Mary J Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 I am going to take Alexandra's question about saving only one Balanchine ballet, and make it even tougher. What if only one ballet could survive of all the ballets ever created. Which ballet would it be, which company's version, and why? Link to comment
Hans Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 I'm having a hard time choosing between the Ballet Comique de la Reine and the original Sleeping Beauty (the REAL original Sleeping Beauty). The first because from it, ballet might redevelop in an entirely different way, which would be fascinating to see, and the second because it's the pinnacle of classicism (IMO, anyway). Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Thanks, Mary J -- what a good question! Much harder than just one Balanchine, and that's hard enough! I'd go wiith Sleeping Beauty, both as the epitome of ballet, and the best model for future development. Link to comment
carbro Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 That was my first reaction, Alexandra, for just the reason you cite. But then we wouldn't have James and his Sylph! The Petipa speaks to my mind, the Bournonville to my heart. This hurts. :giveup: But I think, in the end, I'd stick with Barocco, which speaks urgently to my mind and my heart. Link to comment
Drew Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 The Sleeping Beauty. The 'original' Petipa, of course, though Lopokhov (sp.?) Lilac Fairy variants are okay by me! Oddly, I couldn't cope with the Balanchine question, but this one I didn't even have to think about...Either my love of ballet includes a ruthless streak I didn't know about or the certainty of never actually having to face the problem in reality calmed me down. (Whereas we may one day face a reality in which we only have five or six Balanchine ballets that in any way resemble their originals.) So, now, having given it some thought and, with the additional disclaimer that I don't really believe great art works can be ranked, and we are just playing...here are my reasons: Disclaimers aside, I judge The Sleeping Beauty to be the greatest ballet ever made. It includes the greatest classical dancing ever choreographed, danced to the greatest ballet score ever composed. It also contains a tremendous variety of moods, elements, and styles -- making it a particularly exemplary work to serve as the last ballet standing. Finally: we know historically what this ONE ballet inspired -- from the collaborative 'gesamtkunstwerk' oriented experiments of the Diaghilev company, to the Royal Academy of dancing, to Balanchine himself. So, if, in this imaginary future with only one ballet, some enterprising young artist (or artists) decided to revive the art, Sleeping Beauty allows for many wonderful developments. I don't think one could work 'backwards' in the same way from, say, a work by Ashton or Balanchine and somehow extrapolate a Petipa-esque vision. I suppose this is just a wordier version of what Alexandra and Hans have written, so finally, finally (and in a more personal vein): I can't bring myself to say I love the Sleeping Beauty the best of all ballets, but I certainly can't think of any ballet I love more. It was the first ballet I ever saw, albeit in a film that chopped up (and out) tons of choreography, and it made me a balletomane immediately and, apparently, for life. Link to comment
Old Fashioned Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 Sleeping Beauty for me, too, for all the reasons listed above. Link to comment
BalletNut Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 Ditto here. Sleeping Beauty is a perfect ballet. Jewels is my runner-up, simply for the variety of different styles represented. Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 Drw, I have to say, I'm really impressed with your reasons. THey REALLY have lot of force. I agree with you completely, but i couldn't have put it that way -- especially about hte reverse engineering -- it's the variety included within hte whole that suggests so many possible avenues....... Link to comment
Petra Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 I'd vote for Swan Lake -as it forms a perfect balance between romanticisim and classicisim. On the other hand and in light of the unanimous votes above, I think I've yet to see a really good Sleeping Beauty. :green: Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 There's no way I could choose a favorite-my brain would explode! Clara Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 I wouldn't say that Sleeping Beauty is my favorite -- I couldn't pick one either! I'd have a hard time narrowing it down to 25!! Just that it's the one I'd vote for to go in the time capsule -- for the reasons Drew so beautifully stated above. Link to comment
Hans Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 (Whereas we may one day face a reality in which we only have five or six Balanchine ballets that in any way resemble their originals.) That is exactly what has happened to Petipa, not to mention Bournonville. I don't want to think about the next hundred years. Link to comment
carbro Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 Balanchine-wise, all we have to do is consider the ups and downs -- or more accurately the downs and ups -- of the last fifteen! :speechless: :mondieu: Link to comment
ConstanzaElisabeth Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 With everything these days being videotaped and such, is the evolution of ballets really such a threat? Yes, they will change and grow and adapt, but we will still have records of the original choreography(for the past couple of decades, at least). Link to comment
ToThePointe Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Swan Lake. I just can't imagine the ballet world with out it. The Kirov version is my favorite. Link to comment
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