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2014 Olympics launched in Sochi with extravagant Opening Ceremonies pageant 2014 Olympics launched in Sochi with extravagant Opening Ceremonies pageant
(35 minutes later)
SOCHI, Russia – Before a crowd of 40,000, the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics kicked off Friday evening with the sweet voice of a little girl running through the 33 letters of the Russian alphabet. SOCHI, Russia — Before a crowd of 40,000, the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics kicked off Friday evening with the sweet voice of a little girl running through the 33 letters of the Russian alphabet.
All told, more than 4,700 cast members will perform during the 150-minute extravaganza. After all the buzz over the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, organizers knew they had a high bar to clear. But the focus on the young girl at the beginning meant that the massive celebration opened on an intimate, whimsical note. All told, more than 4,700 cast members will perform during the 150-minute extravaganza. After all the buzz over the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, organizers knew they had a high bar to clear. But the focus on the young girl at the beginning meant that the massive celebration opened on an intimate, whimsical note.
One glitch, involving a giant snowflake, did little to mar the overall effect — and was quickly edited out of the Russian television broadcast.One glitch, involving a giant snowflake, did little to mar the overall effect — and was quickly edited out of the Russian television broadcast.
[See the latest Olympic updates here.][See the latest Olympic updates here.]
The theme at any Olympics is supposed to reflect the history of the host country. Russia has lived through more than its share of difficult moments, but Konstantin Ernst, who runs the national First Channel television company here and is the producer of the Opening Ceremonies, said he wanted to concentrate on Russia’s achievements – which are also legion. The theme at any Olympics is supposed to reflect the history of the host country. Russia has lived through more than its share of difficult moments, but Konstantin Ernst, who runs the national First Channel television company here and is the producer of the Opening Ceremonies, said he wanted to concentrate on Russia’s achievements — which are also legion.
So 11-year-old Liza Temnikova, playing a character named “Lyubov,” or “Love,” recited the name of a famous Russian person or event or invention for each letter of the Cyrillic alphabet. The first surprise of the evening may have come with the letter “N,” when she said, “Vladimir Nabokov” -- the émigré novelist who made his life in America, wrote eventually in English and, as the author of “Lolita,” about an older man’s infatuation with a young girl, may not be considered by the straight-laced Kremlin to be among Russia’s most suitable writers. So 11-year-old Liza Temnikova, playing a character named Lyubov, or Love, recited the name of a famous Russian person or event or invention for each letter of the Cyrillic alphabet. The first surprise of the evening may have come with the letter N, when she said, “Vladimir Nabokov” — the émigré novelist who made his life in America, wrote eventually in English and, as the author of “Lolita” — about an older man’s infatuation with a young girl — may not be considered by the straight-laced Kremlin to be among Russia’s most suitable writers.
More than 40 heads of state were expected to be in attendance. President Obama was not among them, but Ukraine’s beleaguered Viktor Yanukovych was. More than 40 heads of state were expected to be in attendance. President Obama was not among them, but Ukraine’s beleaguered president, Viktor Yanukovych, was.
The ceremony is taking place in the Fisht Olympic Stadium – actually designed to be a soccer arena, and plenty roomy. Two huge truss arches, bowed out from each other, support a high, dark ceiling, almost 279 feet above the ground level, from which hang the cables that began to move immense props as the evening began. The biggest piece of scenery weighs more than 5 tons. The ceremony is taking place in the Fisht Olympic Stadium — actually designed to be a soccer arena, and plenty roomy. Two huge truss arches, bowed out from each other, support a high, dark ceiling, almost 279 feet above the ground level, from which hang the cables that began to move immense props as the evening began. The biggest piece of scenery weighs more than five tons.
The first scene imagined Lyubov asleep and dreaming, then grabbing the tail of a kite and being lifted far off the stage. Seven “islands” representing the variety of Russia’s vast topography – everything from an Arctic village to a birch forest to a volcano – floated past her in the air. The first scene imagined Lyubov asleep and dreaming, then grabbing the tail of a kite and being lifted far off the stage. Seven “islands” representing the variety of Russia’s vast topography — everything from an Arctic village to a birch forest to a volcano — floated past her in the air.
Giant snowflakes emerged, and slowly transformed into the five Olympic rings – except that one refused to open. Russian television, equipped with a backup recording from Tuesday’s dress rehearsal, didn’t broadcast the malfunction. Giant snowflakes emerged and slowly transformed into the five Olympic rings — except that one refused to open. Russian television, equipped with a backup recording from Tuesday’s dress rehearsal, didn’t broadcast the malfunction.
Music by Alexander Borodin’s “Prince Igor” accompanied the scene. Ernst said music throughout the program will lean heavily on the Russian classics, with a mash-up of pop tunes interspersed.Music by Alexander Borodin’s “Prince Igor” accompanied the scene. Ernst said music throughout the program will lean heavily on the Russian classics, with a mash-up of pop tunes interspersed.
“Unfortunately, unlike London we cannot boast of a plethora of popular performers known around the world,” he said. So Modest Mussorgsky and Pyotr Tchaikovsky would have to do. “Unfortunately, unlike London, we cannot boast of a plethora of popular performers known around the world,” he said. So Modest Mussorgsky and Pyotr Tchaikovsky would have to do.
