Kirov Ballet

Casting has been announced for the Kirov Ballet "Nutcracker," Dec. 22-Jan. 3 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The dancers scheduled in the roles of Masha and the Prince duplicate "Nutcracker" casting from earlier this month at the Orange County Performing Arts Center--with one major exception. Kirov principal Farukh Ruzimatov will appear five times at the Pavilion in his first Southland performances since 1989. Tue., Dec. 22, 8 p.m.: Larissa Lezhnina (Masha), Farukh Ruzimatov (Prince). Wed.

Everybody, simply everybody, loves "The Nutcracker." 'Tis the season. . . .

More than 230 productions of the "Nutcracker" ballet will be danced in the United States this year, the 100th anniversary of the perennial holiday favorite. These productions are expected to draw nearly $46 million in box office revenues from more than 2 million customers, according to the current issue of Dance Magazine. Little did the producers of the original "Nutcracker" dream of such popularity. In fact, the first production--seen at the Maryinsky Theater in St.

The column by Clay Felker ("Be Prepared to Be Dazzled," Commentary, July 6) exemplifies the myopic disability that has begun to pervade what some label as High Journalism. Regardless of how greatly his wife has been helped by Tina Brown, Felker should not assume that the staff and readers of the New Yorker need such assistance. Tom Wolfe's endless banalities aside, the New Yorker, as a weekly publication, still plays a role of vital importance for both writer and reader. While the New Yorker has always commented upon the several lively arts, it has primarily manifested itself as a magazine of the written word.

Appearing as a guest with the Kirov Ballet, Maximillian Guerra made a sensational debut as Solor in "La Bayadere" at the Civic Theatre on Saturday. In one of those familiar switches from previously announced casting, Guerra danced a day earlier than scheduled. This and other changes came about because Igor Zelensky had to pull out temporarily from the tour.

The Kirov Ballet will bring its "Nutcracker" ballet to North America for the first time later this year, with the U.S. premiere scheduled for Dec. 1-6 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The seven-performance engagement at the center will open a tour that will include stops in Canada and Mexico as well as in the United States. It represents the centennial anniversary of the perennial holiday ballet, which was created for the famed Russian company.

Oleg Vinogradov, artistic director of the Kirov Ballet, is leaning forward across the round table, his eyes narrowing in anger. Despite widespread evidence that his English is fine--spending four months a year in Washington, D.C., running the Moonies' ballet academy has helped--he's been doing this interview through an interpreter.

The Kirov Ballet blames the Los Angeles riots for a 50% shortfall in anticipated ticket sales during the company's May 26-31 engagement at the Shrine Auditorium. The turnout contrasted sharply with attendance at the Kirov's May 19-24 performances at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, which drew 89% capacity audiences at the smaller, 3,000-seat house. Kirov publicist Simon Halls said the company had expected 85-90% capacity audiences at the Shrine.

New principals faced one another in the fatal love triangle of the Kirov Ballet "La Bayadere," Friday in Shrine Auditorium. As the doomed Nikiya, Zhanna Ayupova emphasized emotional intensity: the character's wild happiness in the rendezvous with Solor, her defensive anger in the confrontation with Gamzatti, her deep sorrow in the wedding solo.