Grissi

No, I don't recall any spectacle like this before. They are going to build a structure on top of the lake, trying to evoke the aquatic performances they did when Felipe II reigned (sixteenth century).

Is she reaching 65?

Sarkozy held in his political program that he will be for MERIT. Let see if he fulfills his promises... Sorry for mentioning politics, but some decissions are just not fair.

Well, I share volcanohunter's opinion and I think that, in Diamonds, the most dazzling of the two soloists was Ciaravola. Cozette is, of course, elegant (which french ballerina is not elegant?), and may be she is a technician but, for me, an étoile must have more than this: personality, aura, appeal. I am totally disappointed, but this is my point of view. What is happening to POB? I was very happy to see Ganio among the étoiles although he is very young, but I cannot understand the decisions that followed this one. What happens with Emmanuel Thibaut and Myriam Ould-Braham? Why, in another thread someone said that Mme. Lefèvre and her entourage are not FOR Thibaut?

And again good news from Spain!!! Next May 12th and 13th we will have Swan Lake performed by the Ballet of Lithuania and Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta in the leading roles. The performances are for free, but invitations are required and you can get them at the boxes in El Retiro. I will try to attend it and write a report.

I liked it too, and I was waiting for you to write the link for balletalkers!!! The photographs are magnificent, indeed.

Yes, I share your opinion and, believe me, I try with all my strength to force Teatro Real's management to include more ballet in its schedule. But, in Madrid, I don't know if the case is the same in other cities, opera's audience does not like ballet, generally speaking. And the target is, I guess, opera's audience. We balletomanes, are secondary. But I'd rather have this than have nothing.

Last April 3rd I attended a performance of Push by Sylvie Guillem and Russel Maliphant, the choreographer himself. At first I was intrigued because, for an hour, the only dancers who were onstage were these two. I had never seen the production before and I can say that it was brilliant, magnificent. The ballet is divided in four sections: 'Solo', 'Shift', 'Two' and 'Push'. The three firsts are solos, and the last one is a pas de deux. 'Solo' is a solo created in origin for Mrs. Guillem to music by Carlos Montoya, flamenco guitar, very classic in essence, in which Guillem can display all her technique (she has it in full length although she is 42 years old!!!). 'Shift' was danced by Maliphant and his four shadows, as it is not a solo itself: with a clever lighting (Michael Hulls' design) it seemed that Maliphant had four 'twins' back him, dancing at the same time and doing almost the same steps. Music: strings serenade by Shirley Thompson. Again a solo for Mrs. Guillem to music by Andy Cowton, conceived firstly as a trio. Guillem reinvented it and performed it in a minimal space ligthed as a cage. She repeated the phrases with different speed and it was incredibly well danced in tempo and technique. Finally came the pas de deux, and all I can say is that I saw onstage 'control'. Two bodys perfectly controlled, all experience and love for dancing. Bravos and tumultous applause. I am very, very grateful for Teatro Real's management nowadays. At least, it is reaching a level for which we Spanish can be proud.

I share your opinion about those two dancers, and would definitely be disappointed to see one of them promoted... Indeed that's not what I'd expect from a POB étoile I do agree with you. I attended last Monday Cendrillon, Abbagnato/Bélingard, and I was very dissapointed. She was not relaxed on stage and does not have the required technical level. As for Bélingard, I thought that he was a bit green, I mean that he didn't have enough experience on stage. Their performance was far from brilliant. I share your opinion. Mme. Fiat was one of the sisters, the other one was Mélanie Hurel, and their technique was accurate. They performed their roles with loads of sense of humor. They merited the applause more than the leading roles.

CarolinaM, do you know who finally won the posts? Has the list been published?

May be it is acerbic and sour in another compositions, but Cinderella is, yes, very sophisticated, with a lot of sense of humour and very descriptive, very visual.

As I read in Harlow Robinson's biography of Sergei Prokofiev, in addition to the Fairy Godmother there are four fairies representing the four seasons, perhaps directly inspired by Glazunov's 1899 ballet The Seasons.

I love the 32 fouettés, I always wait for them, they are part from Swan Lake's tradition, I am disappointed when I don't see them done properly and I always count them. If the ballerina has not the virtuosity to make them a good option is the manège with two piqué tours and three chainée, but they have to be done with a lot of speed to maintain the amazing effect that the fouettés give to the pdd. I don't find another better option than this. I have never seen two different ballerinas in the roles of Odette/Odile, but I think that it will brake evolution of the character and of the performance in a whole. I think the French do very good fouettés and I like ballerinas over-refined... But the most amazing fouettés I have ever seen are those made by Tamara Rojo in Blancanieves, Cinthia Gregory in Don Quichotte, and a Spanish ballerina named Amaya Iglesias, now, I think, in the Ballet de Nancy, in Paquita (single, double, triple, incredible!!!!!!!!!! ).

I have never paid too much attention to the ballet news in Portugal, but last week the Companhia Nacional de Bailado arrived to Madrid to dance Swan Lake. I was surprised to find that the principal dancer there is the Spanish Carlos Pinillos, one of the best dancers trained by Víctor Ullate. It is a shame that the performances are to be held in the Teatro de Madrid, once very comfortable for ballet but now old and obsolete. And it is a shame, because the couples dancing the leading roles are: the Portuguese Ana Lacerda and Carlos Acosta; Alina Cojocaru with Carlos Pinillos; and Barbora Hruskova with Roman Vassiliev. I hope to hear more about this company!!

Yes, I 've seen it, but only once. And, thank you I noticed that Mélanie Hurel wasn't in the pas de trois and I wondered who could be the substitute. I have planned to see it today one time more, and then I will post my opinion.

CarolinaM, I think that you could start a thread in 'European Ballet Companies' with your report about the gala... I'm giving you work, forgive me, but I'm anxious for this news....

I ordered it last week at amazon.co.uk and received it yesterday. Surprisingly, the price is cheaper than I expected. I have not seen it yet.

Thank you for your support, CarolinaM. I am anxious to see ballet (good ballet) in Madrid. Please, please, report the gala whenever you can. Very detailed, please!!! Yes, I am confident that Ángel's team know to do things properly.

Oh, what a pity!! I hoped I could go to the gala too... Why do they do this kind of antidemocratic 'apartheid'??? What about the Spanish balletomanes???

¡Bienvenido! I think that we are three voices from Spain right now!!! More points of view, that's very encouraging. Again, welcome, PsFs!

I do not agree!!! I would rather dance on carpet than on concrete... It is like dancing on a cushion, it doesn't hurt!!! Well, I started watching the concert when the Beautiful Blue Danube started. The choreography, in my opinion, was not at the same level on every track. Sometimes, when the four couples of the corps danced together, it was a little confusing. Lucía Lacarra has a superb style, but I don't know if she abuses of her hyperextension.... The costumes were very elegant, but I didn't like the way the ballerinas arranged their hair. Specially, Lucía, she wear those horrible little hairs on her forehead (I don't know how to say that in English).

Sorry, Joseph, for the delay in answering you. As I have told you in the message, and for everyone who wants to know, this DVD forms part of a collection, 'Lo mejor del Ballet', sent by Planeta De Agostini. You have all the information in its website www.planetadeagostini.es. The prizes are very good, 15 € each DVD, and the first release (RB's The Nutcracker and Blancanieves) 15 € for the two DVD's mentioned. If you have any problem with Spanish, please let me know.

Buddy, if you understand russian, please, please, summarize this!!!!

Thank you, Helene.

Neither do I!!!!