We are finally doing something about shelves of VHS tapes we've recorded off the TV over the last 35 years. Will try to put something up on RU-vid every week.
This appears to be the episode of Dance in America that aired on PBS on February 5, 1988. Here is the LA Times review: It’s been years since the “Dance in America” series last presented either the New York City Ballet in works by George Balanchine or the Merce Cunningham ensemble in choreography by Cunningham. So why is PBS ignoring these inimitable companies tonight and bringing us an hour of second-hand Balanchine and Cunningham dancing by American Ballet Theatre (8 p.m. on Channel 24, 9 p.m. on Channels 28 and 15; Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 50)? The answer probably involves the availability (as dancer and host) of Mikhail Baryshnikov, who was briefly a member of City Ballet and, at 40, is still the biggest name in American dance. For star-struck viewers, that may be enough. ... Set to Vittorio Rieti’s arrangements of music by Bellini, “La Sonnambula” represents Balanchine’s meditation on the darker themes of Romantic ballet. The plot (involving a poet’s choice between an earthly, worthless love and an unattainable, dangerous vision) is familiar yet strange, and the choreography rich in allusion. The uneven performance finds Leslie Browne overwrought and unmusical as the Coquette, Alessandra Ferri oddly prosaic as the enigmatic Sleepwalker and Baryshnikov superficial as the doomed Poet: He dallies and dies as an uncomprehending innocent. Johan Renvall makes a deft Harlequin.
Not a fan of MacMillan's dramballets (I like quite a few of his non-narrative works, but the Royal Ballet ignores them for some reason) however, I'd watch these remarkable artists in almost anything.
Superb! Thank you! LOVED seeing Ferri, Browne, and Baryshnikov...in La Sonombula. Now I am going to go listen to Montserrat Caballe sing Bellini's opera La Sonumbula...🌹
She never sang that role. She just recorded the Last Act aria and cabaletta. Best option? Maria Callas according to dozens of critics. Enjoy, don't' miss that opportunity
Fancy coming across this by chance after searching for something else and the day after Lyn Seymour has passed away. I read it would have been her birthday today 9/3. M ay she rest in peace. Thank you for uploading.
Nice to finally see this ballet. Some fun choreographic ideas of Balanchine to enjoy. However, I do find that the kissing and manipulating of the sleepwalker did not age well (much like the prince kissing Aurora).
MOLTO BRAVI a riportarci al clima dell'oneiria con i suoi equivoci e le sue sottese parvenze dentro un gioco bilico al tempo reale come in un sogno astante.Bighin GIULIO RENZO
What a fantastic Cast was assembled for this all not only great dancers but Great Actors and actresses too Seymour Park Connor Wall et al Macmillans Genius was not recognized in full at this time and some of the Royal Opersa House s Committee were totally opposed to his work However time has proved them totally wrong in this,
This is obviously an ABT production after Misha had been with Balanchine's company and became director of ABT. So it's in the 80s. No, the candle is not a real flame. They use electricity, as the flame goes out at moments and then relights. The choreography left out a key moment where Misha lays down in front of the sleepwalker and she flitly steps over him without missing a beat. That they left out? And the NYCBallet dancers I've seen in this - Darci, Wendy Whelan, are much more the sleepwalker. I just think Alessandra Ferri is too human and a more wispy dancer is better. And Misha is held with wires in the last scene where he staggers in, stabbed and the sleepwalker carries him. She could otherwise never have lifted Misha. Oh, and the crying scene is left out, the Harlequin especially is not seen.
There are no wires involved in the Sleepwalker carrying the poet. His full weight is laid in her arms, and she just needs to manage the few steps through the doorway before letting him down, out of sight.
Don't be a dope, of course it's a real flame, but it's a stage candle, can't go out ... and there aren't any wires happening here. She only has to carry him a few feet and doesn't lift him, he's placed into her arms. Again, don't be a dope.
In my high school band, we had to perform the Danzón for a concert. Great Ballet but tbh the most boring piece I've ever played, but that's probably because I had like 35 consecutive measures of rest as a mallet player. Nonetheless, great to see where it came from
Noting the cast, guessing this must be ABT, not NYCB (where Balanchine's company was). Embarrassed to say I kept nodding off watching this. A good soporific.
@@Marcel_Audubon Sorry I forgot the question mark. Thank you for the info was wondering what co. it was. And yes the music is good for me if insomnied.
Yes, it was an ABT production. When it was shown on TV, there was a conversation with Baryshnikov. He said that when he left NYCB to become artistic director at ABT, he asked Balanchine for the rights to mount La Sonnambula (among others.)
I would not want to try to take away any of the enjoyment expressed by viewers of this ballet, but I must say that I agree with streetcar's assessment. I have experienced this ballet as repetitive...sleepify-ing...and slow-paced. Beyond some expression of appreciation for the mid-19th century costumes, I have nothing good to say about this. The male dancers look fantastic. Swallow-tail jackets and brilliantly white tights look wonderful in a classical ballet. With this much said, five minutes of 19th century quadriles by the corps dancers was more than enough. I did not need another fifteen minutes of the exact same routine. The music was very much the same, from start to finish. For the large group ball room scene, to the part with the male lead embracing a candle-holding ghost, the music was the same. It's good that viewers enjoyed this. I'm sorry to be typing anything to try to dampen enthusiasm and appreciation. For my taste, this was slow-paced, and I did not like the very un-classical squatting, crouching movements of certain segments.
I remember watching this on PBS when I was probably around 5 years old. I still remembered it after all this years. It's amazing to me that I managed to find it again. I remembered Joe Duell in it and watching him now is such a bittersweet pleasure. His dancing here brings me joy. So sad.
I have only been watching ballet videos for a couple of months. So glad I discovered this. The entire company are brilliant. I enjoyed immensely! Who is the ballerina with the candle? Thank you for sharing. Dallas Texas
i had to rewatch the part where La Sonnambula walks in because i realized she does the WHOLE THING EN POINTE! HOLY SHIT! so beautiful. ;_; And that was a real candle the whole time eh? Wow. This was great.
A fantastic 4 part documentary giving a new ballet audience an insight why Mayerling was and is such an important and daring ballet. As the first classical ballet choreographed for a male lead dancer its a unusual piece, Rudolf rarely leaves the stage making this role exceptionally demanding. The female roles are shared between 4 dancers covering the different sexual dynamics Rudolf has with woman. MacMillan is a genius at showing these appalling flaws of Rudolf and as he sinks into the nightmare of despair , you fall with him and ultimately forgive him. Today the Royal Ballet is a very different company under the leadership of Kevin Ohare and its a more international ensemble. Today’s dancers are more athletic and are physically stronger making this ballet a more aggressive affair creating a different dynamic that is electrifying and worth seeing. Thank you for the upload as its made fascinating viewing. Please watch on RU-vid the later extracts from The Royal Ballet of Steven McRae and Sarah Lamb dancing the bedroom pas de deux , its a fascinating comparison.
It’s extraordinary that this is 1978 and the beauty, drama and emotional completely is still powerful as the first time this ballet was danced. The choreography is electric, dangerous and simply outstanding .
