DanielBenton
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Dans2Go: Swan Lake Act 2/In Life & Love & So On
DanielBenton replied to Jane Simpson's topic in Royal Danish Ballet
Thank you Syrene. I found it visually stunning and it would make a great blu-ray DVD. I am still digesting the content and considering the match of dance to music which I did not find convincing on my first viewing. I thought the overall mood of this production was somewhat at odds with the mood that the music dictates...but that is just my initial opinion on first viewing. I will be watching it again! -
Dans2Go: Swan Lake Act 2/In Life & Love & So On
DanielBenton replied to Jane Simpson's topic in Royal Danish Ballet
The RDB 2015 Swan Lake is up on YouTube. I am interested if anyone has seen it and their reaction. -
I am hoping fervently that this will be the true history of the revolutionary and post-revolutionary Imperial Theatre, avant-garde ballet, GB, Goloizovsky, Lopukhov, et al., as recounted by Slominsky and others including Kendall.
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Wow, this could be really... I jump to the conclusion that the main interest here is to follow the book down the path of speculative hyper-interest in the relationship of GB and Lydia. If well done, then it could be enjoyable ---- fiction or non.
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Etiquette - Eating During a Performance
DanielBenton replied to Stecyk's topic in Discovering the Art
Part of the fun of seeing Chinese opera in San Francisco was watching and listening to entire families eat their lunch during the performance. -
Thank you Syrene for the thoughtful review. I think Alenius is a good composer and as you say, once you buy into it, Act II is very interesting.
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I just watched the new blu-ray DVD of Napoli. There is a lot of new music, written by Louise Alenius, for Act II. The overall look is kind of west-side-story urban Italian. There are almost no program notes. I would like to hear what others who know this piece much better than I think about it.
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I think we are agreeable. Although I think Bernstein and Robbins for the most part were very fine artists, it brings to mind Erick Hawkins' great comment - because he believed that the role of the artist is to be like a high priest dispensing universal truths - he said, (to paraphrase), "if you're going to get up and self-express, you might as well just get off the stage". Very funny!
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Jack, thanks for the perspective. it's an individual discernment or taste to decide whether a theatrical incident shows a larger artistic truth (my view of e.g., Wozzeck, Lulu, Don Giovanni) or is a local frisson (thanks for that word) merely illuminating the mind(s) of the authors.
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Kathleen, absolutely right on! So then it becomes a theatrical decision about changing what was offensive in other times to something else for today's sensibilities.
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This is an eye of the beholder opinion: I find the purse episode creepy and more telling about Robbins/Bernstein vs. a dramatic element that strengthens the work. I found it distracting when I saw this work at NYCB last year (I think it was last year).
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The Art of Cultural Institution Fundraising
DanielBenton replied to abatt's topic in Everything Else Ballet
I'm really enjoying this thread! We were at the Kennedy Center Opera House to see "Beautiful" last week. I noted 12 urinals in the men's room. Every one of them could be a naming opportunity -
Boris Eifman plans St Petersburg ballet museum
DanielBenton replied to kbarber's topic in Ballet News & Issues
Interesting. Of course Balanchine said it was incorrect to call his ballets abstract. Maybe Eifman is referring to other choreographers? -
There is more footage of Lupe Serrano in the just-released VAI DVD 4586 - "ABT: Historic Bell Telephone Hour Telecasts 1959-1962". In addition to a repeat of the Elgevsky bits and pieces from Giselle Act II; there is Le Corsaire Pas de deux with Nureyev, and Balanchine's Raymonda Grand Pas de Dix with Royes Fernandez.
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A New Profile of Violette Verdy by Marina Harss
DanielBenton replied to Kathleen O'Connell's topic in Writings on Ballet
Thanks for letting us know about this wonderful interview. The discussion of how music and ballet (should) go together is outstanding. -
Erik Bruhn Speaks .... Some '40 Years On'
DanielBenton replied to meunier fan's topic in Ballet News & Issues
Thanks so much for posting this very interesting interview -
I think having a subscription gives you the ability to exchange your tickets for other available dates. There may also be a small discount in the price for any additional single tickets you buy.
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I just read it. Homans describes the production and how Balanchine's emphasis in the ballet diverges from the novel: Balanchine and Don Quixote are similar in character, but in the novel Quixote has more social relationships and in the ballet (apparently) he is much more of a loner. She points out the obvious parallels to Balanchine's own life, most especially with Dulcinea/Farrell. Homans evokes what must have been a poignant spectacle, when on the several occasions including the gala dress rehearsal, Balanchine himself played Quixote.