CM

Possibly Sleeping Beauty has been deferred. So far the channel has been retransmitting opera - Verdi's "un ballo in maschera"

The Mikhailovsky site only mentions tomorrow's premiere. I noticed that the Paraclassics facebook page had reported that Sleeping Beauty and the two operas were being retransmitted so I posted this because I thought someone might be interested. I really enjoyed the ballet when I watched it last time and I think the dancers are wonderful.

I was unable to fit the title of the ballet into the title and unfortunately I can't edit this now.

In addition the Mikhailovsky will rebroadcast Sleeping Beauty with Svetlana Zakharova and Leonid Sarafanov on 21st March (tomorrow) at 7:00 PM russian time (GMT+4)

http://us4.campaign-...2&id=36974b6e1c

March 22, 2012 at 7:00PM Moscow time [GMT+4]

"Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Emptiness."

www.paraclassics.com

Mikhailovsky Theatre

Rostelecom

Mikhail Tatarnikov

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=449dbd0b582054e7d3e716c92&id=36974b6e1c

I have watched all the programs and really enjoyed them. I agree that the third program which features Roland Petit and his repetiteur with the National Ballet of China is the easiest for non-chinese speakers. They speak some french, but mostly english, and this is then translated into chinese for the dancers by the interpreter.

I found the programs fascinating because they don't just show a single rehearsal, they show a progression/sequence of rehearsals leading towards the opening night.

The programs show the hard work and the routine and there are also injuries. What I missed, not speaking chinese, was an understanding of what the dancers feel about their career, e.g., how do they feel when they are on stage in front of an audience.

I've never watched a performance of Graduation ball but I love the music and I enjoy these clips from Argentina

A second Diaghilev-related concert from France – this one took place on 16^th March 2012 with the orchestre philarmonique de Radio France. The pieces are Debussy's “l'apres-midi d'un faune” and “la mer”, Ravel's “la valse” and Stravinsky's “firebird” (1919 version). This concert will be available at cite de la musique until mid June and also at Arte Live Web.

http://www.citedelamusiquelive.tv/Concert/0983800.html

http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/Orchestre_Philharmonique_Radio_France_Unicef_Myung-Whum_Chung_debussy_stravinsky_ravel/

It is a very special concert as it is a fundraiser for UNICEF - the orchestra and their musical director Myung-Whun Chung have been ambassadors for UNICEF since 2007. The concert features some of the pupils of the orchestra.

If you enjoy the concert, maybe you might wish to consider making a donation to UNICEF.

A news video relating to this week's Serge Lifar auction in Geneva

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpcs89_collection-of-ballet-great-lifar-to-be-auctioned-in-geneva_news.

The hotel des ventes has also developed some videos

http://www.hoteldesventes.ch/encheres/fr/ventes/videos-lifar

There are also many ballet photos loaded onto the site

http://www.hoteldesventes.ch/encheres/fr/ventes/vente-principale&sale=24&vacation=3&mode=list#top

Thanks so much for this – it's great to know who is dancing. The April 12 1957 date for the filming came from a newspaper article (archive) – perhaps it wasn't the only day they filmed the dancers if that date isn't the same as the gala date. There are some other clips from the film (not with dancing) on Getty images, and it certainly looks as if they filmed the gala that Jane referred to:

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/covent-garden-london-uk-1950-stock-video-footage/136153307

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/covent-garden-london-uk-1950-stock-video-footage/136153308

In terms of Swan Lake, I've never really liked the head movements of the cygnets either. I found another tiny 1937 clip of Swan lake and there is another “les Sylphides” clip (I guess it would be really difficult to identify the poet).

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/the-ballet-london-england-uk-1937-stock-video-footage/136160225

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/the-ballet-london-england-uk-1937-stock-video-footage/136160224

It's very sad – it must have been so exciting to see Beryl Grey and the other dancers in performance – the dancing is wonderful but there is so little film left, and that's almost nothing compared to seeing them live.

