miliosr Posted September 15, 2016 Author Share Posted September 15, 2016 A few updates: The gala on September 24th will feature the new Crystal Pite work, which is now titled The Seasons' Canon. The defile will also be held on the 24th although the POB Web site doesn't specify whether it will be to the Wagner music (from last season) or whether it will revert back to Berlioz. George Balanchine's Sonatine has been added to the all-Balanchine program, which is now being billed as an 'Homage to Violette Verdy'. (Verdy, of course, debuted Sonatine [w/ Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux] in May 1975.) Link to comment
silvermash Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 5 hours ago, miliosr said: A few updates: The gala on September 24th will feature the new Crystal Pite work, which is now titled The Seasons' Canon. The defile will also be held on the 24th although the POB Web site doesn't specify whether it will be to the Wagner music (from last season) or whether it will revert back to Berlioz. George Balanchine's Sonatine has been added to the all-Balanchine program, which is now being billed as an 'Homage to Violette Verdy'. (Verdy, of course, debuted Sonatine [w/ Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux] in May 1975.) Interesting to note that Sonatine will only be danced the October dates, not in November. Link to comment
miliosr Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 The auditors will get you every time: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/16/paris-opera-ballet-lambasted-auditors-taxi-meals-bill-france-millepied Link to comment
silvermash Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 Very strange that this famous newspaper with this headline mixed Paris Opera and Paris Opera Ballet which is only part of it Link to comment
miliosr Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 Based on clips from my Instagram feed, it sounds like they've ditched Wagner for the defile and gone back to Berlioz. Link to comment
miliosr Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share Posted September 30, 2016 There was a marvelous video from the defile up on You Tube for a short time which was taken from a vantage point just off the front left side of the stage. Not only could you see the etoiles and premieres exiting the stage but you could also see and hear members of the company cheering those marchers for whom this would be their last defile. When the curtain came down for the last time, you could also see members of the company paying their respects to those for whom 2016-17 will be their last season, including the sujet Bruno Bouche. He will be assuming a leadership position at the Ballet de L'Opera National du Rhin: http://www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/Presse/Communiques-de-presse/Nomination-de-Bruno-Bouche Link to comment
Josette Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 3 hours ago, miliosr said: There was a marvelous video from the defile up on You Tube for a short time which was taken from a vantage point just off the front left side of the stage. Not only could you see the etoiles and premieres exiting the stage but you could also see and hear members of the company cheering those marchers for whom this would be their last defile. When the curtain came down for the last time, you could also see members of the company paying their respects to those for whom 2016-17 will be their last season, including the sujet Bruno Bouche. He will be assuming a leadership position at the Ballet de L'Opera National du Rhin: http://www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/Presse/Communiques-de-presse/Nomination-de-Bruno-Bouche A shame it disappeared, as I wanted to see premier danseur Emmanuel Thibault, who reportedly joined the line of etoiles at the end. He has been such a joy to watch throughout his career. Link to comment
miliosr Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 The now-deleted footage (which captured the entire defile) had some nice Emmanuel Thibault moments: He and Alessio Carbone were paired as the final two premiere danseurs to march. After they stopped and bowed, they looked at each other. Alessio Carbone gestured toward Thibault in a little tribute. As Thilbault walked off stage (right next to the person filming), he got a little cheer from the people standing offstage. Thibault was part of the etoiles line at the end. (From left to right, the order of the male etoiles was Thibault-Hoffalt-Paquette-Belingard-Ganio-Moreau-Heymann-Bullion.) After the curtain fell, Josua Hoffalt gave Thibault a big hug and a pat on the back. It was interesting listening to the applause for the etoiles and premieres. I thought Francois Alu and Hugo Marchand, who were paired together, got the biggest hand. I wish the footage was still on YouTube. It really gave a great glimpse of what the defile is like from the dancers' point-of-view. Link to comment
sandik Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I got a chance to see it, and was so impressed with the detail -- I'd only ever seen footage taken from far back in the house before, and saw all kinds of things I wasn't aware of previously. Link to comment
miliosr Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 2 hours ago, sandik said: I got a chance to see it, and was so impressed with the detail -- I'd only ever seen footage taken from far back in the house before, and saw all kinds of things I wasn't aware of previously. There was this great moment at the end when the etoiles were getting into position to form the front line of the defile. You could see five of the female etoiles coming toward the camera from the right side of stage. As they got to their respective spots, they all did this little turn (in perfect unison) into the line of male etoiles. The precision was impressive. Link to comment
