Personally, I yearn for the day when we might see your beautiful rendition of this movement…giving us another example of what I would dare say would be a work of art!!!Thank you for effort in creating this video! Your friend across the pond.

All beautiful

I like Lopatkina and Koundarova version 😍 love your videos, greetings from Mexico.

So enjoyed this video. As someone new to appreciating ballet this helps me feel and understand so much what these wonderful ballerinas are trying to achieve! THANK YOU Isabella. More analysis would be very welcome. I luv your channel so interesting because you have a such deep understanding and knowledge of Ballet. Please do continue greatly appreciated !!!

Pavlova is my favorite!

a literal swan 29:13 insane

Cool video 👍🏽

Ulyiana all the way. So many lovely ballerinas… but lopatkina is the full package - her arms- she just floats . No one really comes close. Love Pavlova too … no one knew swans like Anna Pavlova …and Plisetskaya as well however a version of Maya dancing this role at a younger age (there are many online) would give a better comparison. . (Also love Galina Mezentseva as others have mentioned to include in future videos)Thank you for this wonderful video!!!

Лопаткина лучшая!

For an interesting variation, go watch Oksana Baiul's version on the ice - she performed an exhibition program of the Dying Swan in 1994 (she also did a technical program to Swan Lake, but her Dying Swan was not her competitive program).

Pavlova stunned me. Her acting values feel more truthful and yes, "realistic", than I noticed before. Death isn't beautiful. Her portrayal moved me deeply.

@ImogenC-rt3fm

2 ай бұрын

Also: Osipova's movement is scaled for the GIANT Royal Opera House. It's overstated on KZread, we get too close. But Osipova in those long shots!!! I think she'd be my favorite were I comparing live performances as opposed to KZread presentations. In truth, they're different media.

@ImogenC-rt3fm

2 ай бұрын

But then Lopatkina. It's hard to see her interpretation a bit, for me, because she's so spectacularly LONG. You really have to think watching this about the technical prowess needed to scale such a performance for the size of the venue... EXCELLENT video!

Hey Isabella! Would you you do a video or podcast on your journey with turnout and what you did to improve it? Love your videos💖

@balletwithisabella

8 ай бұрын

I certainly will share my story with turnout. For specific exercises I really. recommend my classes and courses on my platform which is everything I idid. This includes stretches and strengthening! Try for 14 days balletwithisabella.com/select-a-plan/

I have studied a bit about the increase in back flexibility and openness in the neck and pec muscles. I have rounded shoulders and so danced for years with my neck and shoulders in that more forward position. I've been trying to fix that for the last 6 years. That's what is expected now and I'm behind! So it's interesting to look back and see that rounded shoulders used to be used as an artistic choice. We definitely don't see that much now.

I loved this, as a non ballet dancer, and I came out with more understanding on the dying swan. I always loves the nutcracker pas de deux, would you consider exploring it ? I’d love to get more technical knowledge on it!

I think it would help to know that Pavlova created the original swan as dying because it is wounded and frantically trying to fight death, hence the suddenness, the 'drama', the loss and regain of control, the 'animal spirit of fighting for life'. Osipova is close to that, the 'dying of the animal" and the shaking is actually very realistic of how animals die. Plissetskaya made hers as a dying from old age, with grace and beauty and surreal, others interpreted it further and differently. But the 'dying from a sudden wound" is how Pavlova and Fokine wanted it to originally be, not romantic and otherwordly, but very real and a 'fight for life'.

Sure you are more attached to Pavlova death version, Isabella) she was ill with taberculosis when she danced. She knew she would die soon. Plisetskaya is a legend, may be earlier dance variation is would give slightly different touch. And Lopatkina is a goddess in this variation

fokine was very inspired by the dancing of isadora duncan. watching recreations of her dancers by her students shows how the extreme poses with the head back and the arms lifted influenced the creation of 'the swan' i guess you could call it the first contemporary choreography?

