I have watched
Steadfast Tin Soldier,
Diamonds pdd and
Stravinsky Violin Cto thus far.
I have to say that this whole thing of adapting choreography for the camera has a kind of dated look to me, just like Seventies lowered ceilings, or, indeed, the hairdos on some of the male dancers in these videos.
However seriously. The idea seems to be that the tv registration had to be art
as tv rather than the registration of a wonderful work of art. Looking back one or two [?] generations later I think that's a mistake. I'd rather miss some corps dancers out in the rear corners than have everybody strangely bunched up in front of the camera, mugging for a shot, with diagonals coming out of nowhere (spliced in obviously).
I think Mr B just loved to tinker with his ballets, and these tv registrations were another opportunity for him.
That being said it's of course wonderful to see Farrell and Martins in the
Diamonds pdd, or the original cast of Violin Cto. The reviewer remarks on the strange fit Barysh and Von Aroldingen make in
PSon, but watching litle Mazzo and Martins pdd together I could help but think she'd fit right in his giant paw - and of course that's what happens at the end of the mvt, in the celebrated panhandling gesture.
As I said on another thread, the sound on these videos is horrible. I watched the start of
Elégie, and had to take a break because of the execrable playing of this beautiful music. It doesn't look like one of Mr B's best anyway - great hair, though.
Herman
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