The men all look so young in the film - I don't remember noticing this in other fifties film. I can hardly recognise Michael Somes as his face often looks more sculptured in photographs. I can't believe that he was then just a few years from retirement. Maybe Alexander Grant is one of the other partners?

What surprised me most about the clip was how good the men are - lovely flow of movement, lots of musicality, lovely style and they are so together – maybe that's what the Ashton company style looked like in the fifties. They even look great just standing at the back of the stage during Margot Fonteyn's variation.

The footage was part of a travel film made “to attract tourists to London in winter” It was filmed on April 12, 1957, about a year after the May 1956 premiere of “Birthday Offering” and just about the time Beryl Grey left the company. (By September 1956 Violette Elvin had left the company and had been replaced in her role by Anya Linden – at this time the other roles were still danced by the original cast)

If we knew which colour dresses were associated with each variation/dancer, maybe we would have a better chance of working out the ballerinas and their partners.

Short feature on western Canada tour with participation by TV presenter

Getty images has some archival-type ballet clips (mostly very short and sometimes with dancers and companies unidentified) on their website. Examples are:

• 
  6 second clips from some 1930s performances of Les Sylphides and Swan Lake
  

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/the-ballet-london-england-uk-1938-stock-video-footage/136163560

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/the-ballet-london-england-uk-1937-stock-video-footage/136160227

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/the-ballet-london-england-uk-1937-stock-video-footage/136160226

• 
  1940s and other ballet performance footage
  

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/black-and-white-1940s-wide-shot-women-

performing-stock-video-footage/782-97

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/ballet-performance-stock-video-footage/134588272

• 
  Nearly a minute of the Royal Ballet's “Birthday Offering” from the 1950s with Margot Fonteyn and other Royal Ballet dancers plus a second clip of Margot Fonteyn's variation.
  

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/covent-garden-london-uk-ballet-the-birthday-stock-video-footage/136153312

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/covent-garden-london-uk-ballet-the-birthday-stock-video-footage/136153309

Is it the original cast? http://www.abt.org/education/archive/ballets/birthday_offering.html.

• 
  One minute of Nathalie Krassovska in London Festival Ballet's “Nutcracker”
  

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/natalie-krassovska-of-londons-festival-ballet-stock-video-footage/136131729

Some of the tiling reminds me of Leighton House. Maybe it was an influence?

http://www.telegraph...d-Leighton.html

There are some more photos of Li Galli at

http://itopus.blogsp...o-was-once.html

Links between dance and art in Paris are explored at the “Danser La Vie” exhibition at the Pompidou Centre (continues until 2 April 2012)

http://www.dailymoti...l-2012_creation

I have just discovered that Roger Desormiere's arrangement of Strauss for “le Beau Danube” is currently available on CD (conductor Richard Bonynge) with Graduation Ball (conductor Antal Dorati

http://www.amazon.com/Johann-Strauss-II-Graduation-Danube/dp/B000CIXCTG

Correction: The end date of the Venice “Elegance in exile” exhibition is now unclear. The Pallazzo Mocenigo website shows two different end dates – February 29 and May 31 2012

http://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/en/mostre-en/mostre-in-corso-en/elegance-in-exile/2012/01/5445/general-info-2/

http://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/category/en/mostre-en/mostre-in-corso-en/

English National Ballet have a residency at Tate Britain, associated with the Picasso exhibition, from 27^th February to 4^th March 2012

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/eventseducation/musicperform/englishnationalballetinresidenceattatebritain.htm

They have a further event, including class and open rehearsals for “Beyond Ballet Russes” on the South Bank on March 5^th 2012

http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/dance-performance/tickets/english-national-ballet-rehearsal-and-workshop-63927

Finally, an article on Massine's former home on the Li Galli archipelago “ a place touched by the Gods”

http://www.lospremiagrumi.com/2012/02/li-galli-a-place-touched-by-gods/

It's not too hard to follow Diaghilev-related events as they tend to get quite a lot of coverage. Some more links:

The estate of Countess Ahlefeldt, sole beneficiary of Serge Lifar's will, to be sold at the Hôtel des Ventes in Geneva in March.

