Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where we all get to revel in the sheer joy of ballet! As you all know, I'm Emma, your Derbyshire-based, pink tutu-wearing ballet enthusiast, and I'm back with another exciting adventure through time.
This month, Magic Meg, my magnificent pink shire with the golden hooves and the white mane and tail that shimmers like a dream, has taken us to December 12th, 1834! And let me tell you, this was a rather extraordinary journey for both of us.
It’s been a while since I’ve taken Meg on such a long adventure! As soon as I slipped on my shimmering pink tutu, the anticipation bubbled in my chest, I just knew we were in for a truly delightful time. As always, I had my trusty leather rucksack strapped to my back, ready to collect all the wonderful ballet stories and artifacts I might stumble upon.
Today, dear readers, I thought it would be fitting to take you to a very special ballet event - the London premiere of “The Daughter of the Regiment”, by Gaetano Donizetti. Yes, a musical! Can you believe it? And such a delightful one too! While opera and ballet didn't always mix in those days, this operatic tale brought such beautiful, intricate choreography, it practically begged to be interpreted in a balletic style! You wouldn't have caught me missing that, even if you'd promised me a mountain of bonbons.
As we stepped off Meg in the heart of London, I felt like I’d travelled straight into a charming Jane Austen novel! The bustle and chatter, the elegant ladies and gentlemen in their fashionable attire, and even the distinctive aroma of freshly-baked bread from the bakery across the street made my heart sing. It was absolutely magical! But what excited me most was the vibrant theatre district and the throngs of excited theatre-goers making their way towards Covent Garden Theatre, the majestic edifice housing this night’s grand performance.
Once inside the grand theatre, I felt swept up by the intoxicating energy of anticipation, excitement, and artistic passion, swirling in the air like a swirling ballerina skirt. The stage, illuminated by flickering gaslight, was an enchanting canvas for the tale that would unfold before us. You can imagine, darlings, I was quite in my element - the hushed whispers of the audience, the rustling of dresses, and the rhythmic pulse of excited anticipation were pure joy!
The performance itself was something else! I particularly enjoyed the vibrant "ballet" in act two, performed by Jules Perrot. You know how much I love Perrot - he is an absolute genius, isn't he? But it was a musical, darling! And Jules took the stage and wowed everyone. He moved with such elegance and grace that it was hard to tell if he was truly dancing or floating. He practically danced through the air! And the audiences - they loved him!
During the interval, I made my way into the charmingly crowded, dimly lit coffee room. You could feel the buzz of anticipation for the rest of the performance. The theatre staff kept pouring champagne, while I, well I had a delightful little cup of tea and a bite of the most divine vanilla cream tart. There were quite a few charming ladies around with very chic little dresses and very dramatic bonnets. It felt a bit like a grand ball at the castle, wouldn’t you say?
The second act started just as powerfully. You could practically feel the emotion of the scene resonating from the stage! I must confess, I'd gotten swept up in the love story - especially the moments between Marie (the Daughter of the Regiment, darling!) and her betrothed, Sulpice. Such exquisite romance!
Of course, I simply had to acquire a souvenir from this truly memorable performance. The theatre’s gift shop had a wonderfully elaborate collection of keepsakes for every opera and ballet buff - miniature dolls in beautiful costumes, and exquisite porcelain figurines that I simply had to own! How else can you carry a reminder of the grandeur of the evening? My collection has increased yet again with a rather delicate doll representing Marie in the midst of one of her intricate dance sequences.
I couldn’t leave without stepping out of the theatre into the crisp night air. The gaslights created an enchanting spectacle, and I found myself staring up at the stars. As the city lights shimmered around us, I realized this trip has already etched itself into my memory. You know, there's nothing like witnessing history unfold, isn't it?
One thing I have been thinking about lately is this - How many people do you think actually wear pink tutus in our modern times? Do you think there are any ballet schools that encourage a bit of pink in their outfits? It really would be amazing, wouldn’t it, if we could make this our own little tradition! Wouldn't the world be such a more fun place if everyone danced in a pink tutu from time to time?
Of course, with my monthly ballet time travel blog posts on www.pink-tutu.com, I hope to spark more and more interest in ballet around the world, in the history of ballet and most of all in that oh-so fabulous, iconic pink tutu. You all know it's the pinnacle of fashion - just like I am determined it will become the pinnacle of ballet attire for the entire world.
I’m already working on my next adventure, and trust me, darling, this next one will be a whirlwind. I’ll be posting here on pink-tutu.com at the end of next month with the inside scoop.
Until next time, stay fabulous, stay fabulous, and, most importantly, never stop twirling!
Much Love,
Emma
xx