miliosr Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 The schedule has changed again. For the upcoming Merce Cunningham/William Forsythe triple bill, Herman Schmerman has been substituted for Workwithinwork. Link to comment
ricaineballet Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 21 hours ago, miliosr said: The schedule has changed again. For the upcoming Merce Cunningham/William Forsythe triple bill, Herman Schmerman has been substituted for Workwithinwork. Where did you find this information? I don't see it on the opera website. Link to comment
miliosr Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 36 minutes ago, ricaineballet said: Where did you find this information? I don't see it on the opera website. https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/season-16-17/ballet/merce-cunningham-william-forsythe Link to comment
silvermash Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Balanchine's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by POB has been broadcasted live in cinemas last Thursday and will be available on French TV channel Culturebox from Monday March 27th . I don't remember if it's geoblocked or not but I do remember some of you can have access to. It was introduced by Sandra Jennings Cast : Titania : Eleonora Abbagnato Obéron : Hugo Marchand Puck : Emmanuel Thibault Hermia : Laëtitia Pujol Lysandre : Alessio Carbone Héléna : Fanny Gorse Démétrius : Audric Bézard Hyppolite : Alice Renavand Thésée : Florian Magnenet Bottom : Francesco Vantaggio Cavalier de Titania : Stéphane Bullion Papillon : Muriel Zusperreguy Divertissement - Sae Eun Park, Karl Paquette http://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/opera-classique/opera/l-opera-de-paris/le-songe-d-une-nuit-d-ete-par-le-ballet-de-l-opera-de-paris-253861 Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Thank you very much for the information! I am glad to see a number of dancers who are nearing retirement in the cast. It will be very sad to see them leaving the stage, but I am glad for one more video record of their performances. I notice that the POB has not followed the usual New York City Ballet practice of pairing a tall Titania with a short Oberon. Marchand must be among the tallest Oberons the role has ever had. Link to comment
silvermash Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 1 hour ago, volcanohunter said: Thank you very much for the information! I am glad to see a number of dancers who are nearing retirement in the cast. It will be very sad to see them leaving the stage, but I am glad for one more video record of their performances. I notice that the POB has not followed the usual New York City Ballet practice of pairing a tall Titania with a short Oberon. Marchand must be among the tallest Oberons the role has ever had. Well POB has very few short principal dancers except Mathias Heymann and Jérémie Bélingard, both unavailable for different reasons. The two other Oberon of this run are shortest but they are "only" Sujet, Paul Marque and Fabien Révillion. However up to me they were both better than Marchand, perhaps because they are shorter, lighter and quicker. Link to comment
kbarber Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 3 hours ago, volcanohunter said: Marchand must be among the tallest Oberons the role has ever had. 6' 3" Link to comment
naomikage Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Marchand is 192cm tall (sorry I have difficultly calculating into feet/inches) Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 (edited) That's more than 6'3½". Very tall for Balanchine's Oberon indeed! I'm extremely curious to see how he manages the Scherzo. Edited March 26, 2017 by volcanohunter Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Jérémie Bélingard's farewell performance will take place on May 13, apparently by improvising rather than performing someone else's choreography.http://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/danse/le-danseur-etoile-jeremie-belingard-fera-ses-adieux-a-la-scene-le-13-mai-254325 Link to comment
silvermash Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 6 hours ago, volcanohunter said: Jérémie Bélingard's farewell performance will take place on May 13, apparently by improvising rather than performing someone else's choreography.http://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/danse/le-danseur-etoile-jeremie-belingard-fera-ses-adieux-a-la-scene-le-13-mai-254325 Yes. I was thinking he might dance in one of the Forsythe but perhaps it's better, then he will improvise according to his physical condition. He has cancelled so many appearances the past years that it's a secure choice. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 It seems like a novel approach, especially for a ballet company. I wonder, has any other étoile retired in this fashion? I presume that Bélingard is quite adept at improvising. The thing is that it can feel great while you're doing it, but not look like much of anything for someone watching. It's also very easy to rely on favorite movements and repeat them too often. Link to comment
silvermash Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 It's probably not going to be a real improvisation. . Bélingard has choreographed a couple of pieces so far. But of course, it can be not so good as well! Link to comment
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