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Odyssey

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  1. Odyssey
    This may have been Tony Palmer's documentary which has recently been repeated on Sky Arts. I defy anyone not to be moved by its account of Margot's life, particularly in her later years. I believe it is available on DvD and would strongly recommend it- not only for the wonderful footage, but most memorably for the range of interviews conducted with those closely connected to Margot in her later years. Brutal in its honesty about her marriage to Tito, this paints a picture of a complex woman, who allowed herself to be manipulated, yet it still manages to maintain the magic of her persona both on and off stage.
  2. Odyssey
    BIrmingham's Ex Cathedra choir provides youngsters from their junior academy for the BRB production.
  3. Odyssey
    The Radio Times listings appear to be all over the place. Last Friday I got excited about an Ashton bill which turned out to be La Bayadere, ( I was alerted on these forums this was unlikely to be correct). Next Friday the listing says Les Patineurs. At least it agrees about Giselle on Wednesday.
  4. Odyssey
    I think the issue was more the questions he was required to respond to. Darcey Is not a natural interviewer or presenter. However, if she is enabling a wider audience to experience dance beyond "Strictly" then she is currently arguably the right person to front these programmes.
  5. Odyssey
    Not sure if I am right to discuss individual performances here or in the Sleeping a Beauty thread, but I wondered what people thought of Sarah Lamb's Aurora? I found her Act 2 although very accomplished, less joyful and free spirited than I would have hoped - perhaps it was carrying the weight of a live screen performance. I preferred her interpretation in the later Acts.
  6. Odyssey
    Thank you Bluebird. Ann, there were partial cast lists where I was - I guess the injuries we have been reading about in other posts meant the final casting of fairies went pretty much down to the line. Interesting about numbers in the cinema - I would say it was about 3/4 full, whereas it was packed for Giselle. ( I'm starting to recognise some of the same faces, sadly not much of a younger audience - by that I mean under 30). It will be interesting to see the numbers for The Winter's Tale. Incidentally, I thought the preview rehearsal and interview of this made it look an extremely enticing prospect.
  7. Odyssey
    Sorry yes, silly me.I wonder if someone would be able to post a list of the prologue fairies/ Florestan & sisters - I briefly took in the credits, but several were names I am unfamiliar with.
  8. Odyssey
    I agree with your assessment of the live screening Mary - I recall I wasn't too impressed with Darcey's interview in the Giselle screening either. The close up shots made me appreciate the quality of Elizabeth McGorian's portrayal of Carabosse- sexy and scary - compelling to watch. Previous posts on the Sleeping Beauty thread have noted the technical mastery of Lamb & McRae in the grand pas de deux, and it was clearly evident in this performance, perhaps again more so because of the scrutiny which a close up delivers those fish dives looked ridiculously easy!
  9. Odyssey
    Thank you. She was some years older than Dale Baker, so I imagine it was at this point she retired from dancing.
  10. Odyssey
    Do you have any idea of the roles she danced while at San Francisco Ballet? I have been unable to find any references to her dancing during this period, but I know you are right about this.
  11. Odyssey
    There's an Ashton mixed bill scheduled for this Friday evening. See link below http://www.locatetv.com/tv/frederick-ashton-mixed-bill/8535372
  12. Odyssey
    She married Dale Baker, an Australian dancer, who had been dancing in the UK. She joined Australian ballet as a Principal and danced in Laszlo Seregi's Spartacus, André Prokovsky’s Anna Karenina as well as productions of Coppelia & Pineapple Poll. She then became a teacher, and I believe is still teaching today.
  13. Odyssey
    Mine too - but a plaudit, that should go equally to Galina Samsova.Symphonic Variations & Two Pigeons would make a wonderful double bill as suggested by MAB . I would love to see Shadowplay revived. Knight Errant is another Tudor work I have read about and would like to see given a new lease of life.
  14. Odyssey
    Your right of course :1977- Vergie Derman, Ann Jenner, Wendy Ellis, Alfreda Thorogood, Wendy Ellis, Marguerite Porter & Laura Connor all fairies in one performance with cavaliers of the calibre of Derek Deanne, Julian Hosking, Michael Batchelor & Stephen Beagley.. Each principal also had a role in one of the Act 2 variations.