A couple of cents thrown in: The ballet was created by Fokine for Pavlova, with a specific aim: to be "anti-ballet", and to bring, to a degree, the spirit of Isadora Duncan to the discipline of classical ballet. Therefore, Pavlova and the older dancers who knew and learned from her and Fokine, were deliberately working against the elegance and straight lines of classical ballet in favor of emotional investment. Therefore, when Pavlova and Plietskaya are rounding their shoulders, or breaking the line, it's a deliberate choice, and perhaps they are hoping to create that disquiet and sense of "oh, that's not right". Unlike you, I am not feeling a lack in these two older interpretations, but a sort of held breath in feeling that death is cracking that beautiful line. And, remembering that Pavlova was the first to dance this piece, perhaps she comes as close Fokine's original intent as anyone could. I feel Osipova's section was chopped up and the video cheated us of actually watching her as we were able to watch the others: we weren't able to see her build her swan character from start to finish. Lopatkina is captivating, and yes, beautiful. Perhaps, for me, a little cold, though that can be a very swan-like attribute, and she is as true to her interpretation as Pavlova is to hers. And, if Fokine's ultimate aim was to allow a sense of freedom, a sense of Duncan, to the dancer, then each one of these is doing absolutely what is perfect for her interpretation.

Iyvette Chauviree and Liliana Belfiore give exquisite Dying Swans. They are on youtube.

Lopatnika is beautiful, but Plisetskaya just does it for me. There is a version of her dancing Dying Swan in a longer tulle dress, which I think is by far the most breathtaking. She didn’t feel human to me anymore, it felt like I was watching a real swan die. Almost as if there was no audience or stage, it was just an intimate moment of nature. Lopatnika feels perfect, but in a way that feel like they are, ultimately, a sequence of steps that she has rehearsed many times before (which I’m sure she did as she was perfect!)

One of the first and favorite dying swans I saw was Gislaine Thesmar. She was the wife of the late Pierre LaCotte and performs it beautifully. It's a bit difficult to find but I'm interested in your opinion.

another thing I noticed about Pavlova-she uses her right arm more dominantly/broadly than her left

Lopatkina is really beautiful, but Pavlova is more emotional

Pavlova is the best. All others are beautiful, but they are too perfect and elegant. In Pavlovas dance you can see sadness, pain and fear and all mix of emotions. The Swan was suddenly shot. Red stone in a chest shows it. Its not a death of a swan which is prepared for it, as all other ballerinas show. It must be impulsive, chaotic! Swan was not ready to die, was not prepared and was not in peace.

Lopatkina looks like a swan. I forget she is a woman. Her arms are so soft like they don't even have joints. I can't watch the end because I don't want to see her die!

I cry everytime I see Osipovas version. Her interpretation to me is very much desperate, as if the swan is desperately holding on to life, in denial, clinging to youth. While Pavlovas to me is much more beautiful it is very accepting, very at peace with death.

Video starts at 3:55, yw. 😊

i agree with your opinion on zakharova! it was a beautiful variation, but it didnt really make me feel any emotions. osipova really tells the story which is why i love ballet ❤️

Ulyana THE GREAT Lopatkina

Can you please do a video about male dancers😅🫣?

Pavlova.

Lovely (but needed tissues!) ❤

The best of the best it is Maya Plisetskaya, the besto Port de Bra in the world ... she is like a real Swan , and her arms move like there is no bones in it ... when talking bout genius in the ballet all the way around the world ....we talking aboy Maya

