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Bolshoi Is Not Renewing Acid Attack Victim’s Contract Bolshoi Is Not Renewing Acid Attack Victim’s Contract
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — The Bolshoi Theater will not be extending the contract of Sergei Filin, the ballet’s artistic director who was injured in an acid attack organized by a dancer in January 2013. MOSCOW — The Bolshoi Theater will not be extending the contract of Sergei Filin, the ballet’s artistic director who was injured in an acid attack organized by a dancer in January 2013.
According to a statement posted on the Bolshoi’s website on Thursday, the theater’s general director, Vladimir Urin, told Mr. Filin that his contract would not be extended once it expires in March. Until then, Mr. Filin will continue “to be responsible for new productions, questions regarding the operation of the theater’s ballet troupe and its tours.”According to a statement posted on the Bolshoi’s website on Thursday, the theater’s general director, Vladimir Urin, told Mr. Filin that his contract would not be extended once it expires in March. Until then, Mr. Filin will continue “to be responsible for new productions, questions regarding the operation of the theater’s ballet troupe and its tours.”
Mr. Filin lost of most of his sight in the acid attack, which made headlines all over the world, and caused internal turmoil at the Bolshoi. He later underwent about 30 operations, mostly in Germany, to restore a measure of vision, and has continued to rehearse and oversee the company. Mr. Filin lost of most of his sight in the acid attack, which made headlines all over the world, and caused turmoil at the Bolshoi. He later underwent treatment, mostly in Germany, to restore a measure of vision, and has continued to rehearse and oversee the company.
Pavel Dmitrichenko, a Bolshoi soloist, was sentenced in December 2013 to six years in prison for organizing the attack; that sentence was reduced to five and a half years in March 2014. Yuri Zarutsky, who threw the acid at Mr. Filin’s face, had his original 10-year sentence reduced to nine years. Pavel Dmitrichenko, a Bolshoi soloist, was sentenced in December 2013 to six years in prison for organizing the attack; that sentence was reduced to 5 ½ years in March 2014. Yuri Zarutsky, who threw the acid at Mr. Filin’s face, had his original 10-year sentence reduced to nine.
Prosecutors said Mr. Dmitrichenko was angry at Mr. Filin for bypassing his common-law wife, Anzhelina Vorontsova, for lead roles. The attack exposed a web of intrigue and rivalries at the Bolshoi, Russia’s showcase theater, and led to the removal of Anatoly Iksanov, Mr. Urin’s predecessor, who had overseen a six-year restoration of its historic building, which reopened in 2011. Prosecutors said Mr. Dmitrichenko was angry at Mr. Filin for bypassing his common-law wife, Anzhelina Vorontsova, for lead roles. The attack exposed intrigue and rivalries at the Bolshoi, Russia’s showcase theater, and led to the removal of Anatoly Iksanov, Mr. Urin’s predecessor.
Mr. Urin told the Tass news agency that by law he could have waited to tell Mr. Filin the news until two months before his contract expired. But, Mr. Urin said, “taking into account the significance of the event, ethical norms and respect toward” him, he decided to inform him now.Mr. Urin told the Tass news agency that by law he could have waited to tell Mr. Filin the news until two months before his contract expired. But, Mr. Urin said, “taking into account the significance of the event, ethical norms and respect toward” him, he decided to inform him now.
In his statement, Mr. Urin praised Mr. Filin’s work and credited him with bringing choreographers like Roland Petit, Pierre Lacotte, John Neumeier and Jean-Christophe Maillot to the Bolshoi, and with reviving ballets by Yuri Grigorovich. The fact that Mr. Filin’s contract was not being renewed, he said, was connected to internal matters at the theater. He said that Mr. Filin would probably continue to work in an advisory capacity for the Bolshoi. In his statement, Mr. Urin praised Mr. Filin’s work and credited him with bringing choreographers like Roland Petit, Pierre Lacotte, John Neumeier and Jean-Christophe Maillot to the Bolshoi, and with reviving ballets by Yuri Grigorovich. The fact that Mr. Filin’s contract was not being renewed, he said, was connected to internal matters at the theater. He said that Mr. Filin would probably continue in an advisory capacity for the Bolshoi.
Mr. Filin told Tass that he had “no grounds for hard feelings” against the Bolshoi’s management. He signed a five-year contract with the theater in 2011, valid until March 17, 2016, and was prepared for the possibility that it might not be prolonged. “This is a normal practice in the modern world,” he told the news agency. Mr. Filin told Tass that he had “no grounds for hard feelings” against the Bolshoi’s management. He signed a five-year contract with the theater in 2011, valid until March 17, 2016, and was prepared for the possibility that it might not be prolonged. “This is a normal practice in the modern world,” he said.
Mr. Urin also said in his statement that as of March 18, 2016, the position of artistic director of the Bolshoi ballet would cease to exist. He said there would be a new “director” position that would be “analogous to that of other opera and ballet theaters around the world.” However, he added that the position would be mainly concerned with organizational activities, like rehearsing, supervising performances and overseeing tours. Mr. Urin also said in his statement that as of March 18, 2016, the position of artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet would cease to exist. He said there would be a new “director” position that would be “analogous to that of other opera and ballet theaters around the world.” However, he added that the position would be mainly concerned with organizational activities, like rehearsing, supervising performances and overseeing tours.
Katya Novikova, a spokeswoman for the Bolshoi Ballet, said in a telephone interview that Mr. Urin would not elaborate on his statement. She said she was unable to clarify whether he meant that the director position would be more administrative, leaving artistic policy to others. “A lot will depend on who is chosen to fill the position,” she said. Katya Novikova, a spokeswoman for the ballet, said in a phone interview that Mr. Urin would not elaborate on his statement. She said she was unable to clarify whether he meant that the director position would be more administrative, leaving artistic policy to others. “A lot will depend on who is chosen to fill the position,” she said.
In his statement, Mr. Urin declined to say if there were prospective candidates in mind, adding that the choice would be made and announced to the company in September. In his statement, Mr. Urin declined to say if there were candidates in mind, adding that the choice would be made and announced in September.
Mr. Fillin’s relatively outward-looking approach to repertory has previously come under attack from more conservative quarters at the Bolshoi. The theater’s choice of a new director for the ballet will show whether there is adherence to the more international, outward-looking direction that Mr. Filin has pursued, or whether there is a return to a purist approach focused on the 19th-century repertory and big-story ballets for which the Bolshoi is known. Mr. Filin’s approach to repertory has previously come under attack from more conservative quarters at the Bolshoi. The theater’s choice of a new director for the ballet will show whether there is adherence to the more outward-looking direction that Mr. Filin has pursued, or whether there is a return to a purist approach focused on the 19th-century repertory and big-story ballets for which the Bolshoi is known.