leonid17

Likewise. I took the cheap route to discovering more about the Polar Prize. See:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Music_Prize I liked the list of recipients.

excellent points about American cable news. I kept changing channels to avoid the commentary by the announcers, finally settling on CBC (Canadian). It was maddening to try to listen to that glorious version of Jerusalem as Kate walked down the aisle, underneath the jabbering american accented commentator no-nothings.Regarding the wedding dress, I have read that 90% of the dress design was Kate Middleton's preferences, and 10% was Sarah Burton. It was obvious that it would be appropriate for a cathedral (sleeves, train, veil, etc), but I felt the dress fit Kate's esthetic, based on other things she has worn to special occasions. I felt she went her own way on the dress, rather than trying to compete with Princess Diana on length of train, etc. I especially liked the unfolding of the pleats as she walked in the dress down the aisle and the simplicity of her veil. Apparently she and her sister (who is an event planner) were heavily involved in the details of the event. Kate has dropped a dramatic amount of weight, and there are pix of her on the internet to compare. She was always slim, but now I think looks gaunt (though perhaps not gaunt enough for ballet - at least the Alastair Macaulay esthetic). I thought her make up was fine, but give it 10 years and we'll look back and think she wore too much kohl eye liner and mascara (all the girls do now!). There is a 2008 McQueen dress in red worn by Cameron Diaz that is a near match to the dress Pippa Middleton wore, except Pippa's had more lace at the bodice. It would not have done well to dress her like a 13 year old junior bridesmaid. Ah, but the music was just glorious, wasn't it? Has anyone noticed how the british and american media differ in their portrayal of the Middleton family business? In the US, they would be glorified for being successful entrepreneurs, Mother Middleton would likely be interviewed on MSNBC, etc. In the British press, it's almost as if the money is resented, as if they are resented for rising above their grandparents' professions. I've noticed insinuations that the family business is taking advantage of the royal connection, as evidenced by the increase in hits to the company's website. However, searches for the website do not necessarily indicate an uptick in business transactions, most are probably lookyloos who don't buy anything. I thought this was an interesting article in respect of your last paragraph. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/30/royal-wedding-monarchy

Uh, I think many people prefer the term “citizens,” these days. I’ve read differing estimates on how much financial benefit the nation actually receives and a lot seems to depend on how those doing the estimating deploy their math. I suppose it’s possible to view the royals simply as expensively maintained national mascots intended to prop up the tourist industry and sell tea towels. Mashinka has a point about the "bread and circuses" aspect of last weekend's happy event. It’s really up to the British public, of course, and as long as a majority of them are apparently happy with the arrangement then that’s that, I guess. However, I don’t know what would happen to my local PBS station, which seems to devote half its airtime to documentaries about various Windsors. It wasn’t very different on this side of the water, I think. The networks returned to normality reasonably quickly but the cable news channels went bananas, with the exception of MSNBC which after a point returned to their regular weekend broadcasting involving life in maximum security prisons and disappearances of pretty white girls. I benefited from the saturation coverage because I wasn’t about to get up in the wee hours to watch the wedding live, but it was all a bit much. But let us return to less vexing topics than economics. What did people think of Pippa Middleton's dress for the wedding? The Dress. See:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8484342/Royal-wedding-Pippa-Middleton-shines-as-maid-of-honour.html

That was just a fact about Princess Michael, I don't hold it against her. You were talking about military service of the Royals, and I actually enjoyed both of her lectures. She's very smart and very attractive in a formidable way. Others are more upset at her having married Prince Michael than I am. In other words, it's the same sort of fact that yes, the Queen now pays taxes (although I didn't know when she started, it was announced in the early 90s, I believe), and I think I recall that the monarch paying taxes was voluntary, that some had and the Queen hadn't until rather recently. That's why her generosity about offering to give up the yacht was of interest to me--I wouldn't have thought the monarchs who didn't choose to pay taxes but did offer to give up their royal yacht would be the same person. And also that people were talking about the 'more useless royals', etc., which I thought might mean the Kents, even though I believe some of the actual princes like Edward were no longer on the Civil List. I believe people were upset when they married as Princess Michael was of the Roman Catholic faith which meant Prince Michael had to give up his succession to the throne which upset some traditionalists, but not me particularly.

