CHazell2

Hi

I know that it is a bit early, but I just thought I would start a discussion about Anastasia as I think that this is somewhat of a controversial ballet in the RB rep.

It would be very interesting to hear people's opinions of the ballet itself and whether they think that it should be pruned to just the third act or whether the first two acts places the 3rd into context.  Also do you think that this is a relevant ballet today given that we now know that Anna Anderson was not what she claimed she was.

Did anybody see Lynn Seymour in the role and if so what were your impressions of her. Does she cast a shadow over future interpreters of Anastasia/Anna Anderson.

On this point I once had a remarkable opportunity to compare and contrast. I watched the 1978 Sleeping Beauty (Royal Ballet live for Christmas, on YouTube) and then the second half of a friend's private copy of an earlier BBC transmission of the Royal Ballet Sleeping Beauty of 1969 (Sibley/Dowell, sadly not generally available).

Hi Geoff.

I am interested to hear about your impressions about the 1969 production of Sleeping Beauty as I am very interested in that production as a whole. I know that the BBC wiped it from their archives so I was curious to find out if your friend has the whole performance or just the second half - I would give an absolute fortune to watch it for myself.

What you think of MacMillan's Anastasia is very dependent on getting the casting of the main role absolutely right. Get it right and it can seen a strong, if flawed work, get it wrong and it can seem like a waste of good dancers. At the moment management are probably more concerned with tomorrow night's premiere than anything else, but when they have got that out of the way, they will be thinking not only of who should dance Anastasia but who to cast in the big classical pas de deux  for Mathilde  Kchessinskaya and partner created on Sibley and Dowell which is incredibly challenging technically.

 

 

I quite agree with you regarding Anastasia - it is one of my favourite ballets, I saw it with Leanne Benjamin when it was last revived in 2004 - However the main role must be a strong dance-actress to make the powerful Act 3 resonant. She must be able to make you feel some sympathy and compassion for Anna Anderson - regardless of how you regard her life in general.

Hello CHazell2 and welcome to the Forum!

 

Where do you do most of your ballet watching?  Are there any companies you particularly follow.  (I myself follow BRB and NB although I also go to ROH and to see ENB and any other companies I can in the North).

Hi

Sorry for not replying before now. Thank you for your welcome. I generally watch the Royal Ballet, but I also love BRB. I love ENB's Giselle.

What are your favourite ballets?

Hi there.

I am not sure if this is the proper place, but I just wanted to introduce myself to everybody on Ballet.co. I have recently joined as a new member but I have been following the forum for a couple of years now. I have always found ballet.co to be a plethora of information and I have enjoyed hearing about the great dancers of the past.

I have loved ballet ever since I was a child and I always try to attend as many ballet performances as I can - unfortunately I have been quite busy the last few years but I am hoping to make up for it now.

Looking forward to meeting people on here.

Chris (CHazell2)