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glebb

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Everything posted by glebb

  1. One good thing is that TCM will probably start showing the Wendy Hiller version again! Loved her in "The Elephant Man" the other night.
  2. While I think Daniel Day-Lewis is a great actor and I trust Rob Marshall I sure wish Javier had not dropped out. Both Broadway versions were magic. I have high hopes for the film.
  3. I lived at Madame Guillerm's while at SAB, the summer of 1970. Madame Guillerm spoke of Violette's relationship to Madame Rousanne and there was a framed photograph of Madame Rousanne with tiny Nelly, on one of the coffee tables in the living room. Mel - It was the first Miami Giselle.
  4. From 'BALLERINA a biography of Violette Verdy' by Victoria Huckenpahler - "Since Verdy's days with Ballet Theatre she had never forgotten the Romanoff version which had initially been staged by him for Erik Bruhn's appearance as Albrecht, and which he had inherited in part from Anton Dolin and Mikhail Mordkin, links, respectfully, with the Diaghilev and Pavlova enterprises. Violette's own interpretation, which she had begun developing under Victor Gsovsky in her French days and had expanded over the years under the tutelary eye of Romanoff and Alicia Markova, also bore the influence of performances she had watched by Chauvire and Ulanova." "The Boston Giselle performances of 1968 had been sufficiently acclaimed for the two artists to be invited back one year later to repeat the program .......The April 1969 engagement closely followed by performances of Giselle by the same pair in Florida for the Miami Ballet and in Washington, D. C. for the National Ballet of Washington. Undeterred by the difficulties of leading a choreographic double life, Violette agreed to guest perform in the National Ballet of Washington's La Sylphide at its premiere there in March of 1969..... Swedish Ballerina Elsa-Marianne von Rosen, mounted.....The measure of her success in adapting herself to the period mood can be discerned in the post script of a letter written to her a few days later by von Rosen herself: "I hope you will dance 'La Sylphide' many more times-you are superb and so wonderful as I always dreamed this role to be." Violette danced the ballet in the same exact version exactly two years later for the Miami Ballet.".......Perhaps Violette felt a certain added professional excitement at this performance, for Natalia Makarova , herself a mistress of the ethereal, was among the audience."
  5. Is it possible that Eglevsky coached them or at least Villella? He was a teacher at SAB at that time.
  6. Verdy translates Gauthier and then offers a bit about her experience with the role. Her book was a big help when I staged GISELLE for Oregon Ballet Theatre many years ago. The book is filled with many gorgeous illustrations by Marcia Brown and in this translation Giselle kills herself with the sword. Also - Verdy and Villella danced Giselle, La Sylphide and Swan Lake with the Miami Ballet. Verdy performed full length Sleeping Beauty in Miami partnered by Peter Martins.
  7. I did not see them in Boston but they danced Giselle with the Miami Ballet, a civic company around the same time. It was my first time seeing the ballet and though I was about nine or ten I thought they were divine. In Act I, I mostly see Violette hiding from her mother and in Act II I remember thinking she never touched the ground. I remember Villella catching the lilies and I could swear he jumped over the heads of the Wilis to exit. Verdy's book in which she translates Gauthier is one of my treasures.
  8. There are others. Most of my Broadway loving friends are off the deep end about it. We're no longer speaking! I honestly came out of the theatre thinking that the Mamma Mia movie must have killed the film musical again but I'm wrong. It made TONS of money. I just don't think it's on the level of the HAIRSPRAY, CHICAGO tranfers.
  9. Years ago I purchased a copy of SEMIRAMIDE (yes on vinyl) and in the accompanying literature was a picture that looked a lot like the GISELLE lithograph of Grisi with her grape septre. So I started reading and learned of Carlotta's sister. Yes, a movie please!
  10. I was so looking forward to this. I enjoyed the stage version three times and the casting for the film seemed perfect. It had its moments but the film didn't work for me. I'm bummed out about it.
  11. glebb

    Tanny and Benvolio

    Thanks Alina. I know of an Italian Greyhound named Audrey Hepurn. Is that your girl? Do you visit I.P.?
  12. glebb