Ive a feeling youre in a minority there. As for assorted war records, a few of them have made themselves useful, but royal weddings and the like are still the modern day equivalent of bread and circuses. Very few Brits I know are happy to be considered as 'subjects' by the way: it is to most a derogatory and anachronistic term. The particular sourness of your comments makes me ask if you are unlucky enough to have a very small number of acquaintances and are they all po faced about the Royal Family when the rest of the UK respects them and their status. I ask this because I come from a large family all of whose members have a large circle of friends like me and there were many British town and county gardens full of celebrants welcoming the Royal wedding. Throughout London there were street parties as there were also taking place in cities and towns throughout the UK. That British, popular institution. "The Pub" did roaring trade the length and breath of the UK with large screens on all day, As to international recognition of the event, estimates exceeding 2.2 billion watched the wedding such is the world wide significance of the Royal family which included 38% of the Canadian populate, 23 million Americans were estimated to watch the wedding,24 million Brits were estimated to be watching the wedding on television at home. The Queen's subjects, Her Majesty's subjects, etc., continues to be used in British legal discourse, citizen is now used (since the 1980's) more commonly used, the definition of citizen however, is a person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation and of course the Queen is our Head of State. Being of a certain age I am quite happy to belong to the tradition of being called a subject of the Queen and feel no diminution of my status as British as a result. The government of the UK is "Her Majesty's Government and I have never heard of any large popular republican movement wanting to change this. Perhaps universal happy occasions are really only for happy people.

Thank you Mel. The Queen costs each of her subjects the equivalent of the price of two pints of milk a year (ie £0.70p) and the income from Royal tourism brings each British subject £2.60 per through taxes. It is certain that more British people enjoyed the Royal Wedding than those sour pusses who do not understand the role of the Monarchy on the UK and world stage.

Like many English born British Subjects and many overseas born British Subjects as were seen on TV coverage, I am happy to pay for Royal Weddings as the Royal Family give the British Isles a particular status unmatched anywhere in the world. Especially as Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh spent almost the entire Second World War on active service, the Duke of Kent had a military career lasting 21 years, Prince Andrew Duke of York saw active service in the Falklands War,Prince Harry served in Afghanistan for several months,the Late Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester served in the army and was wounded in the Second World War, Prince Michael of Kent served in the army. It is this kind of example of showing what it means to be British, that makes the Royal Family of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland much loved by its inhabitants and admired across the world.

What a generous act of Keith Money to put his book, “The Dancer from the Dance” on line. I am especially grateful as I would think that I saw almost all of the performances depicted. Nostalgia flooded my emotions and even a tear or two rolled down my cheek as the photographs revived a period that was the most carefree and possibly the happiest period of my life. Christopher Gable was an extraordinary sensitive performer whose emotional expression was always quite perfect when in dramatic, humorous or romantic mode. I cannot talk about this artist without Lynn Seymour coming immediately to ones mind. Perfection in a partnership would sum up the inter-creative combination they achieved. Irreplaceable might be thought to be going too far. Not for me. I was a teenager when they appeared in The Two Pigeons and they joined the ranks of my teenage idols. Together, they created a highly charged emotional response from London audiences of all ages and critics as well.Sir Frederick Ashton's magical and meticulous touch was also highly celebrated. In Romeo and Juliet, the audience was swept along by their tidal wave of emotions creating moments when sitting on the “edge of ones seat“ became a reality. Most of Keith Money’s photographs catch a certain theatrical mood and those with Svetlana Beriosova reveal the unique beauty of her line.

It would be great to think this project might be filmed and made available.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/may/01/summer-arts-calendar Plus the Maryinsky Ballet http://www.victorhochhauser.co.uk/index.htm

And (since the subject of the royal family's "modernization" has been raised - I'd not be mentioning the following in this thread otherwise) the Queen has deflected some of the bad publicity her family have been getting over the past few decades by actually paying some income taxes and kicking some of the most notably useless of her relations off the Civil List. Quite so.