Lopatkina and Zakharova Are Definitely My 2 Favorites of awll Time ( reason being ) their performances were more " Swan Like " as in what a " Dying Swan " would look like as a Ballerina . Just Incredibly Angelic and Mystical ..yet Technically Compelling as Dancers as Well . Awll Ballerinas were Phenomenal in this Clip ... although I didn't particularly care for the Commentator .. ( as a Dancer and what I've always noticed from any acclaimed Dancer is that We Hold a level of Arrogance in Ourselves when it comes to The Art for 1 2 .. We Hold Ourselves In High Regard ( I believe bcz we do What Others Can't With Our Bodies that are Phenomenal and Get Applauded for it ) .. and We tend to Over Exaggerate and Critique Things Thats NOT to Our Liking as We Would Vision Ourselves Doing .. - amen to keep it Honest . Granted, Awll The Ballerinas in This Video Were Symbolically Different When it Came to " THE Dying " of The Swan .. and to Me ( awll Believable ) and Artistically Talented Individually ... instead of Saying This by The Commentator .. She just Seemed to Critical as to What a Dying Swan Should Look Like On Stage .. Not Paying Attention or Too Much Attention to The Dancer Themselves ... Oppose to the Performance ( SNAP ) ! FAWLL BACK HONEY ... ( we never saw your version ) ? So to me she was a lil annoying .. it was like . . ( she couldn't wait to get to Lopatkina to express how much this Ballet means to Her in terms of WHAT A SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE Really Means ) and to Me that Took away from The Video Itself in Terms of Amazing Ballerinas Themselves who Danced This Particular Part and Who Had Been Inspirations to Thousands and Thousands of Dancers World Wide . The Arrogance of a Dancer . And to Just Show the One Scene Of The Dancer Who Died as The Swan and Badly Critiqued Her Performance as Less Than Mediocre Technically Speaking .. ( which was dramatic to see I may add ... but we didn't see the entire performance ) ? Like Why Add That In ..Just to Make Her the #Jester Dancer Opposed to The Others That Were More Classical ..... ( I found that very rude ) as well as the Dancer who Smiled at Curtain Cawll ... opposed to Staying in The Dying Swan Character ... ? Maybe She Felt Good about Her Performance ..Maybe She was Sick Pryor and Didn't Think She Could Pull Awff the PERFORMANCE ? ( who are you to Deem how One should receive their Flowers after a Performance ... dead or Not ... Spiritually I believe ..a lot of Dead Things Smile ...bcz Their at Peace and Not Suffering anymore .. Overall... I do Thank You For Sharing ... Swan Lake is My Favorite Ballet Of Awll Time .. Opposed to The Nutcracker .. However ... Try to Be More Supportive of The Things You See ... Opposed to The Things You Feel ....and as a Dancer of Emotion ..bcz You can't bring any piece to Life without any .. To Each Their Own .. Judge as Such Bendiciones ❤🙏🏾

@disiluzhund

2 ай бұрын

The commentator lives in a free world. She shared her preferences with grace, not harsh criticism and judgment as you have. Compassion is far more elegant than codependency.

@MioshiB6

2 ай бұрын

@@disiluzhund no Disrespect ... I was strictly going on My Own Personal Visual " Point of View " Miss .. ( not that I was personally judging anyone ) ? - as did the Commentator 🙏🏾 I beg your Pardon, please don't allow my profile pic to mislead you as to " judging " my background of the Arts .. particularly Ballet .. ( when i trained with the Juilliard School of dance ) .. as well as a Graduate of The University of The Arts in Philadelphia ... ( Horton Technique ) that i Acquired/ incorporating ballet Techniques as well .. I Loved Awll Performances Hands Down as an Artist Period .. - not sure if you misinterpreted my comment .. however, appreciate the feedback ... although it appears that Your the One Who's Judgemental ? No .. I have No Recollection of The Commentators or These Sensational Ballerinas Background * ( in life.. studies of the Arts ) .. Personally .. so surely you can't fault me for mine .. when you have no idea who I am personally as well ... ? ... The Arts For Life .. 5678 ! Continued Blessings 🙏🏾

@MioshiB6

2 ай бұрын

@@disiluzhund disillusioned fits you Perfectly Ma'am .

I could talk about this all day as well. I'm unsure of this ballerina that performed the dying swan's name. She currently has Alzheimer's. A story was written about her. They put the music on and she started moving her arms and head just like she did when she danced. She reminded me of the first lady you have here. I did love your favorite very much. I did want to say, while I was involved very much in her performance, I do have to say, the Swan that made me cry, sob really, was yours. I would love to see you do your version now. It felt like I was witnessing this beautiful old soul go to heaven, but have this grace and peace at the same time.❤

It’s interesting to see her lose her grace, because the death is tragic and I think the lack of beauty speaks to that.

Ulyana

Sveta didn’t lose herself in the role… she’s beautiful but death isn’t that beautiful. 23:11

Maya Plissetskaya is the best!!!!

The older dancers don't have as much turnout as the younger ones.

I love Natalia Osipova, but i can't stop laughing when I watch her Dying Swan. Here i prefer Lopatkina

@russianballet681

7 ай бұрын

Same here

@PLAleksandra

3 ай бұрын

I agree 🤦🏼‍♀️

I’m so happy Ulyana is included. She’s my favorite and the one I looked up to because of our body similarities. Even though I was trained in Moscow, I was told to observe her. I have extremely long and hyper extended arms and legs. Спасибо большое 🙏🏻🇵🇹🇧🇷🇷🇴🇭🇺👏🏻🩰

Павлова neck extension back took my breath away. 🦢

Ulyana THE GREAT Lopatkina