“At this auction collectors and aficionados can expect to find not only drawings by Picasso worth more than CHF 100,000 but also dedicated programmes (CHF 200), his travelling trunk (CHF 300) and his favourite little teddy bear (CHF 200)”

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=53500

http://www.hoteldesventes.ch/encheres/

A Picasso exhibition, featuring le Tricorne and with some ballet-related events, opens at Tate Britain on 15^th February

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/picassoandbritain/default.shtm

Article on the last Tate Picasso exhibition (summer of 1960)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/jan/29/picasso-tate-1960-art-blockbuster?newsfeed=true

La Caixa's Ballets Russes exhibition moves from Barcelona to Madrid and opens on 17^th February

http://www.agendacentrosobrasociallacaixa.es/ca/caixaforum-madrid/2012gener-abril/els-ballets-russos-de-diaghilev-1909-1929

“Elegance in exile, between fashion and costume, the Diaghilev era” in Venice has been extended through to May 31, 2012

http://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/en/mostre-en/mostre-in-corso-en/elegance-in-exile/2011/10/4651/project-8/

According to the notes to the " Royal Ballet Gala" Ansermet CD:

First performance on 30 January 1934 with Markova "with Lydia Lopokova "constantly present to translate, interpret and demonstrate" and with the veteran regisseur Nicolai Sergueff, as producer.

For Christmas 1936 the Nutcracker was given new sets and costumes designed by Mtislav Doubujinsky,one of Diaghilev's early collaborators.

When the Sadlers Wells Theatre Ballet toured America in 1951-2, the Nutcracker was restaged by Frederic Ashton. Cecil Beaton designed new sets and costumes. Elaine Fifield and David Blair were the principal dancers

(The original recording (and these notes) was dated 1959, current edition is 2008

I believe that it is Liane Dayde who is talking about her performances at the Bolshoi at the end of the clip attached. It starts with some rehearsal footage, maybe with Nina Vyroubova? of the Marquis De Cuevas' production of Sleeping Beauty and includes the last (short) interview given by le Marquis de Cuevas (with Liane and her partner). Le Marquis de Cuevas died very shortly afterwards.

http://www.rts.ch/archives/tv/information/carrefour/3442949-la-danseuse-etoile.html

The Albrecht in the British Pathe film discussed above (Beryl Grey in Giselle at the Bolshoi) looks very like Liane Dayde's partner from this film - maybe it is Liane in both clips?

Elegance in exile - an exhibition on fashion and costume in the time of Diaghilev – continues through to January 6 2012 in Venice

http://www.vogue.it/en/people-are-talking-about/art-photo-design/2011/10/eleganza-in-esilio-diaghilev

The e-catalogue for the November Sotheby's Benois auction is online. The auction includes several set designs.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/catalogues/ecatalogue.html/2011/an-important-private-collection-of-works-by-alexander-benois#/r=/en/ecat.fhtml.L11119.html+r.m=/en/ecat.list.L11119.html/0/60/lotnum/asc/

A clip from British Pathe of Lydia Sokolova in her can-can costume from La Boutique Fantasque

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=19092

(The identification was made about a year ago by Jane Pritchard and Henry Miller)

http://www.vam.ac.uk/blogs/diaghilev-and-ballets-russes/treat-screen

Irina Baronova talks about working with Fokine on “les Sylphides”and other ballets in a recorded 2007 interview with Lee Christophis:

http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3911007?lookfor=irina%20baronova&offset=1&max=248

(Third Session 9:15 – 28:15)

She talks about her admiration for Lubov Tchernicheva's style and its influence on her development (it is also an influence on the staging)

“beautiful arm movements – whole top of body lived and expressed so much, the arms and the wrists and down to the nails”

The arm and hand movements of the corps at 14 seconds of the British Pathe footage are close to the style of the staging.

