Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan (1975), choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton, music by Johannes Brahms, performed by Royal Ballet's prima ballerina Tamara Rojo.
I like Ashton's tribute to Isadora Duncan more than Kenneth McMillan's full-length ballet Isadora, which I went to see a little while ago at the Royal Opera House. (I do, however, love MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet and Requiem - extremely moving and dear to my heart.) MacMillan's piece, albeit the dazzling and lavish stage designs, costumes and interesting vintage film footage, is essentially somewhat weak in its choreography and misleading in its narrative/drama. Whereas the beauty of Ashton's Isadora Duncan tribute lies in its seeming simplicity, made profound and moving by the exquisite employment of Duncan's principles (or rather, liberation) of dance, which are integrated into and breathed in a new life by those of classical ballet.
Ashton with Margaret Barbieri after a rehearsal of The Two Pigeons
(Photograph copyright Leslie E. Spatt)
(Photograph copyright Leslie E. Spatt)
No comments:
Post a Comment