My actual point was that had they wished to preserve the image of the Groom's Supporter as Champion, another Order, another Regiment or even an entirely different Service could have been chosen. In thirty years of wearing the uniform, I had only three occasions when I had to wear full-dress/diplomatic order, with chapeau-de-bras, full epaulettes, and M1860 field-and-staff sword. One only one of those occasions did I have to appear while mounted in this uniform, calling for the replacement of the former sword with a horseman's saber. The latter weapon is exceedingly ungainly to walk with, and provides a great reason why they would have foregone the wear of the Household Cavalry Sword, which is about 2 cm longer than its earlier US counterpart, evocative picture notwithstanding. But the sword is not really an important detail, and its exclusion is a quiet way of saying, "We don't DO that anymore!" The modernisation of the Royal Family has been actively sought by Her Majesty since the time when Prince Andrew was allowed to see active service in the Falklands War and Prince Harry also having the experience of service under fire. Prince Charles has set enormous and often unwelcome precedents by raising his head above the parapet in areas which the Royal Family had avoided in the past, as did the high profile activities of Princess Diana and other Royals, e.g. Anne the Princess Royal with her highly publicised equestrian activities. It would appear that both Prince Charles and the Queen agreed to Prince William and Prince Harry's precedent of the absence of swords, the other precedent in the 21st (and 20th century) appears to be the wearing of a red uniform by a member of the Royal Family at his wedding (the non Royal Captain Mark Phillips also wore the red uniform of the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards when he married Princess Anne.) I also consider tradition important in most walks of life as well as having military links in my family going back almost 200 years. I understand your point regarding tradition, however the question of the absence of groomsman's sword carrying whilst noticed, did not offend me given the panoply of tradition being exhibited in the formalities and the glorious church service on a happy British occasion.

Thanks for the clip and the information, leonid. It looks like I was too hard on her. "Judge not, lest . . " How does that go again? Thanks for starting the thread, dirac. At our house we watched the proceedings with scones and clotted cream! How English. Do hope you enjoyed the event. The thought of scones and clotted.them makes me want them now, but I shall have to wait until tomorrow.

Does the woman not know how to smile, even on a joyous occasion? I thought her sulk, or whatever it was, made her look ridiculous. Thank you! I like her but would it kill her to crack a smile at a wedding? What a contrast between her and her husband, who always has a bright smile on his face. They are like Grand Duke Sergei and Grand Duchess Elizabeth in reverse! Does the woman not know how to smile, even on a joyous occasion? I thought her sulk, or whatever it was, made her look ridiculous. Perhaps her condition had something to do with it. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/29/david-victoria-beckham-wedding-fashion She's always like that -- it's part of the Posh Spice persona. Talk about taking your publicity too seriously. The Queen is more laid-back and down-to-earth than Victoria Beckham! There is far to much concern regarding this minor celebrity wife of David Beckham. Here is film of her at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13237480 exhiibiting quite normal expressions to my mind.

Does the woman not know how to smile, even on a joyous occasion? I thought her sulk, or whatever it was, made her look ridiculous. Perhaps her condition had something to do with it. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/29/david-victoria-beckham-wedding-fashion

Prince Harry was in "Dismounted Review Order" according to my ex Household Cavalry RSM brother-in-law when swords would not be worn. Swords were worn at the weddings of Princes Andrew and Edward, Her Majesty the Queen to Prince Phillip and George VI but they were all Naval officers and were obeying Navy Dress Regulations.

The Bridegroom and Best Man Uniforms Prince William chose to wear the uniform of Colonel of the Irish Guards on his Wedding Day. He is of course commissioned in all three Armed Services, and has served actively with the Army (The Household Cavalry Regiment) and with the Royal Air Force (Search and Rescue Force). The Prince chose to wear the uniform of his senior honorary appointment in the Army. Prince Harry wore the uniform of a Captain of the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals). Prince William’s Uniform Prince William wore an Irish Guards Mounted Officer’s uniform in Guard of Honour Order with a Forage Cap. Together with a gold and crimson sash, and gold sword slings, both of which are worn in the presence of a Member of the Royal Family. The Prince of course did not wear a sword. The Prince also wore the Garter Sash with the Wings of the Royal Air Force, the Garter Star and the Golden Jubilee Medal. The tunic, in Guards’ Red, features the Irish Guards’ distinctive arrangement of buttons in groups of four. The buttons feature the Harp of Ireland surmounted by the Crown Imperial. The arrangement of buttons on the uniform denotes the Irish Guards’ position in the Order of Battle as the Fourth Regiment of Foot Guards. The Insignia of the Irish Guards on the Forage Cap is the eight-pointed Star of the Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick, and features the Regiment’s motto ‘Quis Separabit?’ (‘Who shall separate us?’). The uniform was fitted by Kashket and Partners. Prince Harry’s Uniform Prince Harry wore a Blues and Royals officer’s uniform in Dismounted Review Order, with a Forage Cap. The Prince wore aiguillettes, a cross-belt and gold waist belt with sword slings, but no sword.The Prince also wore the Wings of the Army Air Corps and Golden Jubilee and Afghanistan Campaign medals. The Forage Cap carries the badge of the Blues and Royals, which features the insignia of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with The Queen’s cipher. PS Loved the wedding dress, but thought the train should have been longer and more tapered. I thought the relaxed manner of the Princes and Catherine, denoted their contemporary personalities, which did not conflict with the movingly austere solemnity of the cathedral service and for me, added a touch of their well sought out normality, whilst living in an often seemingly well protected hothouse environment. Edited

