sophia

Of course, nowadays, we can wonder what POB's historical repertoire is... In Russia, you would not have to wonder, it's much more simple... But, I think diversity is one of our characteristics: Nureyev created for POB, Balanchine, Robbins, Forsythe... Bournonville created his works in Denmark, but he was a pupil of Paris Opera School. So, that would be interesting to invite Royal Danish Ballet (instead of Trisha Brown, but I am dreaming...) and to see B's"La Sylphide" one night and Lacotte's the other night. That would be a real tribute to the traditions of these two great countries, whose influence is so important for the history of ballet.

It's a pity to talk about Charles Jude in terms of trial and justice problems... He was a great dancer and a spiritual son of Nureyev. I went to Bordeaux several times to see ballets and the theatre's repertory was interesting, as you said, although the company is not, according to my mind, as good as Marseille's for instance. I hope, despite this "vaudeville" situation, he will continue as a director.

First of all, music is different: Schneitzhöffer in Lacotte's version, Lovensjkoeld (is there a mistake?) in Bournonville's. In Bournonville's, I know that mime is more important than in Lacotte's. Of course, I know much better Lacotte's version as I live in Paris, but having seen a very bad recording of Bournonville's "La Sylphide" on television, I did not have the impression that the choreography was so different.

Well Estelle, once more, I explain what I meant when I said ""Le Parc" is quite classical": it is not classical in terms of dance vocabulary, it does not use academic language, but it is not an avant-garde work, trying to create something new, and it is quite different from Preljocaj's other works. So I used the term in its ordinary meaning... One more precison: I am not here to defend Mr Preljocaj against "traditionalists", he does not need me and it would be ridiculous. As I said, I am not particularly in love with his work, I am just interested, maybe I have also been touched by some of his creations, despite his "very politically correct" personnality... I also regret the absence of romantic repertoire, that is my main reproach and the deepest... first because it is our history, second because it is my main interest. But the choreographers you quote and would like to see (Tudor, Robbins...) are not part of our historical repertoire. Why not, but it is a different wish... What about Lacotte's reconstructions of Taglioni's works, a new and entire "Coppélia", "La Source"... There are treasures to discover at the POB library. Kylian's "Bella Figura": sorry, but I have never seen it... and I am always happy to see the work of this great choreographer. Balanchine's "Jewels": in fact, I don't really like Balanchine, so I am not really objective, I find him terribly boring, especially when it is danced by our dancers... (to tell the truth, I saw the two NYCB dvd and I discovered something much more interesting), so "Jewels" or another... ("Jewels" is not "the worst")

I would not call Mr Preljocaj a rebel, he is very "politically correct", but of course, there's a kind of political correctness in some rebellions. As far as his choreographical work is concerned, I repeat that it is not at all radical avant-garde. I don't know if you have an idea of what contemporary creation can be in France, but I can assure you that Mr Preljocaj is very far from that (that does not make him a classical choreographer, I agree with you). For Duato and especially Kylian (I really love him, he is the best to me at the moment), I think it's different, you really can't dance their works without being ballet trained. Kylian often uses pointes and movement is based on classical grammar (just like in Forsythe's). You find it sad they employ classical dancers? It just proves the superiority of classical dancers maybe...

And thanks for your welcoming me (in fact, I have been registered for long).

I did not say Preljocaj was a classical choreographer (in terms of choreographic vocabulary)! But "Le Parc" is quite different from his other works, that's just what I said. People who are used to POB repertoire are not shocked by "Le Parc", they usually enjoy it, even the more "classical" and traditional. About Preljocaj: he started as a dancer, he studied classical dance and knows it. At the beginning, he wanted only modern and contemporary dancers for his company based in Aix en Provence. But now, it's finished: he only wants classical dancers. I don't know if it's because he has worked with POB dancers several times... His work does not really use classical vocabulary, but for me, his work is real dance and he is a part of the history of dance. I would like to add that I am not a particular fan of him, but I can enjoy what he creates with critical spirit.

The romantic ballet "La Sylphide" (Pierre Lacotte version) will be released on dvd in may in Europe and during spring/summer 2005 in the U.S. and Canada according to the website http://www.tdk-music.com/. It was filmed last year at the Paris Opera and it is interpretated by Aurélie Dupont as the Sylphide and Mathieu Ganio as James. It is different from Bournonville version (music: Lovensjkold) as Pierre Lacotte's choreography is based on Philippe Taglioni's work and Schneitzhoeffer's music. Mime is also less important than in Bournonville's ballet. I really love that ballet and this romantic repertoire. Pierre Lacotte is a kind of archeologist who tries to bring a new life to the ballets of the romantic period. Unfortunately, I don't know Bournonville ballet which in never dance in France. Could someone talk about it more precisely? [snip-edited by admin]. Sorry, I posted twice, but I was wrong the first time.

I won't talk about Nicolas Le Riche as a choreographer, because I don't know his work, but the project seems to me very exciting: it is based on the character of "Caligula", hero of Camus' famous play, and he will work with the Comedie Française for that project. So, wait and see... I won't call the next season "modern", most of the works are classical or neo-classical. Preljocaj is a contemporary choreographer, but "Le Parc" is quite classical. And Kylian, Neumeier, Forsythe, Balanchine -I will not mention Noureyev of course- is that modern and radical??? I don't think so... It does not mean that the next season at POB is the ideal season according to me. I find it hard to understand and to accept the absence of romantic repertoire, our natural and historical repertoire, and any Lifar's works of course. But, I'm not so disappointed; last year, I was afraid of the season: a lot of contemporary works and creations, but in fact, I enjoyed most of them... I appreciate this diversity, the possibility to see "Sleeping Beauty" and Angelin Preljocaj's "Le Songe de Médée", Neumeier's "Sylvia" and the "Spectacle de l'école de danse"... I think it's a real chance, even if my favorite company is a very traditional one, the Bolchoï.

Thank you, cygneblanc, for this announcement. In fact, I already knew it, I annouced it this morning on the french forum "Dansomanie" [snip-edited by admin]

Did someone hear about that performance?

The POB version choregraphied by Noureev (with Manuel Legris and Monique Loudières) is magnificent. There's also a documentary about it entitled "Dancer's dream-The great ballets of Rudolf Noureev". Recently, I saw that a VAI video had been released: it's a version starring Galina Ulanova. Did someone see it? Is it worth (I mean, the picture quality and so on...)?