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Bolshoi Director Reportedly Is Being Replaced Bolshoi Director Is Removed After Scandals
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — The Russian news media on Tuesday widely reported that the director of the Bolshoi Theater, Anatoly Iksanov, is being replaced in the wake of a series of public scandals, starting with a shocking January acid attack on the ballet company’s artistic director. MOSCOW — The general director of the Bolshoi Theater, Anatoly Iksanov, was removed from his post on Tuesday in the wake of a series of public scandals that started with a shocking January acid attack on the ballet company’s artistic director, the Ministry of Culture announced at a news conference at the theater.
The Bolshoi has not commented on the reports, but both the Interfax news agency and Vedomosti, a respected daily newspaper, reported that Mr. Iksanov would most likely be replaced by Vladimir Urin, currently general director of the Stanislavsky Musical Theater. His replacement is Vladimir Urin, the director of the Stanislavisky and Nemirov-Danchenko Musical Theater.
Several Bolshoi performers told the newspaper Izvestia that the timing of the announcement came as a surprise, on the eve of the much anticipated premiere of “Eugene Onegin,” a ballet based on the poem by Aleksandr Pushkin.Several Bolshoi performers told the newspaper Izvestia that the timing of the announcement came as a surprise, on the eve of the much anticipated premiere of “Eugene Onegin,” a ballet based on the poem by Aleksandr Pushkin.
Mr. Iksanov was named general director of the Bolshoi in 2000 and his contract was set to expire in December 2014. He has said that he hoped to use the remaining time to select and train his successor, in order to assure that his long-term plans for the theater — which extended to 2016 — would be carried out.Mr. Iksanov was named general director of the Bolshoi in 2000 and his contract was set to expire in December 2014. He has said that he hoped to use the remaining time to select and train his successor, in order to assure that his long-term plans for the theater — which extended to 2016 — would be carried out.
The last months, however, have brought several waves of negative publicity for the theater. In January, a masked man threw acid in the face of Sergei Filin, the company’s artistic director, causing third-degree burns to his eyes. A dancer, Pavel Dmitrichenko, later confessed to hiring two accomplices to carry out the attack, though he said he had only expected the men to beat Mr. Filin.The last months, however, have brought several waves of negative publicity for the theater. In January, a masked man threw acid in the face of Sergei Filin, the company’s artistic director, causing third-degree burns to his eyes. A dancer, Pavel Dmitrichenko, later confessed to hiring two accomplices to carry out the attack, though he said he had only expected the men to beat Mr. Filin.
In June, the Bolshoi announced it was ending its contract with its most prominent male dancer, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, 39, whose complaints about the theater’s leadership boiled over into open conflict after the attack on Mr. Filin. Mr. Tsiskaridze’s fans have held two small protests in his defense.In June, the Bolshoi announced it was ending its contract with its most prominent male dancer, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, 39, whose complaints about the theater’s leadership boiled over into open conflict after the attack on Mr. Filin. Mr. Tsiskaridze’s fans have held two small protests in his defense.
Then, this month, the prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova pulled out of “Eugene Onegin” after a casting reshuffle removed her from the role of Tatiana on the ballet’s opening night.Then, this month, the prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova pulled out of “Eugene Onegin” after a casting reshuffle removed her from the role of Tatiana on the ballet’s opening night.
During an interview early this year, Mr. Iksanov said that for at least three years rivals had been pressing Russia’s Ministry of Culture — and, ultimately, Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev — to remove him. He also reflected on how risky it was for administrators to be drawn into conflicts with performers.During an interview early this year, Mr. Iksanov said that for at least three years rivals had been pressing Russia’s Ministry of Culture — and, ultimately, Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev — to remove him. He also reflected on how risky it was for administrators to be drawn into conflicts with performers.
“There is a widespread opinion among the unenlightened people — when there is a conflict between an artist and an administrator, of course everyone is on the artist’s side,” he said. “This poor artist is being terrorized, they want to kick him out. See how bad the administrators are. This is natural, all people think like this — there are bureaucrats and there is a creative person.”“There is a widespread opinion among the unenlightened people — when there is a conflict between an artist and an administrator, of course everyone is on the artist’s side,” he said. “This poor artist is being terrorized, they want to kick him out. See how bad the administrators are. This is natural, all people think like this — there are bureaucrats and there is a creative person.”