Alexandra Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE, NEW YORK Frederick Ashton described Scènes de ballet as ‘just an exercise in pure dancing’. This one-act ballet, choreographed to Stravinsky’s score of the same title, is a complex and lively piece. Choreographed with Euclidian geometry in mind, Ashton intended that this ballet could be viewed from any angle and still ‘work’. Scènes de ballet is a homage to 19thcentury classicism with designs by André Beaurepaire. The Divertissements consists of five pas de deux from Ashton at his most virtuosic; The Awakening (The Sleeping Beauty), Voices of Spring, Thaïs, Ondine Act III and Birthday Offering. Completing the programme is Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand, an adaptation of Dumas’ La Dame aux camélias, the story of the doomed, turbulent passion between a courtesan and her young, idealistic lover. Ashton created this ballet for Fonteyn and Nureyev, but for today’s audience it has become one of Sylvie Guillem’s signature roles with The Royal Ballet. ASHTON MIXED BILL SCÈNES DE BALLET Yoshida, Putrov 13, 15 July Cojocaru, Kobborg 14 July DIVERTISSEMENTS Awakening pas de deux Bussell, Urlezaga 13, 15 July Tapper, Bonelli 14 July Voices of Spring pas de deux Cojocaru, Kobborg 13 July Benjamin, Urlezaga 14 July Galeazzi, Samodurov 15 July Thaïs pas de deux Benjamin, Soares 13 July Galeazzi, Makhateli 14 July Ondine pas de deux Rojo, Cope 13, 15 July Birthday Offering pas de deux Bussell, Cope 14 July Nuñez, Soares 15 July MARGUERITE AND ARMAND Guillem, Le Riche 13, 14, 15 July CINDERELLA Cojocaru, Kobborg, Dowell, Sleep 16 July Benjamin, Samodurov, Marriot, Howells 17 (MAT) July Rojo, Cope, Dowell, Sleep 17 July Link to comment
Lynette H Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Marriott and Howells are excellent as the ugly sisters in Cinderella - far more touching than Dowell and Sleep, in my experience. You even get to see real steps. Benjamin is very good in Thais - can be a tricky piece to pull off, very atmospheric. All the divertissements look very tempting to me....pity they aren't doing this in the UK. Link to comment
Recommended Posts