Juliet

PeggyR, go to Google and you'll see.....

Beautiful 2 pictures in the Post online............

Excited to see performances tomorrow!!!

Splendid programs!!!!!!!!!!

I love SPAC, actually.........seeing Midsummer while the skies get blue and then darken, and the fireflies mirror the ones onstage.........pure magic! One can walk around the park if there is a ballet one wishes to miss, or go to the Hall of Springs and get a cocktail or soda, or have a picnic beforehand......

I am not bothered by the insects (one either wraps up or uses repellant) and feel grateful to the dancers who have to contend with them far more than I do!

Although I will give the American Girl Night a pass, and perhaps the gala.........

Thanks for the report, Jack! I also wish that the current trend toward murky lighting wasn't so pervasive......

Looking forward to seeing performances this weekend........

heard that the Haieff costumes are a glorious teal while the center couple are in light green.....with beautiful designs by Holly Hynes, it is unfortunate that they are lit to read a pallid grey......

oh well....looking forward to the dancing!

This is wonderful news! Marking calendar NOW in anticipation..........

I agree completely.. bought the POB version when it came out and was sooooo disappointed. (Of course it was my own fault for not reading the liner notes--Lacotte, etc.--) Was most familiar with the Festival Ballet version and so was thrilled to see the RDB one...Lis Jeppesen is absolutely the embodiment of fey...

If you are ever able to see the clips of Kirkland at the NY Library for the Performing Arts, you'll be astounded........she does the jetes off stage right during the reel as if she is thistledown blown on the wind.....

The Royal Danish Ballet's version with Lis Jeppesen and Nikolaj Hubbe (1988) has the dancers in shoes. The DVD is widely available, and the interpretation said to be exceptionally faithful to Bournonville.

Oh yes! How could I have forgotten!!! (Maybe because I was focussed on Nikolaj???? ) But the Festival Ballet trumps for costumes, although Schaufuss monkeyed around with the choreography some....

See if you can find the one done by London Festival Ballet in the 80's......absolutely stunning production. Peter Schaufuss, Eva Evdokimova as Sylph, and a beautiful Effie (whose name escapes me).....it was televised, but not released commercially.

Anyway, Effie wears dark red character slippers and her footwork is highlighted by them. I believe that the other women wear them too in the first act, although theirs are black. They have a small, delicate heel, and no visible cross- or T-strap, (they may have used elastic, although I cannot see any on Effie.)

The costumes were absolutely beautiful, makes all other productions pale, in my opinion.

Kaufmann has a warm, rich voice....nothing shallow about liking him! Of course, his publicists are going to dress him up and capitalize on his looks, but the voice is there..........and isn't it lovely to have a tenor who doesn't make us want to close our eyes when he is onstage? Think of it: Garanca, Kaufmann, and Tahu Rhodes on stage in Carmen together: the entire audience would be in puddles by the time they finished.........

sigh....

Respectfully noting that if his dates are 1909-2010. That makes him 100, not 90. ???

WQXR posted it incorrectly on their site as well. Unless the birth year was cited incorrectly (always a possibility.) I am sure someone will come forward with the correct information!

I was a great fan and learned so much from his broadcasts.......condolences to his friends and family.....his book Life through the Opera Glass is most informative and enjoyable......

I am so disappointed at not being able to see PNB do this.....please, lots of reports!

Richard Bonynge complete Tchaikovsky ballets on Decca for dance tempi.

Gergiev for listening and singing along.

I also love the Mark Ermler ones of highlights, too......

Brava!

Now I want to hear the Myrthas!!!!

Tutus are precious cargo! Also, once donned, they should never be sat down in.

And especially not on the floor in the wings.........

are you listening, ladies?

I don't know how I missed the original notice of this performance (well, yes I do, it was Nutcracker season!).....just happening to be in MD this week, what a treat---I'll be there tomorrow night!!!

thanks for the heads up!

Welcome to Ballet Talk and Ballet Talk for Dancers, Eric....

as you are a theatre major, I am sure that you will find more costume history information in your college/university library. There are many, many knowledgeable people on this site, and there is a great deal of information on this topic online as well.

You will be very well served if you go to the costume shop at your university and interview the persons working on dance costumes there. Nothing has been written that can touch the depth of knowledge carried in these memories and fingers. The same is true for the staff of a ballet costume shop---as long as you make arrangements in advance, the designers and technicians are more than happy to share knowledge.

Some very rudimentary starting points for your reading are:

How to Dress Dancers: Costuming Techniques for Dance/by Mary Kent Harrison

Tutus and Other Costumes for the Danseur and Danseuse/by Virginia Murray

Designing for the Dancer/by R. Strong, I. Guest, R. Buckle, B. Kay and L. Da Costa

A web site you may enjoy is:

http://www.nga.gov.au/russia/

Many of the Ballets Russes costumes on exhibit for "From Russia with Love" are staggering in the amount of detail, but also inspiring for the breathtaking use of colour and inventive design elements.

The Borzois in ABT Giselle first act, also in other productions, but cannot remember specific breeds.

I'd heard this from friends......I am so very sad. A great font of information, kindness, artistic integrity and an all around mensch. I could always, always count on Ralph. He was a great guy....

I'll be there for the performance tomorrow night, so can relay costume details, Tutu maker! See everyone there.....

Don Giovanni was splendid------(I am a huge Simon Keenlyside fan) and it's a treat to have it available thus!

J Angle performed Desire.

I think it's great--Rome in the autumn.........why not!!!

Natalia, how was the Open House? Well attended, I hope!

Looking forward to seeing SFB next month......details are on the KenCen website. Great opportunity to see some different interpretations of choreography........

I believe it's George Skibine, with Markova as Aurora. Mid 1940's. I recall seeing another head shot of him from this photo shoot some time ago and marvelled at the makeup and that marvellous hat.....

just a guess.......

Farrell Ballet will be in the Eisenhower Theatre, just to prevent confusion. It is a smaller house than the Opera House, and both theatres are fine for sight lines. I imagine that the October dates will enable more people to travel to see these programs!

I think the Eisenhower is great for dance........my favourite spot is last row of center orchestra, on the right aisle.

That said, I don't think the sight lines are bad anywhere in that theatre.