Hello my darling darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! I'm your resident pink-tutu-wearing time travelling ballerina, Emma, from Derbyshire, England! And it's time to jet-set back in time, courtesy of Magic Meg, my beautiful, pink-sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves. I can’t wait to tell you all about my trip to November the 11th, 1752, where I saw a fabulous opera performance, just like a true time-traveling ballerina would do!
Today's adventure took me to Vienna, Austria. Now, Vienna in 1752 was bursting with a vibrant music scene! I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear that the Viennese Waltz hadn't even reached its peak of popularity yet, but the opera was the hottest ticket in town! I managed to secure tickets for "La Contadina Astuta" by the celebrated composer, Giuseppe Sarti. This opera was so popular it even became the inspiration for Wolfgang Mozart to pen his own take on the theme. I knew I was going to have a night to remember when I saw Marie Antoinette and her entourage enter the box next to me. The court was abuzz with the elegance and splendor of that era. I absolutely adored the extravagant attire! We all know those Marie Antoinette-style gowns are so iconic! I must confess, my heart did a little flutter, hoping that she'd ask me about my exquisite, bespoke, hand-stitched pink tutu (which I think, dare I say, stole the show!)
Speaking of tutus, I have a gem in my collection today! As a gift from Marie Antoinette’s mother, Empress Maria Theresa, herself! She presented me with a magnificent antique, silver, dance slipper. Talk about elegance, I had to practically bribe my way out of this historical marvel by gifting her with one of my homemade pink and white cookies that my mum made me take along! Of course, I only got it after she made sure they didn’t contain eggs – for fear of disturbing any potential fairies in the kitchen, ha ha! Now, I’m no expert on culinary history, but it seemed quite popular to mix powdered ginger into pastry. Perhaps they needed to counteract the sugar intake, as that must have been a very sugary cake in 1752!
Now, where were we? Oh, yes! Time-travel, the ballet!
You just have to try to imagine the sheer opulence of attending this ballet! The beautiful ladies of Vienna court, their outfits dazzlingly embellished and the gentleman with their ruffles, lace cuffs and long flowing wigs! (I don’t think I'd look as good with those enormous wig curls, do you?!) Every single dance number was spectacular – not least the waltzing – I think I was the only one not spinning out of control as everyone spun around the dance floor, whirling to the joyous rhythm! I swear I heard whispered rumours that this elegant movement may be one of the inspirations for ballet’s future steps. Could this be the start of a revolution?
It truly is a joy to step back in time and be a fly on the wall (or maybe I should say a tutu on the balcony, as it were). Imagine being in a grand old theatre with a stage lit by oil lamps. They may not have the amazing spotlights of today, but oh, the way they moved – with the grace and flow that brought the dance to life. This is where it all started, you see. This was how the stars were born!
I had to resist the temptation to take my beloved Magic Meg inside for a dance as well. Who knows? Perhaps the Empress might have let Meg make a cameo appearance, since it’s just as majestic as a royal stallion – in pink, no less!
After the final act of the performance, I couldn’t resist the temptation to peek into the opera house’s library. This place is an actual gem in the rough – a repository of stories and histories – that the court still cherishes! The dusty, beautifully worn books, were filled with musical scores and historical documentation of the time. I'm thrilled to have scored this magnificent old ballet program for my rucksack – I’ll have to look for some more goodies on the way back! I can’t believe I can be here, standing amongst the remnants of such creative brilliance! I must remember to find out if we still have the manuscripts for La Contadina Astuta today. And how exciting is it that Wolfgang Mozart was inspired by the theme?! A little side trip to Salzburg next time, perhaps!
You know I can't travel without a bit of fashion and shopping on the side! You see, history can't just be about ballerinas and ballet. The fashion from the past always holds such magnificent beauty, inspiration and intricate details. Today’s treat is a silk bodice – the kind of delicate beauty that truly accentuates the feminine silhouette and I know I’m going to adore it! I mean, it would go so well with my collection of ballet attire.
However, this little trip had me reminiscing about Derbyshire’s beautiful Derbyshire Peak District – my beloved home. What a beautiful place to lose yourself in nature! You can practically breathe the peacefulness of it! There’s nowhere like the green valleys, blue skies and quiet streams of this breathtaking place – It was the backdrop of many childhood dreams, especially dreams of swirling on stage as a ballet dancer!
Oh, it’s time to fly home on Magic Meg’s sparkly wings. It’s been a whirlwind tour and, as always, I’m already planning my next big adventure! What would be your dream time-travel ballet destination? Remember, don’t forget to follow me on pink-tutu.com to catch up with my ballet-tastic adventures and maybe even take a spin on the dance floor with me. And please, don’t forget to make sure you all try out those fancy new pink tutus. After all, we can't be true ballerina lovers without spreading the magic of the dance, and the beautiful color pink, all around the world!
