alison Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 Dresden's Semperoper Ballett are making a brief trip to Sadler's Wells with a triple bill by William Forsythe. Has anyone had a chance to go and see it yet? I'd appreciate any feedback, as I don't think I'll be able to go until the weekend. I notice the top price is only £27, which sounds like a bargain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisG Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 I came down to see the opening performance yesterday, attracted by the fact that it was an all Forsythe programme (and the low ticket prices!). I don't have the technical words to go into huge amounts of detail about it, suffice to say I loved it! I'd seen 'In the Middle..." a couple of times danced by ENB. It didn't quite hit me in the same way as their performances did - there wasn't quite the same drive that I remembered, though that may be partly because I was up in the circle and partly because the music maybe wasn't turned up loud enough (I remember it being on the cusp of ear splitting!). The second work is 'Neue Suite', a series of eight short pas de deux taken from various previous works by Forsythe that had been reworked for this company. Set to the music of Handel, Bach and Berio, I found them beautiful, not least because, as the programme notes testified, the man and the woman were equal partners in each of the duets. The final work, 'Enemy of the Figure', was just a total hoot from start to finish. It was the sort of work that makes you smile because of the ingenuity of the conception (particularly the use of the props - a curved wall snaking diagonally across the stage, a spotlight that the dancers moved round the stage, and... a rope!), because of the quality of the movement, and because at times it was just laugh out loud funny, such as the time you are suddenly aware that there are a group of dancers in a dimly lit corner of the stage dancing a hornpipe! So yes, well worth going, especially if the audience reaction yesterday is anything to go by. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 Thanks, Chris. I'll definitely try and go tomorrow, then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 BTW, what's the approximate finishing time, please, somebody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnross Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Here are some rehearsal pictures from The All Forsythe programme. In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Neue Suite - Svetlana Gileva and Jon Vallejo More pictures on www.johnrossballetgallery.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 It's supposed to be a two and a quarter hour programme with two intervals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serenade Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 I went last night...I mostly really enjoyed it. I've never seen any of the ballets before but I've really liked all the William Forsythe I've seen in the past so was really looking forward to this programme plus the chance to see this company. I really loved In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. I thought it was brilliantly danced and I really liked the music and choreography a lot. It looks very natural...every movement is perfectly placed but it feels very much like they're just making it up as they go along. I thought all the dancers were great but one couple really stood out for me. Houston Thomas was the man but I was too far away to see who the lady he was dancing with was. They were sensational though. Neue Suite I also enjoyed. It was made up of several short pas de deux which were all interesting. I think William Forsythe is never boring is he? I thought all the couples were very strong in this piece. The final piece was Enemy in the Figure which unfortunately was just too contemporary for me. I wantsed to like it but it reminded me of a giant contemporary art installation at the Tate or somewhere that I just don't get. I try...but I fail..every time haha! The programme says it's about vision and perception, form and chaos...so I think if that kind of thing is your bag this ballet would be great but sadly just not for me. No reflection on the company though who attacked it with great gusto. All in all a nice evening for a very low price! Is anyone seeing the Nederlands Dans Theatrer triple bill next week? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl H Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 I agree with serenade, although unfortunately I had to miss the last ballet, loved the first two though. In the Middle has always been a favourite, and enjoyed seeing some very lyrical choreography in Neue Suite, the 8 pas de deux passed too quickly, would have liked more! Although I bought a programme I can't really identify any female dancers yet, will take another look at the photos above, Houston Thomas was the man I remember the most, he did some very fast and exciting dancing and had a happy personality! Hope they come back, I have always wanted to see the complete Impressing the Czar ballet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Enemy in the Figure too contemporary ? Premiere by the Frankfurt ballet, on May 13rd 1989 Almost 30 years ago 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 38 minutes ago, MAX said: Enemy in the Figure too contemporary ? Premiere by the Frankfurt ballet, on May 13rd 1989 Almost 30 years ago Stylistically it could have been considered more contemporary than Serenade cared for. The age is immaterial if the style is not to someone's taste. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 yes of course ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambleton Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 I thought the men were really strong - I really liked the US dancer Julian Amir Lacey - and Gareth Haw (Brit!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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