Physically, too, Kotova seemed to be holding herself in. It is important for an artist to have his own voice. Whether Kotova can overcome these inhibitions remains to be seen. She has the ambition and ability to succeed, but she needs to shed the impassiveness of a mannequin before she can communicate musically. She is not a bimbo - far from it.
Desperate times call for desperate remedies.
There is no harm in owning an exotic past, provided it is kept in check. Visit every week to read Norman Lebrecht's latest column.