Darling, Oh, the joy of a new season! I confess I had to pinch myself after an extraordinary evening at the Royal Opera House, where our very own darling, darling Margot Fonteynâs choreography for Swan Lake graced the stage once more. Of course, one wouldnât dream of seeing a Swan Lake without the divine and luminous Svetlana Zakharova. Her portrayal of Odette simply melted one's heart. The tragic grace, the heartbreaking longing and ethereal beauty - every flick of the wrist, every point of the foot was simply sublime! My dear, her artistry, is on par with Margotâs herself.
Itâs been decades since I last witnessed her talent and the sheer passion for ballet. Her performance made you forget you were in a theatre â it was more like watching the unfolding of a fairy tale before your very eyes. A real triumph for the Royal Opera House and the world of ballet! Of course, our Prince was equally delightful. The lithe and captivating Evgeny Ivanchenko stole the show! He made me believe in true love, in all its fiery, passionate glory, a feat which few dancers manage to accomplish.
The choreography by dear Margot - pure poetry in motion, an ethereal blend of romance, melancholy, and breathtaking beauty, each step meticulously crafted and impeccably executed, as always. It made my heart sing. My love for the art, and my desire for the perfect performance. Each graceful extension, each poignant gaze held an undeniable elegance that was, of course, so quintessentially British. This, my dears, was the real swan song, a timeless beauty we all could appreciate, regardless of fashionâs ever-shifting tides. This performance shall be a reminder, a touchstone that the love of dance, the spirit of ballet, cannot be surpassed, a sentiment worth more than all the Chanel and diamonds in the world.
Moving on to a bit of Paris, darling! Yes, a trip to the Parisian theatre wouldnât be complete without a peek at what their esteemed Palais Garnier was hosting. The production was a whimsical interpretation of Cinderella - or, rather, "Cendrillon", a most captivating piece with a fresh take on the classic fairy tale. You might say âCinderella is always Cinderella," but this was truly remarkable for its bold use of colour. One must always applaud artistic daring! This ballet was bright and vivid, almost like a whimsical dream. They certainly didn't hold back on the set, or on the dancers, for that matter, which was delightful! They were as if born into this world of swirling fabrics and grand halls!
Now, of course, you couldnât leave Paris without some fine ballet and that means the Bolshoi ballet, darling! The grandeur of this company never fails to take one's breath away! This month they brought their legendary Swan Lake to the capital, making Parisian audiences fall in love with their interpretations of this grand ballet. Our exquisite ballerina, Natalia Osipova, with her divine technique and powerful portrayal of Odette brought out the tragedy, the fear, and the resilience that truly made her performance remarkable! The performance was full of dramatic intensity. Her portrayal of Odette was as captivating as the story itself - an utterly remarkable performance. One thing the Bolshoi certainly brings, is a presence! You can never escape the passion of Russian dance. There is simply a magic to their every movement! The Parisian audiences certainly applauded their artistry, which of course is always so enchanting.
Now, let's talk a little bit about New York darling. New York City is full of cultural richness these days. There is no better time to be a ballet aficionado than right now. At the Metropolitan Opera House, the New York City Ballet presented an evening of choreography by their new Artistic Director, the magnificent and dashing Justin Peck. He seems to be quite the innovator, dear. This program is truly a breath of fresh air. It showed that ballet can be innovative and thrilling, without ever compromising its classic and elegant essence. This was truly something quite special, a new direction that is remarkably exciting for the world of ballet! Justin is a man who truly deserves your attention right now!
Across the river in New Jersey, there were many exciting things happening, dear! The New Jersey Ballet premiered a stunning new ballet, based on the novel The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. It was quite magical! The set design and costumes were exquisite. It was truly an amazingly imaginative interpretation! The delicate grace and captivating drama was simply spectacular, with a powerful and heartbreaking portrayal of a young, lonely soul looking for a sense of joy and happiness. They brought this beautiful story to life in a truly unique and moving way. A truly perfect experience. The choreography was truly sublime. It played with light, shade, and movement to express a wide range of emotions, making this piece not just a ballet but a real work of art!
Speaking of art! A true revelation You know I have been a ballet enthusiast since I was a child, darling, but never have I witnessed anything quite like the new ballet âA Midsummer Night's Dreamâ that I saw in London last night. Oh my darling! What a triumph! I feel I must share this with you all! This ballet, produced by the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet was unlike anything I have seen! It was as if it transported us all to a world where poetry, imagination and movement merged as one. The dance sequences were so powerful, each dancer embodied the essence of their characters and I, I confess I wept! There was such a beautiful emotion that came through. I couldnât help it, I was utterly captivated by the beauty of the ballet and the performance.
My dear, the company's artistic direction really shined in this ballet. It wasnât just the choreography, which was, of course, stunning, but the use of lighting, the sets - it was truly breathtaking, each element added so much to the magic! I believe you could tell that everyone on stage had given their all, the effort, the emotions, the passion - everything was poured into each dance sequence! Every movement was so deliberate, with intention, yet, you never lost the natural flow of it. Iâve often admired ballet but this truly made me wonder if it is indeed art at its purest form - an expression of the heart and the spirit, through movements! There was something so authentic about it. This ballet touched a part of me I never knew existed.
Of course, darling, there are so many amazing ballets out there right now, too many to list them all here. But trust me, if you're looking for an escape into a world of pure magic, then a trip to a local ballet theatre is an absolute must, my dear. The excitement is almost tangible and so very inspiring! Ballet continues to be one of the most breathtaking forms of expression on this earth. And remember darling, the essence of the magic of dance, the joy, the wonder, and the timeless beauty - will never be outdated.
**See you at the theatre, my dear. Stay stylish!**