iczerman

Saturday matinee. No trouble getting in and out of the Music Center...Carmageddon turned out to be a non factor. Sat in Row A of the Founders Circle...stage left was cut off..but not only could I see the dancing..I could see the music making also! Orchestra VASTLY supeior to the Pathetic....um...Pacific Symphony for ABT's Giselle at OCCPA. One may have to purchase or youtube Lacotte's "La Sylfide" to appreciate alot of what went on in Act 2. I always liked Marcelo Gomez.. I admit I am a B I G Gillian Murphy fan..and as such very biased. I am not familiar with " The Bright Stream" Ballet so I don't know the ins and outs..but I thought Gillian was wonderful as the ballerina. Her jete's had great height and were e f f o r t l e s s. No fouette's however..BUMMER!!! As to any in-depth analysis...I must defer to ksk04. ******possible perv comment******* Love Gillian's abs!

At Classicaltv.com you can watch the Zurich 2009 production of Swan Lake for free. I like ABT's act 4 because I'm VERY partial to Gillian Murphy and I like the ending overall..but the whole act itself is a little short. I must say that Heinz Spoerli's act 4 was for me very enjoyable to watch. Maybe it has to do with how it was shot and also the Choreography...but I really have to give this act4 a plug. What other act 4's does everyone else like?

I went to the ABT website an on her biography page there are no future performances listed. Anyone have any news?

Thank you ksk04 for pointing that out..I consider myself corrected!

Please forgive my REALLY somewhat huffy-nose in the air observation...but I can't seem to shake this impression...Orange County is not known as a prominent ballet center. And dancers along with their companies..know this. To risk injury in a obscure venue...... The Bolshois were in So. Cal. earlier this year and I was going to go..but two of the dancers I would consider seeing....cancelled. And another Company is staging yet again one more DonQ. Someone needs to take me by the shoulders..give me a good shak'in..and prove me wrong. If we were San Francisco..... Humm..would I compalin is another company were staging another Giselle?

I live in So. Cal.......not exactly a ballet center in the US. I am wondering if dancers are....conservative regarding choreography......when it comes to performing in 2nd or maybe 3rd tier venues....So. Cal is not San Fransisco. I have noticed this...conservatisim.... in one production I've been..and was in a way dissapointed. I can..however...acknowledge that to risk injury in a venue that is not top tier is not wise. Any input?

...see what changed were made in the choreography. I see different productions of Swan Lake for instance and I say to myself..."oh...there's supposed to be a developee there"...but how do I know what was originally intended?

Cubanmiamiboy... Don't forget Lorna Frijoo doing the attitude turns on point..this clip shows it a little closer to the action! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P35VmCUuQN0...eos=u3xfL9kfh78

It has been long established that the "Mad Scene" in Giselle is THE ACID test of a ballerina's dramatic skills. I propose...as equally important...Basilio's "Death" scene is DQ as an acid test for a ballerina's comedic skills. I think both genre's are legitimate and should be treated equally. The video is not that great..but here is a DQ clip featuring Aurelie Dupont and Manuel Legris... What do you all think?

I went to the sunday matinee. Even though there was no live music...I liked how close the audience was to the dancers. I had pretty good seats for $35.00! I really liked Marcello Gomez...he had a sense of humor plus some innocent nautiness. (You had to be there to know what I mean :blush: ) I liked the dancers in the bright orange dresses..they were quite good and one of the dryads caught my attention. The dancer who played Cupid I liked also. I also liked Sergei Domrachev as Gamache, he did more dancing than others who played that part that I've seen on Youtube. This is the second time I've seen Gillian, the first time was as Myrtha at the OCCPA. The question I have is...who teaches her the part of Kitri? The reason I ask is that I've seen others do the Grand PPD on Youtube and several things were different...some more technically demanding. I don't doubt Giliian's technique.. but I guess I was expecting different choreography. Maybe someone could enlighten a newbie? Gillian's leaps were nice and effortless and she is the fastest and cleanest turner I've seen. I would have liked a little more Sass is her acting however...like an annoyed swat at the right time...when Marcello was naughty I would like to see her Odette/Odile and her Myrtha while sitting closer...

Maria has just gone up one notch in my book.....she has her priorities straight!

I hereby nominate Maria Alexandrova for the Iron Ballerina Award for dancing DonQ three nights in a row. My buddy and I are going friday night. Is it bad form to take binoculars to a ballet performance?

The solo parts I get..but I need pointers as to how to better appreciate what the Corps De Ballet does...what to look for...how to better enjoy..etc! Thanks!

Great dancers that are not too thin. Mine are..... Gillian Murphy. In her Swan Lake DVD her tutu looks to be quite loose around the waist , I"M NOT SAY'IN THAT'S A BAD THING!!!! Either it was on purpose so she can breathe or her legs were too awesome for the size smaller. I hope she was not disturbed by that!! Sohiane Sylve. I wonder where I can get a DVD of the Nutcracker that she was in with the HET....

Thanks for your prompt reply and your advice! I'm a newbie...so I need all the help I can get!

AAHEMMMMMM... After doing a little research on Youtube....I maybe will change my mind and see Maria Alexandrova. But I have a dilema...Should I see her Friday night or Saturday night? Friday night she may be conserving energy for Saturday night..... Saturday night...she may be a little pooped out from the night before.... Maybe ksk04 can advise?

