All fall down
Act 3, the opium worn off, the wedding moved on. Our hero Solor, being forced to tie the knot to Gamzatti, his paramour’s killer, wasn’t happy. The ceremony in the temple was prefaced by an idol dancing energetically. His body of bronze made ladies’ hearts pound.
Then who should interrupt things but Nikiya, the dead lover, striving to keep her man for eternity. The costumes and colours were stunning, the dancers were stunned, before they were stoned by falling masonry as the temple collapsed. All dead, but at least the lovers were in Paradise together, forever.
Nuñez, Muntagirov, Osipova... Fabulous!
- Category: True Stories Told As Fiction
5 comments add one below
-
Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Thanks Drew. This particular ballet, La Bayadère, has in it what is regarded as the most difficult ‘routine’ for the corps de ballet in any ballet. It is really beautiful and those of us given to lachrymosity, like me and Steve, find it very moving. On YouTube there is a Russian version which has a corps de ballet of 32 (as opposed to Royal Ballet’s 24). If you’re remotely interested, search “La Bayadère Le Royaume des Ombres 1ère partie” for 12 minutes of loveliness! And Act 3 is pretty stunning too.
-
Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Mingus was a German composer I think. In a similar vein, Riccardo Drigo has done some fab stuff too for the Russian ballets. Sorry you didn't like the dancing... but there were all those lovely legs... 🤪
-
Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
In fact Minkus was Austrian. Also worth checking out Adam, Delibes and Herold. Borodin did some cracking stuff too, much of which was adapted for mid 20th Century Broadway musicals. Borodin is particularly interesting as music was just a pastime. His day job was a scientist or surgeon or something like that. You’ll know most of his tunes!
-
Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
I hope so 😊
-
Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Not heard of Yaroslavnis myself so thanks for the tip off. Adolphe Adam, Ferdinand Hérold and Léo Delibes were all French. You’ll know their famous stuff, like ‘O holy night’ (Adam), ‘The clog dance’ (Hérold) and Coppélia (Delibes) ... and also from Delibes, Lakmé and that irritating BA advert (imho),The Flower Duet, from it. Their other stuff is excellent (again imho!... not that I’m known for my humility!)