Yes, indeed. Theoretically, could Cranko's version be revived? Not sure. It may be that Cranko's original staging for both the Royal Ballet and the Wurttembergische State Theater Ballet(later the Stuttgart Ballet) predate notated records. The ballet was given more than twenty times by the Royal Ballet providing a wonderful role for Svetlana Beriosova as La Belle Rose. Britten conducted the first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas on New Year's Day 1957 at the Royal Opera House where it was given twenty-three performances and then was dropped from the repertoire. As a teenager I saw a revival of the ballet in 1960 and fell in love Beriosova's quality of movement and was intrigued with the strange quality of the music. Later Prince of the Pagodas received favourable reviews in New York, Munich, and La Scala. This was a time when Kenneth MacMillan, Ninette de Valois creature, rose in ascendancy and Cranko left to begin his creation of the Stuttgart Ballet out of the ancient Wurttembergische State Ballet.

I was saddened to hear of the death of Eugene Fodor who I once heard live in the 1970’s. Daily Telegraph Obituary at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8472645/Eugene-Fodor.html

When the word technique is applied, it refers to an established and often sophisticated practical method, being used as a step towards accomplishment that arises from study and practice. Style however, as I see it, is either informed from within or without in academic classical ballet dancers and there is a generalised method of measurement emanating from particular schools and accepted traditions. Of course it is does not end there, as great artists, bring something unique to their performances in which the underlying technique, serves as the template from which they can connect with examples from past and recent history. Style can often be arrived at through their particular teacher(s) and of course is influenced by the stylistic context of particular schools of ballet they attend. Dancers of style through personal inspiration achieve some kind of state elevated from classroom exercises performing in a very clean and pure manner and then, reflect if not imitate, the creative expression of examples of previous generations. I would suggest that the greatest stylists have a rare, unique, imagined and inspired focus, arising from a personal aesthetic, for which I concur in with Christian, as it appears to emanate from a particularly deep level of performance expression which is generally known as coming from the soul. Edited 27.04.11

My diary entries for bit of a mixed season of delights and the missable. Royal Ballet 2011 - 2012 Sept/Oct 2011 Jewels - Glad to see it. Oct 2011 Mixed bill Limen – Sit it out Marguerite & Armand - Glad to see it Requiem – Not a favourite Oct to Dec 2011 The Sleeping Beauty – With ruined sets but some good casts November 2011 Manon – One more nearer to death but some good casts November 2011 Mixed Bill Asphodel Meadows Enigma Variations Glad to see it revived but can never forget original cast Gloria Dec 2011 to Jan 2012 The Nutcracker – Missable production Jan to Apr 2012 Romeo & Juliet - Hopefully some good casts Feb to Mar 2012 Mixed Bill ) The Dream ) Odd coupling of two great works Song of the Earth ) Mar to Apr 2012 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - NIFOM April 2012 Mixed Bill New Scarlett ) Polyphonia ) NIFOM New McGregor ) Apr - May 2012 La Fille Mal Gardee - Generally a failsafe May - June 2012 Mixed Bill ) Ballo Della Regina ) Like the pairing La Sylphide ) June 2012 The Prince of the Pagodas – Would prefer to see Cranko’s version June - July 2012 Mixed Bill Birthday Offering ) A Month in the Country ) Great triple bill Les Noces ) July 2012 Titian A Royal Ballet & National Gallery project, involving collaborations between:- ) Wayne McGregor, Kim Brandstrup, Alastair Marriott, Chris Wheeldon, ) Why? Will Tuckett, Liam Scarlett & Jonathan Watkins )

What a treat. Sinister, panther like, extraordinary physicality and dramatic as well. Tremendous. Almost effaces the memory of Gediminas Taranda in the same role.

Amen

I understand a translation is in process in Russia, but have no idea as to when it will be published.