100 replies to this topic

[anettefan]

having been priviledged to witness Alonso perform regularly in Havana in the 60's and 70's I can assure all that she was capable and regularly opened her Black Swan fuettes with 6 piruettes, counted, 32 single fuettes and close with 6 piruettes, granted, since the music cannot accommodate all these turns at the speed she did them, it would only kick in when she came down from the piruettes and stop reight on the 32nd until she completed her closing turns. And she did not travel, in any direction.

[cubanmiamiboy]

ViolinConcerto, on Dec 4 2007, 01:23 AM, said:

I hope to read and collect all of Cristian's translations of Ms. Alonso's remarks about Mr. B. soon -- but am now in the midst of some very intense personal (good) preparations, etc.  Thank you for those in advance!

Always a pleasure !...

[cubanmiamiboy]

rg, on Dec 2 2007, 02:53 PM, said:

this VAI release includes much of what was on the video cassette originally marketed as ALICIA

And now called "Prima Ballerina Assoluta".  Thank you rg for the link.  This is its content:


Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina Assoluta

A compilation of performances from 1963 to 1985 includes many of Alonso’s most celebrated roles. These range from Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote & Coppélia, Romeo & Juliet, and others. She is joined by members of her company, The Ballet Nacional de Cuba. As bonuses are performances from the CBC (with Igor Youskevitch,1958) and Bell Telephone Hour (with Melissa Hayden, Nora Kaye & Mia Slavenska, 1960). 74 min., Color, B&W. Playable in all regions.

Swan Lake: Black Swan Pas de Deux
Music: Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Alicia Alonso, after Petipa
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Azari Plisetsky, Hugo Guffanti
1968

Romeo & Juliet: Bedroom Scene
Music: Berlioz
Choreography: Alberto Alonso
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Azari Plisetsky
1970

Giselle: Act II Pas de Deux
Music: Adam
Choreography: Alicia Alonso, after Coralli & Perrot
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Azari Plisetsky
1963

Coppélia: Dr Coppélius and the Doll (Swanilda)
Music by Léo Delibes
Choreography: Alicia Alonso
(after the original by Arthur Saint-Léon and the version by Marius Petipa)
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, José Parés
1968

Don Quixote: Act III Pas de Deux
Music: Minkus
Choreography: Alicia Alonso, after Petipa & Obukhov
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Azari Plisetsky
1968

Pas de Quatre
Music: Pugni
Choreography: Alicia Alonso, after Perrot
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Mirta Plá, Loipa Araújo, Aurora Bosch
1968

La Fille Mal Gardée: Lisette Keeps Her Love a Secret
Music: Hertel
Choreography: Alicia Alonso, after Dauberval
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, José Parés and Alberto Méndez
1968

Oedipus Rex; Bedroom Scene
Music: Brouwer
Choreography: Alicia Alonso & Jorge Lefebre
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Jorge Esquivel
1971

La Peri
Music: Burgmüller
Choreograhy: Alberto Méndez
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Jorge Esquivel
1985

Carmen Suite: Variations & Habanera
Music: Shchedrin, after Bizet
Choreography: Alberto Alonso
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Azari Plisetsky
1968

All with Ballet National de Cuba
National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba
Manuel Duchesne Cuzán conductor

Bonuses

Black Swan Pas de Deux (First Adagio)  
Music: Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Petipa
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Igor Youskevitch
Orchestre de Radio-Canada, Jean Beaudet
December 4, 1958

Pas de Quatre
Music: Pugni
Choreography: Anton Dolin, after Perrot
Dancers: Alicia Alonso, Melissa Hayden, Nora Kaye, Mia Slavenska
Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra/Voorhees
April 1, 1960

[cubanmiamiboy]

Edited: Post erased.

[cubanmiamiboy]

This is another pic of Mme. that i would like to identify
Any help will be appreciated-(choreography, music, costume design, etc...)
thanks!
http://home.comcast.....lee/Alicia.jpg

[chiapuris]

cubanmiamiboy, on Jan 7 2009, 06:22 AM, said:

This is another pic of Mme. that i would like to identify
Any help will be appreciated-(choreography, music, costume design, etc...)
thanks!
http://home.comcast.....lee/Alicia.jpg

I can't help with identification, but it is a stunningly beautiful photograph!

[Mel Johnson]

That looks a great deal like the first Chagall costume for Firebird.

[rg]

indeed, FIREBIRD seems the best guess.
somewhere previously i posted a photo of Markova in BT's Chagall-designed Firebird and the headpiece looks very similar.
right now i haven't located the posted scan, if/when i do i can put a link here.
credits below:
Firebird : Chor: Adolf Bolm; mus: Igor Stravinsky; scen & cos: Marc Chagall. First perf: New York, Metropolitan Opera House, Oct 24, 1945, Ballet Theatre.

[rg]

here's a scan of a full-figure photo Alicia Markova as the Firebird in Ballet Theatre's 1940s production.
but it's clear that, if the link is AA in THE FIREBIRD, by this time, the costumer, or the individual dancer(s), dropped the upper-arm and ankle bracelets.

Attached Files

•  AMfirebirdBTwm.jpg   161.74K   64 downloads

[cubanmiamiboy]

Thank you all for the references! (specially to rg for the always great photographic help... )

[atm711]

If it is 'Firebird'---I never knew she danced the role.  I have been looking around but haven't found any reference to her performing it.

[Mme. Hermine]

This?

Peter and the wolf (ca. 11 min., b&w) / recorded in two performances in 1940 ; choreography, Adolph Bolm ; scenery and costumes, Lucinda Ballard ; danced by Ballet Theatre: Eugene Loring (Peter), Alicia Alonso (bird), Karen Conrad (duck), Nina Stroganova (cat), David Nillo (wolf), and others.

[rg]

i don't know the PETER/WOLF design scheme. i will say the tutu isn't an exact match for that on Markova as Firebird and that the feathered headpiece worn by Alonso is similar but not a precise duplication of that on Markova.

[Mel Johnson]

If I recall the Ballard costumes correctly, the bird headpiece had a very obvious beak, just as the duck had a very obvious bill.

[cubanmiamiboy]

A beautiful pic of Mme. and Youskevitch in the BT's old production of the Nutcracker.
https://www.allposte...s_i3835359_.htm