Ekaterina Maximova
Encyclopedia
Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova was a Soviet and Russia
n ballerina
of international renown.
, Soviet Union
. An artist who combined great technical prowess with piquant prettiness, Maximova enjoyed her greatest successes in Giselle
, Don Quixote
, Cinderella
and The Nutcracker
. On May 8, 1966, Maximova was one of the Bolshoi stars who danced in the last program presented at the old Metropolitan Opera House on Thirty-ninth Street and Broadway. Maximova was coached by the legendary ballerina Galina Ulanova.
Maximova performed with the Bolshoi Ballet
from 1958 until 1980, often performing opposite her husband Vladimir Vasiliev
. She and her husband gleaned wide exposure for their appearances in Franco Zeffirelli
's filmed version of Giuseppe Verdi
's opera
La traviata
(1983). Both performed in Spanish costume in the divertissements composed for the equivalent of Act II, scene 2, though she with much diminished technique in comparison to her husband.
Maximova was greatly admired for her technical skills, athleticism, and "piquant prettiness." Her greatest successes were the roles of Kitri in Don Quixote, Clara (called Masha in the Bolshoi production) in The Nutcracker, and the title roles in Giselle and Cinderella. When the Bolshoi Ballet toured to the United States for the first time in 1959, Maximova also performed as a guest artist with the Metropolitan Opera
in leading roles in The Stone Flower
and other ballets. She later was one of the Bolshoi stars who danced in the last program presented at the old Metropolitan Opera House on Thirty-ninth Street and Broadway on May 8, 1966. Following her career as a dancer, Maximova was a coach with the ballet and a member of the GITIS Institute faculty. On 27 April 2009 she died aged 70 in Moscow, Russia.
in 1981. She was named a People's Artist of the USSR
in 1973.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
of international renown.
Career
Maximova was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. An artist who combined great technical prowess with piquant prettiness, Maximova enjoyed her greatest successes in Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
, Don Quixote
Don Quixote (ballet)
Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the...
, Cinderella
Cinderella (Prokofiev)
Cinderella is a ballet, Op. 87, composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. It is one of his most popular and melodious compositions, and has inspired a great many choreographers since its inception. The piece was composed between 1940 and 1944. Part way through writing it he...
and The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
. On May 8, 1966, Maximova was one of the Bolshoi stars who danced in the last program presented at the old Metropolitan Opera House on Thirty-ninth Street and Broadway. Maximova was coached by the legendary ballerina Galina Ulanova.
Maximova performed with the Bolshoi Ballet
Bolshoi Ballet
The Bolshoi Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Founded in 1776, the Bolshoi is among the world's oldest ballet companies, however it only achieved worldwide acclaim by the early 20th century, when Moscow became the...
from 1958 until 1980, often performing opposite her husband Vladimir Vasiliev
Vladimir Vasiliev (ballet dancer)
Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev , a Russian ballet dancer, was principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, and was best known for his role of Spartacus and his powerful leaps and turns.-Biography:Born in Moscow in 1940, the son of a truck driver, Vasiliev graduated from the Moscow Ballet School in 1958...
. She and her husband gleaned wide exposure for their appearances in Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
's filmed version of Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
La traviata
La Traviata (1983 film)
La Traviata is a 1982 Italian film written, designed, and directed by Franco Zeffirelli. It is based on the 1853 opera of the same name with music by Giuseppe Verdi and libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. The film actually premiered in Italy in 1982, then went into general release there in 1983. It...
(1983). Both performed in Spanish costume in the divertissements composed for the equivalent of Act II, scene 2, though she with much diminished technique in comparison to her husband.
Maximova was greatly admired for her technical skills, athleticism, and "piquant prettiness." Her greatest successes were the roles of Kitri in Don Quixote, Clara (called Masha in the Bolshoi production) in The Nutcracker, and the title roles in Giselle and Cinderella. When the Bolshoi Ballet toured to the United States for the first time in 1959, Maximova also performed as a guest artist with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in leading roles in The Stone Flower
The Stone Flower
The Stone Flower is a 1946 Soviet fantasy film directed by Aleksandr Ptushko. It was the Soviet Union's first color film shot on AgfaColor negative film seized in Germany, and was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival...
and other ballets. She later was one of the Bolshoi stars who danced in the last program presented at the old Metropolitan Opera House on Thirty-ninth Street and Broadway on May 8, 1966. Following her career as a dancer, Maximova was a coach with the ballet and a member of the GITIS Institute faculty. On 27 April 2009 she died aged 70 in Moscow, Russia.
Awards
Maximova was the recipient of the Gold Medal at the Varna Competition in 1964 and the USSR State PrizeUSSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
in 1981. She was named a People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
in 1973.