    Tanny and Benvolio

    Updated the montage with more Tanny, Benvolio and Me.
  13. In my opinion he is one of the Great Masters. He's like Van Gogh. His latest work for SFB still haunts me. He completely bared his soul and it was a real ballet. Though the NYTimes bombed it audiences cheered (the two performances I saw) and I long to see it again. I had the great fortune to be in his first ballet for Joffrey - HEART OF THE MATTER, in the 80s and I even got to stage it for Les Grands in the early 90s. I'm happy Mr. Kudelka is choreographing again.
  14. Hi again Nanarina! I agree with you and think that too much is being made of his condition. Mr. Mel Johnson with his great knowledge and understanding has explained Ashton and Alain very clearly and very simply. I trust his assessment completely and I often ask his advice on many things. I do think that Alain has a dark moment when he realizes he has been betrayed. So I played him light, dark and then light again. But maybe it's easier to understand Ashton's characters when one is British. I remember sitting behind Lynn Wallis at the MET during 'Enigma Variations' performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet for the 'Ashton Celebration'. I was enjoying the ballet for its beauty, musicality and of course the performances. But I noticed Ms Wallis getting taller and taller in her seat as the final strains of music were playing. I knew it was something, a feeling only a Brit or at least someone whom had danced for Ashton would feel.
  15. Nanarina - Alain was one of the great gifts of my career! Again I can't believe my good fortune in getting that role. I don't remember if it was in NY or LA but a critic wrote that my Alain was 'haunted by the ghost of Petrouchka' and I loved that review. Also Jerry Lewis complimented me on my portrayal of Alain! I was also naughty once in a while in that same scene you described. My naughtiness had to do more with ballet technique but I did love the hugs. I must say that though I often danced The Boy in Blue and Puck - Alain was not easier to dance even if it appeared easier.
  16. I've not seen the ballet recently. I first saw it at Kennedy Center in the 70s - Merle Park and Nureyev. The chickens, Rudy bursting out of the bales of hay, Park hanging from his arms in the window - legs doing tick-tock, the ribbons, maypole and clog dances I recall the most. In the 80s I had the honor of dancing Alain having been taught by Faith Worth and coached by Alexander Grant. My Widow Simon was none other than Stanley Holden! When I look back I can't help but be extremely thankful for those experiences.
  17. glebb

    Tanny and Benvolio

    Dog? LOL - just kidding. Thanks Paul. True story, a friend of mine was at State Theatre with his partner looking at the gorgeous photos in the lobby. The partner turned to my friend and said: "That ballerina looks like Glebb's dog!"
  18. I've added pix of Tanny's new brother Benvolio to the montage. http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=4458e...medium=text_url
  19. Let me start by saying that I greatly admire each choreographer and would give my eye teeth to be able to do what they do. But I would rather see THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS which I love before seeing DOUBLE EVIL again. Just my personal taste. DOUBLE EVIL has great energy and I can tell that young dancers love dancing it but it's just not my cup of tea though I didn't dislike it.
  20. Just got home from programs B (Fri, Sat.) and C (Sat.) Gorgeous Ballet Company. From what I hear I'm sorry I didn't get to see the new Wheeldon. My friends were dazzled by it. I enjoyed Adam and Caniparoli very much. Their works are exquisite. It is a pleasure to see how they've grown. I think they are two of the best this country has to offer and I know that many directors from here and abroad have become interested in them through this festival. James Kudelka's THE RUINS PROCLAIM THE BUILDING WAS BEAUITFUL blew my mind. I'm so glad I saw it twice. I don't have adequate words to review so I won't but I do believe as just as Mr. Caniparoli and Lorena Feijoo must work together often so should Mr. Kudelka and Yuan Yuan Tan. I was sorry that Julianne Kepley did not dance. Parts were created for her by Adam and Caniparoli but she was hurt in a dress rehearsal. I still think we will hear from this talented lady in the future. Lastly I must mention Tina LeBlanc just back from last year's injury. She is more gorgeous than ever and in A Rose By Any Other Name she looked twelve years old at least from row N.
  21. Murphy was a tiny and enchanting ballerina before she even left home - South Carolina for NCSA.
  22. I was 12 in 1970 and my mother flew with me to NYC to deliver me to Madame Guillerm's. I was to attend the SAB summer program. ABT had a summer season at NYST and my mother took me to the ballet each night that first week before she returned home to FL. There was a Tudor evening in which Sallie Wilson danced Hagar. Though I remember Ms. Wilson in "Pillar of Fire", my stronger memories are of her as a Flapper in a Ballet by Keith Lee. I consider myself lucky to have seen her perform.
  23. glebb

    Isabelle Guérin

    She is one of my favorites.
  24. We were friends at Joffrey in the 80s and though friendships come and go ours never wavered. Just last year Michael and Pam presented my Joffrey apprentices for the second year in a row at their school in Rockville, MD. Michael and Pam always had me over for dinner at their home when we toured to Kennedy Center. I was at their home two Thanksgivings ago. Michael and Pam have raised three beautiful and intelligent children and they have served the dance community with much generosity and great dignity for many years via their excellent school. I will miss Michael's advice. My thoughts go out to Pam and their three children. Thank you for all you have given me Michael.
  25. I enjoyed 'South Pacific' dirac. It was cool to see the first Broadway revival ever of this show! My friends who see everything were surprised that the show which was nearing the end of previews had not been tightened and shortened since they saw it early in previews. I was bewildered by how the "Happy Talk" song was directed. Cable was keeling over the whole time and I kept wondering why Bloody Mary and Liat did not stop singing and dancing and get him a stretcher. I adore Kelli O'Hara so I had a great evening. I LOVED 'The Little Mermaid'. Even though reviews have not been kind I enjoyed every moment.
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