Alymer Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 David Wall, the former Royal Ballet principal and much loved balletmaster of English National Ballet died at home this afternoon. He had been suffering from cancer. Link to comment
dirac Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 This is dreadful news. I never saw Wall dance live but I always liked him in clips and he was a great interview. He was part of a great age for British ballet. What a loss, and untimely too. RIP. Thank you for posting, Alymer. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 How terribly sad. May he rest in peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDDcsYPyg3w Link to comment
Helene Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 What sad news for the ballet world. He created the role of Prince Rudolph in "Mayerling." Here are two short videos preceded by photos, the first of which is from rehearsal and the second of which shows the same scene in costume. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVrWXsMnGY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsmPgr2fVTU Rest in peace, Mr. Wall. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 RIP, David. May this hideous illness be swept away from the face of earth forever and ever at some point. Link to comment
Barbara Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I've too always liked Mr. Wall. He appears on my tape of Manon, which I will now treasure all the more. RIP, Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 What a splendid Lescaut he was too. Link to comment
Drew Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I think Lescaut was my favorite of the performances I saw him dance. (I probably only saw him do it the one time.) Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M1WESKLJZQ Link to comment
Alexandra Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 This was a shock, as I did not know he was ill. I saw him both as Lescaut and as the Man in "Song of the Earth," among other roles, and admired him very much. RIP, Mr. Wall. Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 He was a wonderfully appealing performer -- even when he was playing characters who were not themselves appealing. I always felt like I got it, with the character he was playing. Thank you, David Wall. Link to comment
Cygnet Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Ballet has lost a most noble danseur and genius dance actor. May David Wall rest in eternal peace. Link to comment
Peter Anastos Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Saw him many times in New York with the Royal Ballet. Wonderful dancer and artist, very honest, tremendous audience appeal. He never achieved the gigantic success of a Nureyev, but he was undeniably a major star at the Royal and contributed so much to the company's success. He was genuine and true. Sad news, indeed. Link to comment
Helene Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 A slide show from "The Guardian" (edited to add) can be found from this page: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jun/19/david-wall (The URL to the actual slideshow does not work when posted directly although it appears in the browser.) Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Sorry Helene, there's a problem with that Guardian link Link to comment
dirac Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 It was posted in the LInks on Wednesday, along with a number of obits and appreciations. Another nice trove of pictures of Wall can be found in the Keith Money book "The Royal Ballet Today." The main company was away so Money focused more than usual on the farm team, particularly on Wall, often seen with his regular partner Doreen Wells. I think he's on the cover, too. There's also a striking sketch by Money of Wall in "The Two Pigeons." Link to comment
Nanarina Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 This news is so sad, David was a very dear friend of mine when I worked with the Royal Ballet, he was a really lovely guy. My heart goes out to Alfreda and his children and grand children. He would sit in my parents lounge eating bacon sarnies with other friends in the company, when we returned back off tour. It is so hard to believe he has gone. I watched a dvd of Manon on 18th June, without realsising why I felt extra sad, it has that effect on me. As soon as I heard it made it all the more poinient. Link to comment
Nanarina Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 By the way reference Keith Money's book "The Royal Ballet Today" there is a picture I am in, featuring the wardrobe room, back to the camera, sitting round a high table with the other girls. It was taken before I finished my apprenticeship and moved to the Touring Company. Link to comment
sandik Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I'm so sorry that you've lost a friend. When you feel up to it, we'd be happy to hear anything you'd like to tell us. Link to comment
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