Post Number 2169
Hello lovelies! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com!
This month, my sparkly pink shire, Magic Meg, and I have galloped all the way back to 1841, to a simply delightful September day, specifically the 9th. The sun was shining as we landed near The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden where you would have found London in a tutti-fruiti frenzy of excitement, with everyone eager for the first performance of the newly reopened theatre!
Ooh, just thinking about it is getting me all aflutter! A grand re-opening and a brand new theatre? How divine! Meg and I settled ourselves right by the entrance (after a quick stop for a cuppa, naturally!) and soaked up the ambiance.
From my spot, I saw ladies with parasols fluttering their ribbons in the breeze and dapper gentlemen all decked out in their finest suits, all looking positively elegant! Then, all of a sudden, the music started - the most beautiful operatic sounds filled the air, a wonderful prelude for the first performance.
As I glanced through the crowds, my gaze was drawn to a lady with such an air of distinction. She was simply radiating beauty, dressed in a black velvet gown, its sleeves trimmed with delicate lace and ribbons. Her hat, so stylish, rested gracefully on a waterfall of her dark curls. And I spied something, I swear it, just peeked under her shawl, a shade of pink, just like my tutus!
Intrigued, I had to slip back in time, with a gentle flutter of Meg's tail and meet this lady. She turned out to be a famed opera singer! Her name, I discovered, was Giulia Grisi. Her presence had such grace and charm, and her voice! Well, she was known to have one of the most beautiful voices in the world, which flooded the stage, sending shivers down my spine. As for her secret pink detail, well, it turns out, it was a delicate scarf, a pink rose embroidered at its end, a charming addition to her exquisite look.
You see, darling, even in the past, pink was the colour of choice for elegance, femininity, and sophistication! That’s something I try to remind the world of with every twirl and leap in my tutu!
Speaking of which, Giulia was part of the company at the reopening night in 1841, in the performance of La Favorita! It must have been quite the spectacle. I asked her all about it, how it felt to be a part of this monumental performance. She described it as an electric feeling, the entire atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. It sounded simply fantastic, darling, and oh so glamorous!
The Covent Garden Theatre was still rather new then, and in its newly rebuilt and enlarged format. It is the heart of London's opera scene nowadays, and Giulia, she told me, loved its history. I took this to mean, of course, she was a passionate ballerina and opera lover, a true sister in pink even if I didn't spot her in a tutu, just yet!
Later that evening, I decided to delve a little deeper into this fascinating historical event. In my beloved leather rucksack - always essential for any time travelling ballerina - I rummaged and found a well-worn book with tales of the past. I settled into a comfortable tearoom, enjoying a decadent slice of cake, all the while losing myself in these delightful stories. I learned that the Opera House, as it had been known in the past, had faced some trying times - it had to close for repairs and the opening in 1841 had taken a great deal of effort.
Just think, darling! This iconic landmark was so nearly gone! I’m glad they persevered.
But all was not lost for the theatre, they took it all in stride, and refurbished it beautifully, so much so that it stands now as a marvel, full of character and historical charm a beacon of art and creativity, just waiting for someone like me, in a bright pink tutu, to step into its midst and share a sprinkle of fairy dust.
So you see, dear reader, history is about more than just dates and names. It’s about a feeling, an atmosphere, a sparkle of inspiration. And just like my favourite pink tutu, history, with its delicate details and grand narratives, has a way of staying with us, influencing the present, shaping the future, reminding us all that the most exciting stories are yet to be written.
But now, I'm off! Tomorrow I’ll be back in my time, filled with inspiration to share with you, dear readers, my insights on the pink threads woven through history.
See you next time!
Your Pink Tutu Ballerina Emma
P.S. Did you know, that you can join me on this amazing journey through history, by adding your own experiences in a comment at the end of this post! Do you have a favorite theatre in your town, a love for opera? Perhaps a story from your family about the magic of the theatre! Tell me all about it - let’s build a pink tapestry of shared memories!
