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  2. Syzygy
    Very true! But still, as you mentioned, it's been a while since dance, or more specifically ballet, has had a true hub in L.A. As an audience member down here I wish this wasn't the case. Again, so true. I'm sure we all have our opinions about L.A. Dance Project, but either way, yes, the interests are scattered here. In fact, I remember reading a thread on this site on the difficulties of fostering a "real-deal" ballet company down in Southern California. It doesn't seem like a new thing, all of this is just to say I wish SFB came around more often!
  3. Today
  4. dirac
    Mitchell could have accompanied her gentleman friend of the time, Graham Nash, but wisely stayed home to do press. I am reminded for no special reason that a few years ago Nash dumped his wife of four decades for a lady half his age who looks rather like Joni in her youth. Mitchell dumped him by telegram, bless her heart.
  5. pherank
    Once upon a time Hollywood was all about dance and musicals. Even Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart were forced to sing and dance once or twice. As Balanchine observed, Americans didn't need ballet when they had Fred Astaire. But the days of old Hollywood and musicals is long over. I'm sure Benjamin Millepied and his company would like to be the center of attention in LA, but interests are very, very scattered in Southern Cal.
  6. Syzygy
    I didn't know about Tomasson ever advocating for a Saratoga/NYCB-esque situation for SFB in L.A. It's a shame something couldn't be figured out. Because as far as L.A. becoming a dance powerhouse of North America, oh boy! I hope no one is holding their breath!
  7. pherank
    My kingdom for a bullet train! Sadly, not in this state/country. Even in a relatively small region such as the Bay Area, there's lots of different cultures playing off against one another. Not necessarily interested in sharing anything. I remember that early in Tomasson's tenure he was promoting the idea of SFB going to Southern Cal to perform on a regular basis (sort of like NYCB going to Saratoga New York), but it never really happened. I can imagine there is intense 'political' pressure in So Cal not to allow companies from _________________ (fill in the blank) take up partial residence in LA where there are still dreams/fantasies that LA will be the dance powerhouse of North America. From the audience stand point its about seeing high-level performances, but for the movers and shakers behind the scenes, its mostly about power and control. The same sort of thing goes on between SF and San Jose area big money arts supporters.
  8. Buddy
    Thanks once more, Pherank. I’ll try to listen to the other singers when I get chance. Watching these new video clips just reinforces my high opinion of Joni Mitchell. Even the few words that she got in during the discussion made her more precious. Her performances were excellent. The reason that I wrote that if Joni Mitchell had appeared at Woodstock she still might not have been among my favorites is that her lilting poetry might have had a hard time registering in front of an audience of half a million and among such high energy performers as Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Yet Crosby, Stills and Nash, who appeared at the end just before Jimi Hendrix, were among my favorites with their new on the scene delicate harmonies. Also Richie Havens who acoustically opened the Festival was one of my favorites, so who knows. When she sang “Chelsea Morning” on the Dick Cavette Show with her bit of brilliant scat-like singing at the end she just might have won me over. Even Grace Slick (boy did I have a crush on her back then) got up and applauded.
  9. Syzygy
    Oh, interesting. I guess I never minded the compact season when I lived in San Francisco because there were other options throughout the year (LINES, ODC, smaller companies performing at Z Space, etc...), but I can see how that might change if you had to travel a bit to see performances. That said, I wouldn't necessarily count on the South Bay to boost ticket sales after seeing what happened to Ballet San Jose/Silicon Valley Ballet and Peninsula Ballet Theater. It's a generalization I could possibly be talked out of, but I've never really thought the "new money" crowd in SV had much of an interest in supporting dance aside from putting their kid's in after-school ballet classes.
  10. Yesterday
  11. pherank started following Lawrence of Arabia on September 1st & 4th, 2019
  12. pherank
    I haven't seen the restored version on the big screen either. Just to see one of the great transition shots in all cinema - Lawrence blowing out the match/sunrise on the Arabian desert - gives me goosebumps thinking about it. ;) I had a great time seeing the restored Wizard of Oz on the big screen, so I think this will be equally fun...
