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I would have been ecstatic if Le Clercq had been dancing as Leader of the Bacchantes, but I'm finding this version of Orpheus to be engrossing just the same - I think it will grow on me with time. I've watched Serenade, Concerto Barocco and Agon multiple times. I think I agree with what you are saying regarding the black and white presentation - it does force us to focus on other things, since there is no color scheme to be lost in, or bothered by. I find the blurry picture to actually work in Serenade's favor: whenever the dancers turn on pointe their tulle skirts whip about in a grainy, cloud-like blur that I find aesthetically pleasing. Reminds me of the photos of Lillian Bassman.

If the CBC interviewer is the same one that appeared in the clips in the Tanaquil Le Clercq film, he is... René Lévesque, more famous as being the leader of the Quebec separatist movement and premier of Quebec. (he was a journalist before he went into politics). Just a little bit of Canadian trivia for you! Interesting, I'm not certain if the interviewer is credited, and he mostly stands with his back to the camera facing Balanchine (which is a little odd). Balanchine's French is pretty good; however, he forgets certain terms and then jumps into American English to express himself more succinctly. Ah, to be multi-lingual. ;)

Yes, that was a great article. The trouble people go to, to preserve 'tradition' - right down to the donkey poops. ;)

I figured that this was part of 'the lore' - it's certainly weird to have to wait 60 years to actually be allowed to view the footage. I suppose it has been available at the Robbins dance archive.

One extaordinary thing that occurs during Agon - Todd Bolender's left slipper/shoe comes flying off about 1 minute into his solo variation. Fortunately it lands out of range of the camera, so it's over in the blink of an eye, and the broadcast resolution is low enough that it's hard to really notice that he's wearing only a sock on one foot. ;) But Mr. Bolendar (at least I think that's him) doesn't flinch and doesn't lose a beat.

I smiled when I saw the listing for Corps de Ballet - just two people: corps de ballet Elizabeth Powell, Myles Thatcher They don't mention Froustey, but do mention Zahorian, but I realize this is a marketing announcement, and subject to change. I hope Masha K. isn't completely worn out from all the dancing she's been doing - that girl needs to take a break (but she doesn't seem to believe in such things).

I'm planning to go on Saturday night and then later on Tuesday, which should have the opening night cast. In any case, it should be a delight.

Masha appears soon with ABT at the Met: Thurs. Eve., May 15, 7:30 P.M. DON QUIXOTE – Kochetkova*, Cornejo

Nice, I'm hoping this same cast will appear on one of the two nights I have planned to go.

I think it's best for us to support the forum through the special Amazon search (and it would be cheaper), but when I heard about the VAI relesase, I went instantly to their website and ordered without any other thought in my mind. ;) I was compelled, as if by a magic spell... I just posted a link to ABT's just announced casting for the beginning of the spring season, and saw this program: THEME AND VARIATIONS – Semionova, Whiteside DUO CONCERTANT – Copeland, Tamm+ GAÎTÉ PARISIENNE – Seo+, Gomes+ Sounds like a lot of fun, but I seriously doubt the actual dancing will be half as satisfying as Serenade or Barocco on the VAI DVDs. Comfort food for the soul, those are. Oh, I want to add that the short interviews with Balanchine in French, are enjoyable as well. I think that's the first time I've seen/heard footage of him speaking French.

I received Volume 2, two days ago, I think - after ordering from VAI. In hindesight, I should have ordered on Amazon thorugh the BA! search (!). I knew they weren't going to ship Vol. 2 until the 20th (at least). So hopefully everyone will start seeing their copies over the course of this week. I've only had time to watch Barocco of this volume - I thoroughly enjoyed this intimate, made for TV stage version, with Le Clercq dancing uninterrupted. I always like her expressions, and legs that stretch to the moon. As Jack Reed wrote previously about Verdy, "large and clear, flowing and present" - I think that applies here as well.

The local San Diego newspaper has reported on the tempestuous meetings around the closing of the opera. This article names some names, but it's very difficult to tell exactly what people's positions are:

For Volume 3, I know I would love to see an older production of Four Temperaments (too bad Tanny wasn't part of this cast), Ivesiana, and Liebeslieder Walzer. Also the Tarantella, Movements and Who Cares? program would be wonderful as a separate Volume 4 (it's from the later era, anyway)

Direct link: http://www.wnyc.org/story/the-leonard-lopate-show-2014-04-16/?utm_source=/story/the-leonard-lopate-show-2014-04-15/

For anyone wandering by, who has never read any of Márquez, here's the famous first sentence, and first paragraph of One Hundred Years of Solitude. The 1st sentence exhibits various time periods: an indeterminate present, the future, and distant past, and serves to establish one of the book's major themes...

One of the greats, imo - may he rest in peace: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/books/gabriel-garcia-marquez-literary-pioneer-dies-at-87.html

If it's on a DVD, then it's digitized. ;) You maybe wondering if they've been cleaned up or enhanced in any way - that's hard to tell since the original broadcast quality was quite crude. But it's still great to see these films. I'm loving Vol 1, and I'm waiting for my copy of Vol 2 with bated breath - the official release date is April 20th.

Not so suprisingly, there is now an effort underway to resurrect things before it's essentially too late: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/apr/16/plan-works-save-san-diego-opera/ This will be of interest, I think, to many theatre companies, wanting to know how they can stay relevant and financially solvent in today's climate.

Your comment reminded me of something I wrote earlier about one of the Program 3 performances:

What you are saying is of course logical, but the impression I get, is that she is still emotionally drawn to Paris and the POB. If her 'big dream' was to dance as a soloist for the POB, then it is going to be hard to give up on that dream entirely. unfortunately, things just aren't set up by other people to realize all our dreams. ;) Kochetkova is living proof that a principal position - way out West, as it were, can be the basis for a full career. But it takes someone like Masha, with her entrepreneurial spirit, to work to make it happen. The average dancer doesn't have that same level of drive, and I'm not sure if Froustey wants to have to work to that level. In leaving POB, I believe she would have to give up on receiving any kind of pension at the end of her career. That is a consideration as well. Sylvie Guillem couldn't be bothered with the pension, but that's Guillem. These days, people are worried about financial security. She's young, and won't necessarily be able to make the 'smart' decision - to stay in SF - to forward her career. Friends, family, and a culture you are comfortable in, are very important. If she were 35, she might be more likely to say, "Well, I've done this. Now I'd like to live in another country for 10 years, or more!" But in one's 20's, it's all about making your oriignal dream happen - do or die!

Some great and rare shots - thanks!

A really interesting find, Mme. Hermine! I like anything on Bacharach to begin with, but this broadcast was an unexpected pleasure. Bettie de Jong was an impressive mechanical doll, verging on creepy. I couldn't play the video in Firefox, but it worked for me in Safari. Correction, it did eventually work in Firefox, but on first clicking on the video, absolutely nothing happens for a number of seconds, but then it kicks in...

Audience Slings Boos at Opera Director http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/apr/07/tp-audience-slings-boos-at-opera-director/

Another American show business icon leaves us: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/arts/mickey-rooney-master-of-putting-on-a-show-dies-at-93.html

Thanks very much, KBarber - a great find. A sad goodbye to Letestu, and Dupont. Interesting that Froustey didn't appear in any of this footage. But then I don't think there was any footage of Don Quixote in rehearsal or performance.