Fonty Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 On 05/02/2023 at 11:12, capybara said: I think that a lot of old clips (and not just of dance) are reproduced faster than the reality. In my view, there is no way that musicians could play at the pace of the first clip on @Geoff’s link (above) . I do agree, however, that speed adds a youthful freshness to Aurora’s first scene. That might have been the case with early films. If you look excerpts of Pavlova dancing the Dying Swan, these are definitely faster than they should be. I am no expert, but I would have thought by the 60s these faults would have been ironed out. There are plenty of examples of Fonteyn and others on Youtube doing the complete Rose Adagio from the 60s and 70s which seem to be a little quicker than those danced today. Well worth a look. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVDfan Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 There's also a video somewhere of RB about 40 years ago when the entrance of the prologue fairies gives a definite feel of magic and excitement. Now they just come on stage. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 3 hours ago, Fonty said: That might have been the case with early films. If you look excerpts of Pavlova dancing the Dying Swan, these are definitely faster than they should be. I am no expert, but I would have thought by the 60s these faults would have been ironed out. They certainly were by the 1950s, which is the date of the Soviet feature film Ratmansky found. If people want to start comparing tempi across recordings of the Sleeping Beauty score, a good and authentic place to start - as often recommended on this forum - is Andre Previn's recording with the LSO from 1974, currently on YouTube complete. Aurora's entrance on that recording is pretty fast, as are Tchaikovsky's metronome markings, which have been discussed here in the past. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkgal Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 Slightly off topic but can anyone confirm my memory that the fairies entrance music was used many years ago as the theme tune for a dramatisation of Ballet Shoes? That piece of music resonates with me and that may be why! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 20 hours ago, Geoff said: They certainly were by the 1950s, which is the date of the Soviet feature film Ratmansky found. If people want to start comparing tempi across recordings of the Sleeping Beauty score, a good and authentic place to start - as often recommended on this forum - is Andre Previn's recording with the LSO from 1974, currently on YouTube complete. Aurora's entrance on that recording is pretty fast, as are Tchaikovsky's metronome markings, which have been discussed here in the past. Always worth reviving the discussion! I vaguely remember the discussion now you mention it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 Lovely to see Chisato Katsura back on stage, and dancing too!! 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 Fumi is on superb form! 😍 Great audience reception for her... 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNC Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 Bracewell was fantastic tonight! His jumps, the flow of movement, the technique…very elegant and princely. Charming! Absolutely super. Fumi pretty much perfect as always, although if I can be slightly critical (preparing for backlash!) she felt almost too perfect, the performance felt very controlled and tight and lots of smiles, but didn’t have the exuberant genuine joy of her debut I was very lucky to see a few years ago. But that I know is very unfair to compare to as that performance will be almost impossible to beat for me I think. I also really enjoyed Hannah Grennel’s Carabosse, and Gaspirani’s fairy. I felt Richardson and Hamilton’s performance was improved on when I saw them a few weeks ago, with Richardson retaining the bouncy airy dynamic of a bird but losing the overly wispy/floaty feel, and Hamilton conversely a little less stiff in her back and more natural and flowing. Both very good tonight. I also felt the corps overall felt a lot tighter, so I think they’ve all benefited from a few performances under their belt! but maybe the fact there was a royal audience had something to do with it? Overall a very solid performance. Even Storm-Jensen who I don’t usually find to my preference felt improved and more confident tonight. Lovely evening bar some audience behaviour (phones, lots more chatting than usual I felt). 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 With you on most things JNC - though I didn't mind Fumi being simply perfect! 😉 And Hannah was magnificently malevolent, has to be said Where I was, didn't notice too much audience chattering, which was nice. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 18 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 A particularly lovely photo of Fumi at the bottom there Rob S - thanks for sharing 🙂 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemondrop Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 On 07/02/2023 at 12:53, Suffolkgal said: Slightly off topic but can anyone confirm my memory that the fairies entrance music was used many years ago as the theme tune for a dramatisation of Ballet Shoes? That piece of music resonates with me and that may be why! Yes - I remember that! The opening credits showed just the feet of a dancer stepping on pointe to that music. I think it was in the 1970s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Hello @Lemondrop and welcome to the Forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemondrop Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Thank you so much Jan. I've been lurking for ages and look forward to participating! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florine Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 I so agree with this. The score almost suggests they are tip-toeing off a rainbow, and certainly I remember the fairies entry with a kind of radiance directed towards the little princess. Mostly they now do 'just enter' and don't convey (and add to) the sense of wonder (so crucial for Carabosse's to violently smash). Was is Alastair Macaulay who also commented on the stringy line up with double pirouette into attitude, so many out of line and out of sync. I so want to love this ballet in every way, but this season it has lost much of its magic, except perhaps for the Vision pdd. That said, Frankie Hayward absolutely cracked Aurora, exquisite balance of artistry, technique, strength and lyricism - sublime. Her Aurora was utterly real and three dimensional, developing over the three acts from girl to monarch-in-waiting. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 There was a RB production in the 1960s shown on TV where the fairies each seemed to enter down a sunbeam. Absolutely magical! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 (edited) Edited February 11, 2023 by Rob S 20 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Many thanks Rob. Your photos have captured a fabulous evening. First visit to the Royal Ballet for me this year and looking forward to today’s double Sleeping Beauty. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 It was indeed a fabulous evening! Francesca Hayward was on fire and Alexander Campbell was as stylish, musical and commanding as he always is. Together they lit up the stage. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Sorry, who is the Lilac Fairy in the photo? And am I the only one who thinks that particular tutu is horrible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorgeb Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Fonty said: Sorry, who is the Lilac Fairy in the photo? And am I the only one who thinks that particular tutu is horrible? Annette Buvoli. Edited February 11, 2023 by Jorgeb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorgeb Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 6 minutes ago, Jorgeb said: Annette Buvoli. You are not the only one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 What a lovely cast for the matinee https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/40/the-sleeping-beauty-by-marius-petipa/cast-list/51371 I’m sure there are a few debuts there!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnbarr Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Annette Buvoli was a really lovely Lilac Fairy projecting the grace and calm reassurance that Claire Calvert does so well. I think it will become her role. Leticia Dias also stood out as one of the fairies and Princess Florine. Both destined for promotion I think. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Rob S said: What a lovely cast for the matinee https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/40/the-sleeping-beauty-by-marius-petipa/cast-list/51371 I’m sure there are a few debuts there!! Yes...the main one being the lovely Julia Roscoe as Lilac Fairy! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_enthusiast Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 A sublime performance from Marcelino and Sarah today - absolute fireworks in Act 3. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 13 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobR Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 9 minutes ago, Rob S said: Lovely photos. Thanks 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 What a wonderful journey for Julia Roscoe. An adorable 9/10 year old little girl in La Sylphide to a lovely tall Lilac Fairy 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Essex Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 1 hour ago, art_enthusiast said: A sublime performance from Marcelino and Sarah today - absolute fireworks in Act 3. Yes wasn’t it just. Love the way the whole house erupted into cheers after Marcelino’s solo and the way he gave a little triumphant ‘nailed it’ flourish at the end of it 🙌🙌🙌🙌 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Disappointed to have missed the matinee's Bluebirds and Lilac (this is why we need additional casting info), but tonight's cast sounds tempting, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swan Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 A very appreciative audience for a lovely cast this afternoon. I had been disappointed that I wasn’t going to see Akane Takada but loved the classy partnership of Sarah Lamb and Marcelino Sambe. Terrific supporting performances throughout with a special shout out to David Donnelly’s wonderful wolf, I hope that it is filmed at some point. Joyous! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Rob R is that a debut for Julia? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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