  13. California
    That's what I remember. I was thinking of BART stops an out-of-towner could easily use, which is mainly Berkeley. Long ago they used to do a week at Orange County/Segerstrom and I've always wondered why that ended. I don't understand why the compressed 6-month schedule is a problem for selling tickets. ABT in New York is not exactly year-round, nor is NYCB. If they're eager to sell more subscriptions, they need the super-flexible versions other companies offer. Their best is three different programs/choose your own. NYCB has one version for 6 performances -- which can all be consecutive. Kennedy Center has a version this year -- mix-or-match 3 or more performances. https://www.sfballet.org/visit/2020-season-tickets https://www.kennedy-center.org/subscriptions/season/1404 Subscription sales just aren't what they used to be, for reasons Michael Kaiser and many others have discussed. But when I'm at San Francisco Ballet, it always strikes me that the house is nearly full with a very loyal fan base. Of course, maybe I only go to popular offerings.
  14. pherank
    Lucky you, Buddy. Mitchell kind of made up for her absence at Woodstock by appearing on the Dick Cavett show around the same time (her manager had booked her for the Cavett show thinking that would be more important than having her appear at the festival): The sitting around and talking part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-yzV5gKvGg Mitchell's performances on that show were first rate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zEi7uJxP68 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHhQpAelto As far as the British female musicians I mentioned that all owe a debt to Mitchell... Maddy Prior and Steeleye Span perform Weill and Brecht's "The Black Freighter": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIIUmw0LN_w Jacqui McShee and Pentangle perform Light Flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itjFfz079f8 Judy Dyble with Giles, Giles & Fripp (birth of the band King Crimson) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqXh5s4t4k Judy Dyble with original Fairport Convention lineup (pre-Sandy Denny) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXgvNZdzYNw June Tabor - Hughie Graeme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lQD_oy5ko0 June Tabor - A Place Called England https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-gchaUT6Ac June Tabor and Maddy Prior - The Grey Funnel Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHOokpi9hUw Annie Halsam with Renaissance - Northern Lights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIEqdXpG5Pg Another admired singer of the classic rock/folk era: Anne Briggs - Go Your Way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS81zHrOB74 EDIT: I almost forgot about Linda Thompson…yikes! Richard and Linda Thompson - A Heart Needs A Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqViJyweNV0 Richard and Linda Thompson - Withered and Died https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-HNSJoo7M Linda Thompson - Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNYsoqYazl0
  15. pherank
    My memory isn't very good (!), but I think it was just general areas - North Bay (Marin, Sonoma), East Bay (Oakland, Berkley), South Bay (San Jose and maybe Palo Alto?). And I don't remember if there was a Southern California option (think 1 week residency near LA), but I don't think so.
  16. Syzygy
    Out of curiosity, what were the more suburban options they listed? I didn't see the survey...
  17. Syzygy
    I spend a considerable chunk of time in my friendships with non-Americans trying to explain that the entire U.S. isn't as ignorant and uncultured as they've been led to believe. But then this — and to a beyond high-profile person! "The downfall of contemporary society" is a big claim, but I see where you're coming from. Or more accurately, I'm selfishly not looking forward to hearing the "dumb American" jokes surrounding this one at the next dinner party.
  18. Buddy
    I’m loving these memories, Pherank, keep them going ! I’d like to look into these other singers, as I know very little about them except for Sandy Denny, and maybe get back to them later. Let me go in another direction once more for a moment. It’s about Woodstock. I was there. I thought it was quite wonderful and still do. I highly recommend the new PBS documentary. It focuses on the good will that dominated everything. Since it’s the 50th Anniversary I’ve been searching the internet for photos. Interestingly, it’s ones of Joni Mitchell that, of all the stars associated, most represent my memories and feelings. I know that she wasn’t there, much to her regret I’m sure as she was almost there and she did write the song. I’m not even sure that she would have been one of my favorite performers but seeing pictures of her and watching the video that you posted she looks to be the ideal Woodstock person.
