Oh darling, do you remember how this year began? It all feels so very, very long ago, doesn’t it? It’s so exciting now that spring is finally upon us. Can you feel it, darling? The new life, the reawakening. And with spring, oh how the ballet music lifts the heart.
With each little chirp from a blue tit, each ray of sun warming our cheeks, with each daffodil bursting through the ground, ballet music seems to bloom with it! But how have we celebrated this ballet music journey thus far, dearest reader?
From January’s cold crisp chill to the crispness of a ballet ensemble’s new tulle skirts - from the quiet snowdrops to the blossoming choreography - it's all been music, darling. There’s just something about this divine art, isn’t there?
As much as a leotard goes with a tutu (you’ll be pleased to hear a pink leotard will be the absolute perfect match for this particular, deliciously decadent shade of pink tutu - coming to your local dance store, in June!), as much as our skin is graced by sun after the bleak, blackening winter months, so ballet music intertwines with our souls - it's how our being comes alive. This dance world has this divine ability to awaken all our senses, darling. We find beauty in the music of ballet even in the most harsh, coldest wintery days - but as the flowers begin to grow, oh darling - they sing just as the most exquisite ballet music sings - like little, twinkling, joyous stars.
From Swan Lake to Giselle to the divine and deliciously scandalous La Bayadère, and of course the utterly heavenly The Nutcracker - our dear ballets just keep giving and giving, as our beautiful little bodies get more limber as the months wear on.
A few notes about the news, and oh darling, I think they’re making the news rather *extra* fabulous, don’t you? Now, our ballet music scene’s not about being all posh, even if we all, just *slightly* want it to be sometimes, (do tell your local news director darling - all those dancing steps just become so much *more* enjoyable when we see ourselves on screen - it’s so fabulous! It all needs to be a touch more decadent!).
For once, this lovely ballet world of ours isn't getting its feet muddied with politics or war or any nasty, dull and dreary headlines (they do get in the way of all those joyous, twirling ballerina arms and leaps), although, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a lovely feeling to watch the men of *London's Royal Ballet* show some real heart (no, literally, not *all* heart) and bravery and strength in the charity performance earlier this year - for the people of Ukraine (so noble - really! I wish there was more). Oh and did you catch the absolutely divine news piece about *New York City Ballet*'s ‘Tchaikovsky and Balanchine’ programme? And *London's English National Ballet’* are putting up some truly, truly beautiful stuff - like an exhibition called ‘Dance Like No One Is Watching’, (you should have seen my lovely new silk leotard that day darling! So divine). Yes, the music, the artistry, the sheer pleasure is overflowing - darling we are *so* very lucky. The joy!
Here are some delicious highlights that just make our little ballet-lovin' hearts so happy!Can I confess? It feels a touch *overdone* and rather too *over*the*top* this year, darling! Yes. Our fabulous, gorgeous ballets *and* our musicians just seem so wonderfully inspired, so outrageously brilliant, and all wrapped in *so much* fun!
This news story is just *overflowing* - how can we *possibly* narrow it down - darling? Maybe just *one* little taste of every lovely thing will have to do. And do be careful because this whole story will have you swirling like *Sugar Plum Fairy* darling, oh and *you* too.
* The absolutely *delectable* Sleeping Beauty performance in Berlin last month. Darling! The colours, the movement, the joy, and *most* importantly - all *so* captivating! This must surely be an end of winter treat to savour, enjoy, remember, *cherish* darling - oh and perhaps just *possibly* (with just *a little* pinch of inspiration) a touch to replicate - why not - we've all been working *so hard* darling! * The delightful collaboration between *The Royal Ballet* (all those gorgeous, lovely costumes - I simply *love* the pink one and that shade of green is pure perfection) and our dear composer in residence - the absolutely *enchanting* Joby Talbot! This collaboration with the exquisite ballet by choreographer Liam Scarlett, which tells the story of *The Little Mermaid*, well - darling, the music alone just took us straight down into the *ocean's* depths. This was a *new* world. This *new* feeling - well, oh darling it was absolutely delicious! * Can you feel that *warmth*, that sheer *love* * radiating from those *beautiful* men of the London Royal Ballet. Those men just *seem* to *love* dancing, Darling, I want that for all the men in *every* ballet school - *and* the women. So beautifully graceful and powerful all at once - that divine masculine-feminine combination in their bodies. It's absolutely thrilling, really! It all started a while back (maybe two months) at a show with their gorgeous dancers of course (darling how lucky those lovely young women are! So beautiful - oh and the dresses - all beautifully pink) - at the *Royal Opera House* in *London*. What happened *that* evening? Well, it was truly, truly delightful and truly moving too - yes, there were some tears. * And now, just a touch of glamour, a touch of glitz (just *a touch*, of course), and an explosion of talent and absolute joy at the *Royal Opera House* *in* *Covent Garden*. (Do try that exquisite restaurant across the way for a glass of *champagne* and a little *dinner* if you are visiting - oh yes - the most exquisite *atmosphere* for this kind of ballet music feast - especially for the *grand* opening in October). It's the beginning of their absolutely *divine* and absolutely *terrifying* performance schedule. Yes darling, the best ballet *composers* and choreographers are arriving at *Covent Garden* in such dazzling and glorious fashion that I think I need another cup of *coffee*.But why oh why should it end, darling?
With so many new creations bursting with imagination, oh we're in the most exquisite era. It's *time* for *joy*.
These are the highlights (just a few) and then… **just* a tiny little *tinkle* *more*. We *all* know how this journey is going to end - it's going to be with a *bang*. **And yes, I can see just one perfect, gorgeous ballet piece. This could be **it**. You know, the *one* - the one you think of when someone asks you “Which one?”
I just *know* I am in for *such* *a* *treat*. Yes. Just a treat. It *should* end well, this year - we deserve it. And yes, the last night will be magical. And then after it all is finished - you can tell me darling, wasn’t it *magical*? I can hear all your beautiful sighs. So much emotion. What an *experience* it has been.
We must make the most of *every* moment darling - and *every* breath as if we *might* not get the *chance* again.
And there - in the distance, I can hear it!
And yes! You see it, darling - those beautiful twirling costumes, that glorious, glorious ballet music.
All *this* will just *grow* from *here* onwards darling. This is just the *beginning* - the *start* - to our next season’s music. *So* *very* *exquisite*.
And when this beautiful news story finishes, darling, let's *never* *stop* listening to the magic. It *really* doesn’t have to!
All the magic you can possibly want to hear, see and touch - oh yes, *touch* that exquisite fabric on those gorgeous ballerina outfits! We should have so much, just *so much*.
Yes! You do want it all darling? Yes, oh yes! Do we?