A Season of Swirls: November 1997
Darling, let’s face it, November’s a bit of a grey old month, isn’t it? Those dreary mornings, the cold seep into your bones – one does yearn for the shimmering opulence of a grand theatre. Thank goodness for ballet, then, the one true refuge from the chill of winter. This November has certainly delivered, with an abundance of performances around the globe that left us gasping, shimmering, and positively enchantée! From the sublimely classic to the daringly avant-garde, there’s something to ignite the inner ballet enthusiast in each of us. Let’s delve, shall we?
Parisian Perfection
One simply cannot mention a season of ballet without bowing before the majesty of the Paris Opéra Ballet, a bastion of tradition. The new production of Giselle - oh my, my darlings, simply breathtaking. A flawless Natalia Osipova, her face etched with anguish, gave us a Giselle whose heart we felt break with every tragic step. Her mad scene was so utterly real, it seemed she were actually sinking into that melancholic abyss. The corps de ballet were simply ravishing in their wispy white tutus. The perfect embodiment of fragile innocence, don’t you think?
And speaking of Parisian perfection, let’s not forget Manuel Legris. A graceful, effortless Albrecht, his port de bras a poem in motion. And let’s not forget the exquisite details: the swirling snowfall in Act Two, the meticulously painted sets - it all adds up to a production that transcends the realm of merely beautiful, to achieve the truly sublime. This, darlings, is ballet at its best.
Bold and Beautiful
Now, for a change of pace, we must venture across the pond to New York’s American Ballet Theatre, a company that’s always pushing boundaries and keeping things fresh. Their new production of Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs had us absolutely captivated. Such bold, angular movement, set against those timeless Sinatra croons. You couldn’t help but feel invigorated, energized, as the dancers seemed to fly across the stage in a flurry of captivating moves.
Speaking of Sinatra, a charming detail, didn't you think? The costumes. A sparkling riot of gold sequins and emerald green – so much more exquisite and decadent than the usual drab black leotards. We particularly loved the dynamic performance by Ethan Stiefel - such command and brilliance - you’d have sworn that man had been dancing Sinatra numbers for years! Truly, a dance production to savour, leaving you breathless and wanting more.
A Symphony in Motion
And from the daring to the breathtakingly traditional, we simply had to travel to Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre. We, of course, speak of their triumphant performance of Swan Lake, a masterpiece we simply can't ignore. Such grandeur! You simply couldn’t tear your eyes away.
And then there was Svetlana Zakharova. A woman of astounding beauty and grace. Her Odette, vulnerable, wistful yet impossibly regal, stole the entire show, her performance so incredibly delicate, so nuanced. And what about the virtuosity? Her famous fouettés were truly awe-inspiring, each turn perfectly sculpted and perfectly controlled - it simply brought the audience to tears, and rightly so.
A Touch of Whimsy
Of course, every ballet season needs a bit of whimsy, and darling, we found just that at The Royal Ballet in London, in their wonderfully delightful production of The Sleeping Beauty. This wasn't a stuffy, staid, version of this classical ballet – no, this production, with its whimsical staging, its vibrant costumes and its wonderfully comedic moments, managed to take something well-loved, something so traditional, and infuse it with a delightfully modern touch.
But you’ll pardon me, darlings, if I gush a bit about the ever so charming Natalia Makarova. She’s a woman of exquisite taste, both on and off the stage, and as the Fairy Carabosse she gave the audience such joy. There were, of course, the dazzling tutus, the delicate dancing of the corps de ballet, all culminating in an evening of sheer delight. It’s a joy that, much like the enchanted spell that awakens Sleeping Beauty, leaves you completely rejuvenated, reenergized.
More than Just Twirls
Darling, we could easily fill the entire magazine with simply recounting all the splendid performances that took place this November. But let's face it, ballet is so much more than simply a parade of dazzling pirouettes and elegant arabesques. It’s a tapestry woven of emotion, it’s an expressive form of art. A window into the human heart.
Each swirl, every jump, every fleeting moment, a story, a memory brought to life. And we are blessed to be alive in an era where such artistic brilliance shines so brightly, allowing us to marvel, to ponder, to truly experience life in a whole new way. Bravo, dancers. Bravo, everyone who gives their heart to the stage!
Until next month, darling!