The following artists have left Bucharest National Opera

The following artists have left Bucharest National Opera

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norman lebrecht

May 16, 2016

As xenophobic agitation continues, the ballet company is being denuded:

Resigned
Dawid Trzensimiech – principal
Daniela Norman – corps
George Murray (unclear situation)
Florica Stănescu (from managerial position)
Johan Kobborg
Henry Dowden – soloist
Lucas Campbell – First Artist
Diana Tudor – First Artist
Gina-Marie Leathem – Corps
Dianyu Wu – Corps
Unpaid Leave
Rebecca Haw – First Artist
Caspar Stadler – Corps
Liam Morris – First Artist
Ross McCaw – Corps
Alistair Beattie – Corps
Barnaby Bishop – Soloist
Injured
Liam Morris – First Artist
George Murray -Corps
Rin Okuno – Soloist
bucharest gheorghiu

Comments

  • Monica Balasoiu says:

    https://www.facebook.com/JeSuisOpera/photos/a.956103381176391.1073741828.952897944830268/965911953528867/?type=3&theater

    Really? Because of the xenophobic agitation? It doesn t seem like that…. For exemple, take a look. Mrs Campbell has an other opinion.

    And by the was, Lucas told to BNO artists: “BEFORE US, YOU WERE NOTHING!”
    Anyway, BNO was here since 1921.

    • Nicoleta D. says:

      Being here since 1921 is no guarantee for having international success. Just saying. 🙂

    • Don Ciccio says:

      And the first ballet master was Anton Romanovski, a Pole:
      http://www.operanb.ro/en/onb/istoric

    • Dan Bunescu says:

      Then what is the reason of their leaving, in your opinion ? Obviously is more of a rhetoric question as you are no better than the Soviet communist propaganda during the Cold war. And the actions of Soare, Conta, Tugearu, Iordachescu, Chebeleu și I miss her name, anyway unimportant remind all of us of the brejhnevist politics.

    • Deborah campbell says:

      He did not. And if you knew him you would know he had been at ONB for two years before Johan, on less pay than Romanian dancers … Because he loved ONB. But nobody likes having abuse yelled at them like has happened to him and me when I visited. And nobody can perform well while feeling all the hate and resentment.

    • Deborah Campbell says:

      Lucas did not say that and if you knew him and his situation you would know that he lived and danced in Romania for five years – two before Johan Kobborg even arrived – and he was paid less than the Romanian dancers. He loved dancing with ONB and lived with great money difficulties to stay! But nobody likes to have abuse yelled at them (which happened to me as well as him when just walking the dog!) just because they are not Romanian. And yes, Lucas (and I) believe that Johan has ONB’s best interests at heart and he has given opportunities to both Romanian and foreign dancers because he doesn’t view the dancers by nationality but by potential! Anyway, Lucas has been driven away very sad at not feeling welcome anymore.

      • Monica Balasoiu says:

        Mrs Cambell, with all respect, may I ask you why Lucas came here ? What was the reason? As you told us, he came before Mr Kobborg.
        What made him decide to come in Romania?

        If BNO was such a shame before Mr Kobborg arrival, why so many dancers as Lucas, Tamara Grimmer ?

        And now about the money. Yes, it s a shame! For everybody…. at BNO for exemple a Romanian tenore soloist – his salary 1800 RON -means 400 euros .
        I totally agree with you. A tutti from the orchestra – and we are there every week, almost everyday – except Mondays- with a salary between 1400 ron – 1800 ron, it means between 300 euros -400 euros.

        But still BNO has money. Plenty. For exemple…. it seems that Mr Kobborg was paid well – 7300 euros/month , Manon costs 250000 euros…
        Why aren’t enough money for these young ballerins who came to Romania?
        How managers could think that is fair for artists to work in these conditions?

  • Monica Balasoiu says:

    https://www.facebook.com/JeSuisOpera/posts/965820396871356

    Meanwhile, in BNO. Last evening, Don Quijote, a great success.

    Quiteria: Cristina Dijmaru
    Basil: Shuhei Yoshida
    Mercedes: Mihaela Soare
    Espado: Vlad Toader
    Amoraşul: Greta Niţă
    Zâna Pădurii: Akane Ichii (debut)
    Don Quijote: Antonel Oprescu
    Sancho Panza: Mircea Ioniţă
    Camacho: Alistair Beattie (debut)
    Lorenzo: Vicenţiu Popescu
    Florărese: Nastazia Philippou, Bianca Stoicheciu
    Solo Ţigănesc: Adina Manda, Liam Morris

    !!!!!! Liam wasn t dancing, in his place was Miguel Duran Torrents
    But Liam danced in Tango on 14th May. Yesterday, he had a problem with the foot.

    And Mrs Florica Stanescu is still at BNO. As you can see here: https://www.facebook.com/JeSuisOpera/
    and also on the website of BNO:
    http://www.operanb.ro/spectacol/stagiunea2015-2016-don-quijote/2016-05-15

  • Lelio says:

    Yep, the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Romanians is they are great ballet dancers (Alina Cojocaru notwithstanding).

    Indeed…

    • Don Ciccio says:

      You make me curious: what other Romanian ballet stars are / were there besides Cojocaru? I can think of two international dancers: Simona Noja and Gheorghe Iancu (both retired, btw), plus choreographer Gigi Caciuleanu , but they are hardly stars; Iancu is more famous for partnering Carla Fracci, a genuine ballet great. Madgalena Popa, could have been but she had the bad fortune of being locked under the Iron Curtain, and by the time she emigrated she was already 43 years old.

      So, who else is there?