  19. pherank
    Mitchell was hugely influential on these female musicians and definitely inspired many a girl to try writing her own material. One of the more talented imitators: Shelagh McDonald - City Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHSVc8cq_As Remember this one? For years the only version of Mitchell's "Eastern Rain" anyone knew was recorded by Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ1nlWHQTf4
  20. pherank
    LOL - well no publicity is bad publicity, right? "500,000 ballet dancers gathered at Times Square New York to take class, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Woodstock…"
  21. dirac
    The morning shows are geared toward the stay-at-home audience - they cover news (in fact, the CBS morning show tends to the newsier side, or at least it did until recently) but they are intentionally geared toward lighter entertainment. They do tend to err on the cheery side - cf. Onion TV's "Today Now!" parodies. I'll bet she is.
  22. Syzygy
    I’m paraphrasing his Instagram story for those without accounts: Lara Spencer called him to apologize, many ballet/broadway dancers plan to take class outside of GMA next week, she apparently sounded very sorry. Hmmm…
  23. canbelto
    I've seen Murphy and Abrera's Giselles. Murphy is technically stronger but lacks the winsomeness and delicacy needed for the role. Abrera has some technical glitches (at least the two times I've seen her) but captures the Giselle spirit beautifully. Agree that Trenary and Brandt would be wonderful Giselles, as would Shevchenko I think.
  24. Balletwannabe
    Travis Wall's IG story has an update.
  25. fondoffouettes
    I think it's true that she's never matched her Met debut performance, but in her most recent outing, she was dancing through an injury, wasn't she? I'd be curious to see her in the role again, without injury. I think Giselle can be a congenial role for an older ballerina (e.g. Ferri, Ananiashvili), but I'm not sure how well it will suit Murphy, who never really struck me as a natural Giselle. I consider Myrtha to be one of her signature roles, though, and I wonder if the D.C. casting indicates that she has retired the role. I hope that's not the case.
  26. Buddy
    Thanks again, Pherank, for these video clips. I did have one or two of the Fairport Convention albums and liked them very much. I’ve watched the Joni Mitchell one that you posted several times. It and she continue to be magical. As the host says, “…she writes them beautifully and she sings them beautifully and she looks beautifully at the camera too.” She was at a beautiful age with a modestly all-embracing presence and an understated high intelligence. And of course she had compassion. Since this is a ballet forum I’ll make a comparison to video clips of the young Galina Ulanova. And I just took a look at Oxana Skorik’s most recent “The Swan” performance. Both what she does and what Joni Mitchell does may be different universes but both have their own immense beauty. Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” album, along with Paul Simon’s “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon,” for me, had an overall uplifting quality that I found most welcome.
  27. BalanchineFan
    Hi Nanuska, for "the downfall of contemporary society" I meant magazine morning shows in general, not Lara Spencer in particular. There is an argument (made by many others, not just me) that news should be rigorous and serious, rather than the "light, chirpy, fluffy" segments morning shows tend to favor. "Will the network continue to do the tough, serious, rigorous broadcast journalism that brought it to the eminence it has long enjoyed, or will it cave in to pressures from network management for news programming that is light, bright and chirpy, and thus more attractive to advertisers and Nielsen families?" Tom Shales referring to CBS in Washington Post, 1984.
  28. BalanchineFan
    I agree. If we all lose our homes and our health due to climate change, what's the benefit? I've spent the past two summers in the Pacific Northwest enveloped in smoke from massive wildfires. Acres of forest burn due to dead trees killed by beetles whose population exploded in our warmer winters. Climate change has many, many detrimental effects that will continue to grow exponentially. Thank you, David Koch for all your work obscuring and denying the science of climate change.
  29. nanushka
    Ah, thanks for the clarification! Not a regular GMA watcher here. I agree with almost everything you write...but as for "the downfall of contemporary society" — well really, many of these issues are as old as modern culture, if not older. If contemporary society is falling down, I don't think it's because of incidents like this one.
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