cubanmiamiboy

really...? really...?! I mean... REALLY?!?!?!

BTW...among my three enquires, this one has generated an obviously lower amount of responses. I could be wrong, but do I perceive a diminished interest/knowledge on this work compared to the rest of the MCB program...?

...with an impromptu visit from Ludmilla Tcherina. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXIjcGSBaXU&feature=related

Yes, Natasha...this is indeed the Voronezh Company. http://northrop.umn.edu/events/voronezh-state-ballet-theatre-russia

The other day I was watching this Sheherezade clip from the Ballet Russes Celebration thread, and I kept thinking that it would be very difficult for a current company to revive this work...one that doesn't have the safe spot of pointe work or the always reliable technical tricks. If what this clip shows is what is missing or "dead" about ballet, then Homans is right. http://www.youtube.com/user/NationalGalleryAus#p/u/9/Gb10L1P280A

Thanks! Just spent some time going through the catalogue - yet another reason to try to get to New York again as soon as possible What I liked about it as well was the sense that this was someone's personal collection of things they liked over the years - nice to have a curated list rather than wading through YouTube for a change Are you kidding me...? This AMAZING catalogue is always one of the highlights of my trips to the city. I usually spend several hours wandering around old clips of the BRdMC and BT. The staff there is also SUPER friendly. You can actually request several entries at a time, and even if there's supposed to be a limited number-(I think 4 or 5..?)-they usually let you get away with way more than that. Highly recommended place!

I'm glad you made this comment, for which to be fair, Filippova was very pleasant, as both Odette and Odile. Not impressive-(let's make this clear)-but not deppressing to watch. I can't say the same of Sigfried...one of those danseurs that seems to be always over preocuppied about showing his perfect turnout, pointed toes and fifth positions than the dancing itself. The National Dances didn't have enough panache, and went on without any glory. I promise I'll get back to you on this as soon as I get home. I don't have the programme with me right now. Tell me about it! I gave up the Arsht's New Year Concert "Salutte to Vienna" for this...BIG mistake.

Not to mention the many, many Westerns on TV. Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wyatt Earp, yada, yada, yada ... Cowboy lore permeated the culture. ...which we inherited in Cuba from the American period-(1902-1959). I still have pics in full cowboy regalia, and also had a beautiful playing set of cowboys vs. indians...(how do you call those...the little figurines...?) In my house there were also tons of Hopalong Cassidy and Buffallo Bill comics...I LOVED them...!

Odile, as usual, stealing the show... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8DQqAiruoY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdbL1roej9E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5sxVB_6QGg

OMG! I had COMPLETELY forgotten that I hadn't finished this review...!...until I saw violinconcerto's post. So here is part of the other night's writing, that I saved to finish it later on, but because it is not really worth to devote that much time to this performance, I just decided that I will comprise and speed up the rest of the review. Honestly there's not a lot to talk about. "Odette came over. Another low point, for which she didn’t do the “grand entrance” in that characteristic grand jete that, if well done, gives one the illusion of a flying bird landing from the sky to start its transformation into the Swan Queen. She appeared by burreing onstage, and then she actually jumped, but it was more like a little saut de chat in place. I don’t have major complains about Odette-(Marta Filippova) Act III The third act started in a high point, being the jester’s dancing to the now almost forgotten “Dances of the Corps de Ballet & Dwarfs”. The national dances were also nice to watch, although just the mazurka and tarantella were performed –(they deleted the czardas and the Spanish dance came later on, with in interesting twist) Then we had the waltz, which was danced by the prospective brides, and THEN came the interesting twist..." (From here on, I'm just writing right now...) Rothbart/Odile's entrance, Odile wearing a black and red tutu-(please, let's make note of this) Spanish Dance-(mm, weird...the National Dances segment is already over...) Black Swan PDD-(nice, but not great, although Filippova did her 32 single fuettes quite nicely, but with that unnerving to me habit to finish them in fourth position instead of on pointe) Red alert!!!: Odile's mocking of Albretch sequence...general confusion, DURING WHICH THE SPANIARDS ARE TO BE SEEN STANDING STILL AROUND ODILE, LOOKING QUITE TRIUMPHANT, WITHOUT RUNNING FRANTICALLY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE...(mmm...how weird...) Odile and Rothbart exit, and here comes the interesting twist...WITH THEIR ENTOURAGE...THE SPANIARDS!! Yes, Ladies and gentlemen...Odile is Spanish...she traveled all the way from the Iberian Peninsula!...I always suspected we had something in common... Anyway. Act IV, "Andante con Molto" from the deleted Pas de six as a new PDD for Siegfried and Odette-(quite successful according to the clapping) and soviet finale with Rothbart agonizing on the floor after loosing a wing from Sigfried's heroic attack.... Curtain down. Me, all bitter and cranky all the way down on I-95 south. aaaggh!!

How did I miss your post, atm...? and HOW is that I don't get surprised at your personal experience on ballet viewing anymore, atm...?

Oh, yes...DEFINITELY. Cox is one of those almost extincted dancers whose great charisma can save a ruined ballet night. He was also a great character dancer, one of those who looked as if those roles came out effortlessly-(a la Massine). You don't find those very easy nowadays. I miss him a lot too. Nothing at all! And I'm very thankful of all posters for the great responses and memories. I even got a full video with Misha on it...! (To be honest, when I was starting to get too excited after some minutes of viewing, I closed the clip...I didn't want to ruin my first live view of this choreography...) You're right, Jack. Confession. I had already made up my mind to give up on ballet viewing after my first and only encounter with MCB-(Giselle)-right when I came from Cuba. Ballet Talk made me reconsider my decision and that's why I went back to explore a little bit inside the Balanchine world...

Want to know something...? I see Albertson in the role-(using extensions...? her hair is in a neck middle section square bob...) http://www.miamicityballet.org/images/headshot_Albertson_1287170060.jpg

No more Tom Sawyer due to racial-related sensitive material, no more Michelangelo's David or Goya's Naked Maja due to nudity-related sensitive material...and on and on and on... Meanwhile, REAL horrifying stuff is happening right in front of our eyes, and still we pretend we don't see it. Can't stand double standards...

From the top of my head it indeed reminded me of "Shakespeare and his masks" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPRTk7HS5I0

Here's Villella talking about the ballet.

For me "La Sonnambula"-(in Spanish La Sonambula...same pronunciation)-is easier than "Night Shadow"

"Sublimely perfect work", "tightly constructed","brilliantly organized, entrancingly musical ensemble work", "glorious creation", "enduring masterpiece"...wow...I'm very curious already....! Thanks bart, for the link. I'll be there tomorrow night.

Ow wow...those pics are beautiful, rg...! (I specially loved the "fan and fish" duo...) Has the ballet changed a lot in terms of costume design...?

The blog's info is very helpful, bart...thanks for posting it...but I just couldn't help but to notice this... "So, there always has to be drama right? So cue drama. The Croquette ,jealous of the Poet's interest in the Sleepwalker, informs the Host of the Poet's flirtations throughout the evening". Oh, I'm so silly...

aah...the One and Only Danilova... Lovely indeed, bart...

A copy is being place in my amazon shopping chart as I'm writing! I will definitely be back to report. bart...thanks for those pics. Kronemberg looks beautiful...

Kathleen...your post was very enlightening. For some reason I always thought that this ballet followed Bellini's opera pattern.

Ccoul this ballet be my lucky winner ticket to the Tharp's world...?

I've read some stuff on this ballet here and there, but you know...nothing like the first class info of BT'rs. What's going on with the cowboys...?