      • Lelio says:

        Nobody

        • Sena V says:

          Mr Don Ciccio we have many ballet stars in Romania, Corina Dumitrescu, Iancu Ovidiu Matei, Razvan Mazilu, Simona Somacescu, Monica Petrica, Felicia Serbanescu, Bianca Fota, Cristina Dijmaru, Bogdan Canila, Vlad Toader, Andreea Jura, Dan Haja, Horatiu Chereches. Also we have many romanian ballet stars dancing for other companies: Soimita Lupu, Ingrid Lupescu, Dragos Mihalcea, Madalina Stoica, Mihai Mezei, Andrei Iliescu, Ana Maria Gergely. Not to be forgotten Bogdan Nicula.As for the ones who retired or now are choreographers or ballet masters: Ioan Tugearu,Gigi Caciuleanu, Gheorghe Iancu, Alexa Mezincescu, Oleg Danovski Jr, Adina Cezar, Raluca Iangeic, Sergiu Anghel, Agalaia Gheorghe, Mihai Babuska. These are just a few of them. As for this article there are some mistakes and misinformation. Dawid Trzensimiech had already a contract in Warshaw ,no matter what happens in Bucharest he would have gone to honor his contract, Rin Okuno has left last season, also Rebecca Haw has left several months ago. The ones who resigned took their on decisions and this is their option.

      • Vladoiu Sena says:

        Mr Don Ciccio we have many ballet stars in Romania, Corina Dumitrescu, Iancu Ovidiu Matei, Razvan Mazilu, Simona Somacescu, Monica Petrica, Felicia Serbanescu, Bianca Fota, Cristina Dijmaru, Bogdan Canila, Vlad Toader, Andreea Jura, Dan Haja, Horatiu Chereches. Also we have many romanian ballet stars dancing for other companies: Soimita Lupu, Ingrid Lupescu, Dragos Mihalcea, Madalina Stoica, Mihai Mezei, Andrei Iliescu, Ana Maria Gergely. Not to be forgotten Bogdan Nicula.As for the ones who retired or now are choreographers or ballet masters: Ioan Tugearu,Gigi Caciuleanu, Gheorghe Iancu, Alexa Mezincescu, Oleg Danovski Jr, Adina Cezar, Raluca Iangeic, Sergiu Anghel, Agalaia Gheorghe, Mihai Babuska. These are just a few of them. As for this article there are some mistakes and misinformation. Dawid Trzensimiech had already a contract in Warshaw ,no matter what happens in Bucharest he would have gone to honor his contract, Rin Okuno has left last season, also Rebecca Haw has left several months ago. The ones who resigned took their on decisions and this is their option.

        • Maria says:

          Stars? Let’s be serious, they are hardly known in their own country! They are more unknown than known..

          • Vladoiu Sena says:

            Maria mabye Maria S? check their names on google, they are very good known in the world of ballet 😉 There are even more: Alin Gheorghiu, George Postelnicu, Laurentiu Guinea, Dan Moise, Sergiu Stefanski, Gelu Barbu,George Bodnar Ciuc, Ștefan Banica, Rodica Simion,Gabriel Popescu, Ileana Iliescu, Beatrice Rancea, Aurora Rotaru, Anne Marie Vretos,Gheorghe Cotovelea, Leni Dacian, Anne Marie Vretos, Cristina Hamel, Marin Boieru, Cristian Crăciun.We are proud of all of them and they successfully represented Romania all over the world! No matter what one or other says, romanian ballet history can not be denied or changed by anybody.

        • Lelio says:

          The Romanian Bubble

        • Don Ciccio says:

          I am sure the dancers that you mention – some of the names of which I actually heard – are respected and loved in Romania. No one should deny their status and the importance of having a solid national school. But, without sounding disrespectful, their influence is strictly local. Some, of course, may have toured outside Romania, and others, with better luck, could have had an international career: Magdalena Popa is my prime example, and she actually did sterling work coaching the National Ballet of Canada after retiring.

          But let’s not kid ourselves: none of them are international stars, none are known to the general public outside Romania – or, let’s be generous (very generous), outside Eastern Europe. The only Romanian ballet star is Alina Cojocaru, who actually studied in Kiev!

  • Monica Balasoiu says:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igFwyQkq8OY

    From yesterday evening, Don Quijote at BNO…

    If they want to make you belive that we don t have audience and success…. well, it s a lie.

    Let s speak about facts, not about speculations. 😉

    • Don Ciccio says:

      If you would like to talk about facts, I can tell you that the last show I saw at the Bucharest Opera – Oedipe, for God’s sake! – was an embarrassment. Singers off-pitch (I heard better choristers at the Met and in Vienna), rough chorus, scratchy orchestra – I left at intermission.

      • Lelio says:

        Fair assessment but you should also take into account the budget. And salaries. A chorister at the MET makes $ 200,000 in salary plus $ 100,000 in benefits per year. A chorister at Bucharest makes less than $ 10,000 per year. Top tickets at the MET are about $ 400. At the ONB about $ 15. Who would expect the same quality of performance in both theaters?

  • Vladoiu Sena says:

    Today wednesday, but check other shows 130 even 150 lei 😉

    • Lelio says:

      only for new productions…

      I would be happy to pay 1000 lei, then I would ask for good shows.

      Paying 55 lei one cannot expect much…

      • Vladoiu Sena says:

        Well Lelio..in Romania the salary wage is arround 900 – 1500 lei (230-300 euros)per month.So paying between 55 lei (12 euro) and 150 lei (33 euro) for a ticket to Opera or Theatres, Museums is enough for most of people. 😉 Let s not exaggerate.

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