Anna Volkova, who rehearsed the production, was one of the dancers stranded in cuba during the Ballets Russes strike.

http://www.australiadancing.org/subjects/4681.html

In the DVD the poet holds his arms in the position shown at 14 seconds of the British Pathe film

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=79902

He and his partner also show the position you mentioned.

I ordered the double CD “ Royal Ballet Gala” by Ansermet which includes lots of different ballet music including “les sylphides”. I haven't had a chance to really listen to it , but the notes accompanying the CD are great:

“Giselle came to the Old Vic in a thick fog which blanketed London New Year's night, 1934. Balletomanes struggled to reach the theatre in time to see the curtain rise on the first major classical ballet production to star Alicia Markova”

On Petipa and Sleeping Beauty

The former would write: “Aurora pricks her finger. Screams. Blood Streams. Give 8 measures in 4/4 wide”

The booklet has very interesting notes on casts and history including quite a few references to Lydia Lopokova

The poet - Yosvani Ramos - was trained in Cuba but it may be more driven by the staging as I think I can see some of the same style with the ballerinas.

I've checked my DVD - the staging is by Irina Baronova, rehearsed by Valrene Tweedie, Anna Volkova and Wendy Walker.

Whilst some of the dancers were in costume for Chopiniana for the Bolshoi opening, they didn't perform the piece on the night. The performance on the 1986 “Bolshoi in the Park” is fine –

l couldn't find anything on youtube from the Bolshoi that I disliked.

The poet in the Australian ballet performance has similar arm positions to Serge Lifar in the Montreux footage. His arms don't meet above the head – one is curved above the other – not sure what the arm position is called. I haven't seen this arm position in any other filmed performance.

My first memory of “Les Sylphides” is from my music teacher. She thought it was awful that the piano pieces had been orchestrated.

I liked the extracts from Ansermet's “ the early days” - I believe they are from the 1916 New York recordings of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Orchestra.

I also enjoyed the music and style of the performance of “ Les Sylphides” - maybe staged by Irina Baronova - on the Australian Ballet's DVD “Firebird and other legends” The same DVD includes “a thousand encores” - a documentary on the ballet russes in Australia.

La Caixa has loaded several videos relating to the Barcelona exhibition on its youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/laCaixaTV#p/u/1/g4wN1eeUt44

Another spanish exhibition – Diaghilev and his influence on Art Deco – opens today at the CasaLis Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Salamanca and continues through to January 29, 2012.

http://www.museocasalis.org/index.php?lg=es

This exhibition has loans from Russia including items from the Bakhrushin Theater Museum and the Art Deco Museum in Moscow. News reports of the exhibition opening are online, including footage of some Goncharovas:

The touring Diaghilev exhibition has left Quebec and will be at Caixaforum in Barcelona from October 5 through to 15 January 2012:

http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/caixaforumbarcelona/losballetsrusos_ca.html

It will then move to Madrid (17 February to 3 June 2012). The exhibition is available for hire from late 2012:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/touring-exhibition-diaghilev-and-the-ballets-russes/

There will be a Benois auction at Sotheby's London on November 29th (will the collection be on display in advance?)

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2011/an-important-collection-of-works-by-alexander-benois/overview.html

“The collection includes set and costume designs from productions such as Petrushka, The Nightingale and Sleeping Beauty, charming family portraits, rare views of St. Petersburg, Versailles and Venice, which will be offered alongside Benois’ letters and sketchbooks.”

A “new-old” live recording of Petrushka and “les Orientales” with les Siecles/Francois-Xavier Roth will be issued. I think this would have been included in the same program/weekend as the Le Festin/Carnaval/Scheherezade concert that was available online for a few months (and previously linked to) at la Cite de La Musique.

correction: CD is Firebird/Les Orientales (not Petrushka)