19 replies to this topic

[Dale]

Lovely photos.  That ballet doesn't look like a "museum peice" to me.

[Fraildove]

It is so wonderful to see that picture of Danton. I studied with him and he became not only a mentor, but a second grandfather to me. Pictures of him are so hard to come by. Thank you!

[Paul Parish]

wonderful pictures -- such supple upper bodies, such vivid dancers --

are these from the war years? THose days seem to have been incredibly charged for the Saddlers' Wells group,  they were not just part of the war effort, they performed like heroes, under unbelievable conditions, air raids, all that.....

and i have to agree with Glebb, it's wonderful to see Larsen in DANCING form....

[Mel Johnson]

The pictures appear to be either from the war years or just immediately prior to the Oliver Messel production.  I don't recall Florestan having a hat, or Desiré a headpiece in the Messel.  And yes, the Sadler's Wells folk had a vigorous and vibrant part to play in the WWII effort.  I was doing some research into Operation Overlord (D-Day) and found a dispatch from an RAF station, sent by a "Flight Officer F. Ashton"!  It was only passing along weather, but it was something!

[Jane Simpson]

No, I think it's the Messel production - they never did the earlier one at Covent Garden. No doubt bits fell off it over the years!