Alexander Plisetski


Alexander Plisetski was a Russian ballet master and choreographer and a younger brother of the famous Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya.

Biography

Family

Alexander Plisetski was born on 20 October 1931 into the family of a diplomat and an actress.
His father, Michael Plisetski, was Consul General of the USSR at the island of Spitsbergen, where he managed the coal concessions. In 1938 he was purged, charged with espionage and executed. He was rehabilitated on 3 March 1956.
His mother, Rachel Messerer, was a silent film actress. Shortly after her husband was arrested, she was sent to a labour camp in Kazakhstan named the “”. During her imprisonment, Alexander stayed with the family of her brother, Asaf Messerer, while his elder sister, Maya Plisetskaya, who later became a famous ballerina, was placed in the custody of Sulamith Messerer.
In 1969 Alexander married a ballerina, Marianna Sedova. Their daughter, Anna Plisetskaya, became a ballerina and actress.

Career

In the period from 1973 to 1985, Alexander Plisetski staged several ballets, including:
Theatres which have hosted Plisetsi's productions include, The Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater, the National Opera of Ukraine, the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Sydney Opera House, the Finnish National Opera, the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and the Teatro Colón.

Death

Plisetski was in need of heart surgery, which should have been carried out in the United States by invitation from Igor Youskevitch; however, due to his choreographic commitments, the operation was postponed. In the last year of his life he was actively involved in the staging of Serenade for Strings, which premiered in Moscow in November 1984.
Plisetski died on 29 October 1985 in Moscow during heart surgery.

Awards and honours

Diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Council

Reviews