25 replies to this topic

[Rosa]

With it being Nutcracker season, I'm curious to know what version or versions of the grand pas de deux are Ballet Talkers' favorite -- would never grow tired of watching. There are so many out there...

I personally like the versions by Baryshnikov, Nureyev, Vainonen, and Petit.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Sir Peter Wright's.  

[Hans]

Mary Day's version is my favourite, but I also like Wright's.

[toeprints]

Nureyev's version.  Breathtaking!  When he tossed Merle Park into the air - twice - I was in shock.  His entire choreography was the best and most exciting that I've ever seen.

[Lidewij]

The Vainonen version for me, please.  

[atm711]

My favorite Grand Pas goes back many years to the first version I saw,--the Ballet Russe version staged by Alexandra Fedorova.  It was a truncated version, to say the least, and done on a shoe string--but, that Grand Pas has remained with me all these years and I have warm memories of Danilova and Krassovska.  I loved the choreography and I generally wince when I see other versions to that glorious music.

[Mel Johnson]

That's my favorite, too, probably because it was the first one I learned.  It's based pretty faithfully on the Ivanov, and funnily, it uses a cut in the "big music" because that section was devoted to "stage magic" in the original, only I think that they cut the wrong eight bars.  The third restatement of the theme, with the woodwind arpeggios and crashing cymbals is much grander than the version that BR used.  

Also, the original SPF, Antonietts dell'Era was described by Petipa as "Madame no good"!  But she could do pirouettes into arabesque, so that's why there are so many of those packed tightly together.  Because she was not at the top of her technique and strength, having been dancing (and singing!) in comic operas for the years leading up to the new ballet, her technical material is relatively easy, so a ballerina can concentrate on perfection.

[cubanmiamiboy]

atm711, on Dec 5 2009, 04:56 AM, said:

My favorite Grand Pas goes back many years to the first version I saw,--the Ballet Russe version staged by Alexandra Fedorova.  It was a truncated version...

Mel Johnson, on Dec 5 2009, 05:09 AM, said:

That's my favorite, too...

Interesting that Fedorova's was my first thought to the original question.  I've said many times how fond I am of this version, for which is the one I grew up with.  (Actually, tomorrow I will see it, in its CCBM re-incarnation).  The thing is, I often wondered why was its grand adagio score chopped off in its most beautiful climax, so when I saw Sir Peter Wright's-(which is basically the same one, PLUS the missing bars, PLUS that lovely passage of the ballerina being carried on pointe on top of the musseline wrap)-..well, then I loved it even more.

Interesting too, the music is still chopped off in Cuba, so it is in the CCBM's version.  Talk about being faithful to the past!  


Fedorova's in Havana. CNB.  Lorna Feijoo and Osmay Molina


Fedorova's in Miami. CCBM.  Jordan Elizabeth Long and Miguel Angel Blanco


Sir Peter Wright's . Dowel and Collier


Fonteyn and Somes, at the very end of the clip.

[atm711]

Ballet Theatre also did this version as a divertissement with the likes of Markova, Hightower and Alonso.

[Mel Johnson]

Right, and it's written out in letterpress form in Dolin's book, Pas de Deux: The Art of Partnering.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Nina Novak Ballet also uses Fedorova's version.

[Paul Parish]

Thanks, Christian for those links -- I'm particularly grateful for the Fonteyn one (and Feijoo -- as you know I adore her)...

The Fonteyn is new to me , and very interesting: I love the way she does the flourishes, there's something Spanish to them (and of course she is a Fontes, it's her birthright), her hands are like flowers, she's not embarrassed by the personal emphasis the phrasing calls for but understands that it's what the public deserves, she should be WONDERFUL!

The interview with Shearer, ABOUT her is worth something, too. Wonder what this is a clip FROM?

cubanmiamiboy, on Dec 5 2009, 08:47 AM, said:

atm711, on Dec 5 2009, 04:56 AM, said:

My favorite Grand Pas goes back many years to the first version I saw,--the Ballet Russe version staged by Alexandra Fedorova.  It was a truncated version...

Mel Johnson, on Dec 5 2009, 05:09 AM, said:

That's my favorite, too...

Interesting that Fedorova's was my first thought to the original question.  I've said many times how fond I am of this version, for which is the one I grew up with.  (Actually, tomorrow I will see it, in its CCBM re-incarnation).  The thing is, I often wondered why was its grand adagio score chopped off in its most beautiful climax, so when I saw Sir Peter Wright's-(which is basically the same one, PLUS the missing bars, PLUS that lovely passage of the ballerina being carried on pointe on top of the musseline wrap)-..well, then I loved it even more.

Interesting too, the music is still chopped off in Cuba, so it is in the CCBM's version.  Talk about being faithful to the past!  


Fedorova's in Havana. CNB.  Lorna Feijoo and Osmay Molina


Fedorova's in Miami. CCBM.  Jordan Elizabeth Long and Miguel Angel Blanco


Sir Peter Wright's . Dowel and Collier


Fonteyn and Somes, at the very end of the clip.

[carbro]

Here's a shocker:  My favorite is Balanchine's, even tho it doesn't have a male variation (which I regret).  There isn't much in ballet that's more thrilling than the supported pirouette into the backbend on the crescendo.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Fedorova's again...by Bejart's ballet...

[Hans]

Quite a surreal performance...as if Odile decided to drop by Confiturembourg!