I would like to assemble an "All Star" Swan Lake...the best on DVD act by act..if possible. Give your nominations and your reasons why... For Act 3..... I nominate - ABT / Kevin Mckenzie The various dances by the foreign contingents are well done by the Corps. Gillian Murphy's Odile is Sizzlling/Dazzlling! I also like the " I'm the Daughter of a Sorcerer...you're JUST a prince" haughtiness. Angel Corella's Siegfried in both acting and Dancing is superb! His reaction to Rothbart's and Odile's entrance, his partnering of Gillian, the " I'm gonna wring yer neck fer trick'in me" attack on Odile and her subsequent vanishing from the stage make for a good all around act 3 performance. Marcello Gomes's Rothbart enthralling the court with his dancing with the 4 princesses...also the stare-down between he and Wolfgang during the Black Swan PPD. When the deception is reveled..sufficient pandemonium ensues..Rothbart and Odile gloat...Siegfried rushes to strangle Odile...Odile vanishing into thin air...Ms. Parkinson(RIP) fainting...you just gotta have the queen faint... All this makes this Act 3 of Swan lake IMO the most logical storywise..the best dancewise and musically the best performed of the act 3's that are available on Youtube. For act 1.....I nominate the Theatro LaScala's Swan lake. I like the interplay between Roberto Bolle's Siegfried and Antonio Sutera's Jester.

I think that maybe Don Q. will be a little more audience friendly. But a chance to see Zakharova or Osipova...that's something that one may not want to pass up!

Being a Christian by belief....Astrology is not in my view of the universe.. .....BUT...just for fun..... I looked up some of my favorite dancers to see if we may get along if we were together... I am a Cancer...a water sign... Gillian Murphy...she's an Aries...fire sign...Water with Fire...Opposite ends of the zodiac....not doable unless the Cancer grows a backbone. Rats!...she's my first love as far as ballerinas go.... Darcy Bussell....Tarus...Earth sign.....Earth and Water....That makes a good match.. Aurelie Dupont..Capricorn...Earth sign...Earth and Water...but we're born 90 degress from each other..a difficult match..again RATS.... Anyone else care to play???? ( Com'on people..lighten up a little!)

A great source of complete ballet videos has just danced " The Dying Swan". I can clearly see the reason why and it was fun while it lasted. Because of this subrcriber I've bought 3 ballet DVD's and and going to purchase a 4th...the Royal Ballet Giselle with Alina, Marianela and Johann. It was fun and educational while it lasted....

There is one with Vishneva and Malakhov and the Tokyo Ballet. Unfortunately it's only available in Japan. Great performance though and well worth seeking out. I would stay away from the recent POB version. Pujol's Giselle I found rather weak technically and emotionally colorless. That version is on YouTube at this link... http://www.youtube.com/user/actor001#p/u/45/hjcO5IUrB5w Be sure to scroll down quite a ways.....it's there...

I second the Royal Ballet version with Cojocaru and Kobborg...but not nessesarily for the primary couple.... Marianela Nunez is a FABULOS Myrtha..beautiful yet deadly.When Alberect faces the Willis, Marianela's " EXCELLENT! TWO IN ONE NIGHT!" grin is priceless! Much goes to the artictic director who staged the BEST "Death of Hilarion" segment I've seen. When Marianela pronounces the death sentence on Martin Harvey's Hilarion..talk about " No mercy buddy." Go to Subscriber "BalletForYou" At youtube.....you can see the entire thing..and it does'nt look that bad in HQ over the internet!

I appreciate all those who've responded to my post....I've alot to reconsider!

Here is an example of not kicking your leg up as high as one can while at the same time I expect at least a full split when it comes to the jete's .... Myrtha variation....She does'nt kick up her right leg as high as I've seen others do before the first jete...I find this interpretation much more musical. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjcO5IUrB5w The part I'm talking about starts at 2:15. I guess at times I want some " fireworks" while other times I don't.

This DVD is for those Tamara Rojo critis who say she lacks emotion and involvement in a role. I know...I used to be one of them. Tamara was fabulous as Juliet! She captures the youthful playfullness as a 14 year old and she grows into a woman by act 3. The "scream" in the finale may be overdone according to some....but I lose it almost every time I see it and right now I'm starting to tear up a little as I type this. Her acting coincides with the music all throughout the video....the moments that stick out in my mind are " the scream" and when her hand falls at the last note of music when she dies. Carlos Acosta's Romeo was up to his usual high standard. The Balcony PPD was emotional and involving. The "burial chamber PPD" was also well excecuted. I am starting to respect him as a dancer. Thiago Soares was a Tybalt not to be trifled with....he did no dancing..but his acting was very convincing and the appropirate testosterone exchanges between he and Romeo were palpable. Elizabeth McGorian as Lady Capulet was griefstricken and angry at the same time in her reaction to Tybalt's death. Her vilolent rebuff of Romeo when he begs her forgivness was more dangerous than tybalt's sword to the extent that his buddies got him out of there in a hurry! Sandra Conley as Juliet's Nurse showed the same standard of excellence that she displayed as Giselle's Mother. Providing some comic relief when she trys to deliver Juliet's note to Romeo and letting Juliet know she's becoming a woman. Also showing genuine affection and love for Juliet. Boris Gruzin"s interpretation of Prokofiev's music is Definitive. He has set a high bar for all others to try to top. At the curtain calls some of the orchestra members gave him a standing ovation....well deserved. But Tamara was the shining star of this production. After wiping the tears from my eyes...I had this question..WHO COACHED HER WHEN IT CAME TO HER ACTING??????? Whoever it was deserves as as much praise as Tamara's performance. What this DVD did for me was confirm something that I just had a slight notion about. At this level of perferformance..its the Ballet Masters and the Artistic Directors that determine the quality of the dancer...not so much the dancer themnselves. If anyone has a problem with any particular ballerina in a certain role...the problem lies with the Ballet masters and the Artistic director.