  15. Odyssey
    Several of the above posts got me wondering about the practice of casting the role of Lilac fairy. Am I right in thinking that in the Royal Ballet, the role is unlikely to be danced by an established principal? Is this because although it is quite technically demanding it doesn't offer the opportunities for characterisation ? Is this the same practice in other companies? For me, the Lilac Fairy is a key factor in a strong performance of Sleeping a Beauty - more so than the Florimund/Bluebirds pas de deux.
  16. Odyssey
    This was my favourite programme of what has been an excellent series, not least for its variety. I agree about the strange omission of naming the partners, particularly as there were many passing comments about Siegfried's role. My favourite section was the talk through rehearsal with Muntagirov - this was both beautiful to watch and illuminating in the revelations about each movement and gesture. The detailed explanations of why the music is so stirring provided a further original dimension to the programme. Can I suggest we email/write to the BBC expressing our enjoyment of these programmes.
  17. Odyssey
    Lucette Aldous as the Lilac a Fairy was another surprising treat.
  18. Odyssey
    Yes Terpsichore, I share your praise for this programme. I am not too familiar with Peter Darrell 's choreography & I have only seen stills of Western Ballet Theatre productions, so this was a revelation to me. I found the pas de deux from Cheri extremely moving and I am interested to know if any of Darrell's work has been, or is currently, in the repertoire of other companies. Certainly Scottish Ballet appear to have been left a wonderful legacy. It was also interesting to hear Michael Clarke recall his appearance as Fritz in the Nutcracker - was he the Fritz in the televised version?
  19. Odyssey
    I have enjoyed both documentaries so far. I think it was an interesting and original brief for the second programme to focus on ballet during the Second World War which could appeal to a wider audience. I think this is the way forward for ballet on free view channels - taking a more unusual angle to introduce the art form to a wider audience. One of the best examples I can remember from way back focused on Alicia Alonso and her campaign to take ballet into factories in Cuba.
  20. Odyssey
    There are so many "great" dancers mentioned I haven't been privileged to see beyond a few filmed roles. I think the concept of "greatness" is a difficult one, but to me it suggests more than technical accomplishment. Perhaps it's about legacy i.e. the influence a dancer has on those who come after, and perhaps about an ability to change perceptions about the ballerina role. When I look at some names mentioned, it is probably too early to be able to access if this is the case. I guess we all have our personal favourite dancers who may have moved us, but does tha make them "great"?
  21. Odyssey
    Thank you so much Amelia. It looked to be a lovely spectacle. Hopefully, it will be on YouTube shortly.
  22. Odyssey
    Just caught a clip from the closing ceremony of the Games which featured a further ballet sequence. It seemed to be reflecting ballets created by Russians - I glimpsed costumes from Firebird, Spectre de la Rose and the Dying Swan. Does anyone know who was dancing?
  23. Odyssey
    I haven't been a member of the forum for long and found having a like tag unusual, but welcome. I too have used it a couple of times to show comradely support for a post. I guess it is a little lazy, but having been on the receiving end of quite a few likes, it has made me feel at home in these forums. I think a dislike tag is a different "animal" and although I can't quite provide a logic for this, I do think it requires an explanation. Some members could be put off posting even politely worded opinions for fear of the dreaded dislike tag.
  24. Odyssey
    This discussion promoted me to rummage through some of my old video tapes. I just found a lovely documentary about the establishment of BRB . It follows the relocation of the various departments from Sadler Wells and includes interviews with Dame Ninette and Sir Peter Wright amongst others. How visionary Dame Ninette was, and credit to the then Birmingham City Council for having the belief that a ballet company could bring so much to the City. One of the most delightful sequences is of Marion Tait and David Morse testing out beds in a Birmingham department store (much to the bemusement of the salesman), as they prepare to move to their new home - priceless!
  25. Odyssey
    I don't want to de rail this thread, but I would add that the occasional exchange of dancers for a season would be welcome. It's happened in the past - certainly between BRB and RB. (BRB also had a period of exchange with Stuttgart.)
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