The parade of athletes from each unfolded to faster-tempo music,to keep the process moving along. Most teams were in colorful but sensible winter sports outfits. The Bermudans, though, came in blue blazers and bright red Bermuda shorts. The Cayman Islands athletes did them one better – shorts and flip-flops. The Brits wore “Fargo”-style fur police hats. The parade of athletes from each unfolded to faster-tempo music,to keep the process moving along. Most teams were in colorful but sensible winter sports outfits. The Bermudans, though, came in blue blazers and bright red Bermuda shorts. The Cayman Islands athletes did them one better — shorts and flip-flops. The Brits wore “Fargo”-style fur police hats.
Each team was accompanied by a Russian model, dressed in white. The one assigned to Iran stood out – unlike the others, she wore a full-length dress. Each team was accompanied by a Russian model dressed in white. The one assigned to Iran stood out: Unlike the others, she wore a full-length dress.
Still ahead was the usual collection of speeches, and the lighting of the Olympic torch. A dramatic effect was in the works for that, but Ernst wasn’t saying ahead of time. “This is the biggest secret ever,” he said in English, and shrugged. Still ahead was the usual collection of speeches and the lighting of the Olympic torch. A dramatic effect was in the works for that, but Ernst wasn’t saying ahead of time. “This is the biggest secret ever,” he said in English, and shrugged.
The history pageant included 18 episodes. Ernst called them “simple, straightforward” metaphors.The history pageant included 18 episodes. Ernst called them “simple, straightforward” metaphors.
Following the parade of athletes, they resumed with a medieval scene – featuring large inflated characters and onion domes, brightly painted in the style of traditional Russian “dymki,” or clay figurines.Following the parade of athletes, they resumed with a medieval scene – featuring large inflated characters and onion domes, brightly painted in the style of traditional Russian “dymki,” or clay figurines.
Peter the Great sailed in, destined for St. Petersburg in his seven-league boots.Peter the Great sailed in, destined for St. Petersburg in his seven-league boots.
His epauletted, gray-clad soldiers marched here and there and then, in a wink, became graceful waltzing gentry at “Natasha Rostova’s First Ball,” in a scene named for a character in Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.”His epauletted, gray-clad soldiers marched here and there and then, in a wink, became graceful waltzing gentry at “Natasha Rostova’s First Ball,” in a scene named for a character in Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.”
Russians today have a particular nostalgia for the 19th century, when everything seemed more cultured, noble and sophisticated (if you weren’t a serf, that is). At court, everyone spoke French. This is when ballet took hold here. Now it’s as deeply associated with Russia as vodka or caviar. The scene, on the big Sochi stage, featured some of Russia’s pre-eminent ballet stars – including Svetlana Zakharova and Vladimir Vasiliev. Russians today have a particular nostalgia for the 19th century, when everything seemed more cultured, noble and sophisticated (if you weren’t a serf, that is). At court, everyone spoke French. This is when ballet took hold here. Now it’s as deeply associated with Russia as vodka or caviar. The scene, on the big Sochi stage, featured some of Russia’s pre-eminent ballet stars. including Svetlana Zakharova and Vladimir Vasiliev.
To discordant music, the scene ends with the nobility falling as if dead, then fleeing. To discordant music, the scene ended with the nobility falling as if dead, then fleeing.
Thus began the 20th century.Thus began the 20th century.
A giant locomotive was hauled in slowly through the air, followed by trusses, beams, and a huge cone. The music, “Time Forward,” was for years the theme song of Soviet news programs. Red predominated. A giant locomotive was hauled in slowly through the air, followed by trusses, beams and a huge cone. The music, “Time Forward,” was for years the theme song of Soviet news programs. Red predominated.
The inspiration was Kazimir Malevich, an outstanding artist of the 1910s and 1920s, a founder of the Suprematist movement. Huge tractors, giant gears, cogs rolled onto the stage, people parts within them. The inspiration was Kazimir Malevich, an outstanding artist of the 1910s and 1920s, and a founder of the Suprematist movement. Huge tractors, giant gears and cogs rolled onto the stage, people as parts within them.
It was a commentary on life in the early Soviet days. Ernst said the Bolshevik revolution was a topic that couldn’t be avoided, but that he wanted to approach it through the world of art. It was a commentary on life in the early Soviet days. Ernst said that the Bolshevik Revolution was a topic that couldn’t be avoided, but that he wanted to approach it through the world of art.
“The avant-garde predicted the revolution, and the revolution killed the avant-garde,” he said.“The avant-garde predicted the revolution, and the revolution killed the avant-garde,” he said.
All in all, the event is expected to last 2 and a half hours. Broadcasters around the world who have bought rights to the Olympics – NBC in the United States, for instance -- are not required to show the whole thing. Then came the 1960s, and a period remembered fondly by many adult Russians today. Men triumphantly carried red jets, then white rockets. The name of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, illuminated the floor. Buildings arose, actual old Soviet cars drove down the middle of the stage. A frenetic but cheerful dance went from Students, to Hipsters, to Lovers, to Weddings, to Kids. It ended with a nod to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, with runners and the Games’ theme music from 34 years ago.
At 10:25, Putin declared the Games open.
And to launch the conclusion – what else? – an excerpt from Swan Lake, by Tchaikovsky, the lead danced by Diana Vishneva. But instead of tutus, the dancers sported illuminated tendrils, like those of an especially beautiful jellyfish, that they spun to create an effect like that of a flock of white doves.
Anna Netrebko, the opera singer, sang the Olympic Hymn.