kfw Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Speaking of "fixing" ballets . . . after reading Verdy's comments about Emeralds in the Costas book, where she speaks of "beautiful, intricate work in it, that has disappeared" because Balanchine was angered by Irving's fast tempos and took it out, I've been meaning to ask if anyone could describe this choreography. And I know she helped stage this ballet for Miami City Ballet. She says she still remembers the lost choreography. Does anyone know, did she really not teach it down there? Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 I can't answer, but wanted to say -- good question. Also interesting is the point about Balanchine's being angered by the fast tempi. That doesn't square with the current version of the Myth. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 It may not fit with the Myth, but it sure squares with onset symptoms of classic CJD. Inexplicable fits of anger up to ten years before definitive encephalopathy symptoms show up is accepted as part of that disease's symptomology. Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 kfw - The choreography that I describe Verdy and Ludlow teaching to Carla Lorbes and James Fayette in the current print edition of Dance View is from an earlier version of Emeralds. Their source of the choreography is a 1971 videotape taken in performance. What they taught was the opening pas de deux, which is different, but the differences didn't seem to be driven by speed or tempos. It may not be the part Verdy is referring to in her quotes. There's no question she could get the older version back; I don't think she was relying on the video, but she did need it to check against her memory. The videotape is silent, and she and Ludlow were having a hard time putting it on the music with precision - but to use her words from that session, she would be able to "resurrect" it. Link to comment
leibling Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Violette did restore choreography to the opening pas of Emeralds here at Miami City Ballet, and we still perform it as she set it. She also made some slight alterations to her bracelet variation- just a couple of spacing things, though. Link to comment
kfw Posted February 23, 2004 Author Share Posted February 23, 2004 Thanks, everyone. I look forward to seeing NYCB's Emeralds in D.C. in a couple of weeks. Link to comment
glebb Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Had to watch this solo (Paris Opera DVD) today. Why do I love it so much? Link to comment
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