Bournonville LA SYLPHIDE - Royal Danish Ballet

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Filmed about fifteen years ago, this is one of the rare peeks at
Bournonville
danced by the company he was instrumental in building up some 160 years
ago. The musical score is what we are used to except for a full
overture not
often heard outside of Denmark. The "extra bits" added by some other
Danes who have staged the ballet while directing in companies outside
Copenhagen
are pretty much left out. The role of Gurn, danced by a marvelous
Morton
Monksdorf, no longer has the Act I solo which is given to a different
soloist,
but otherwise is fleshed out and far more dramatic with much more to
dance.
Sorella Englund gives a newly thought-out performance as Madge, the
mime really superb and her performance bringing down the house - she is
more of a genuine,. thinking, feeling being that she is normally played
outside of Denmark. Lis Jeppeson gives a particularly great performance
in the title role, reminding me of other great lyic ballerins who have
danced
the role. In New York, I remember Carla Fracci, Natalia Makarova,
Marianna
Tcherkassky and Martine Van Hamel as particularly ethereal. When
Nureyev
visited New York with his own company dancing the Lacotte/Taglioni?
version,
such famous stars as Ghislaine Thesmar and Gelsey Kirkland were also
quite ethereal in this completely different version. The scenery was
updated
but not new in style - simply the old idea with differerent backdrops,
the
effective changes being the chair with the false back in Act I and the
elevator taking the title character in and out of the tree in Act II.
Nicolai
Hujbbe as James was quite different from the Danish dancers who
often take this role, Peter Schaufuss and Erik Bruhn as examples
of what we are used to in England and America. He has much the
same strengths as Nureyev, a fantastic actor, a fantastic partner
and a wonderful mime. Like Nureyev, some of his technique seems
a bit held back, especially in the ballon, ronde de jamb and battements
departments exactly like Nureyev. Nevertheless, it is a heartfelt
and believable performance which wins over the audience. Interesting
names in the corps in this performance, as Rose Gad (Paulsen),
Tommy Frishoi and Ib Jeppesen.
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In re-checking, the performance was taped more than eighteen years ago,
even
if released for public sale only this year,
and the Bournonville :A SYLPHIDE is actually 170 years old this year.
Also,
Nicolaj Hubbe, who is repsponsible for supervising the latest revival
of
LA SYLPHIDE in Denmark, is another Dane who emigrated to
New York, though his own production was back in Denmark rather than in
the US.

Post by Arrow
Filmed about fifteen years ago, this is one of the rare peeks at
Bournonville
danced by the company he was instrumental in building up some 160 years
ago. The musical score is what we are used to except for a full
overture not
often heard outside of Denmark. The "extra bits" added by some other
Danes who have staged the ballet while directing in companies outside
Copenhagen
are pretty much left out. The role of Gurn, danced by a marvelous
Morton
Monksdorf, no longer has the Act I solo which is given to a different
soloist,
but otherwise is fleshed out and far more dramatic with much more to
dance.
Sorella Englund gives a newly thought-out performance as Madge, the
mime really superb and her performance bringing down the house - she is
more of a genuine,. thinking, feeling being that she is normally played
outside of Denmark. Lis Jeppeson gives a particularly great performance
in the title role, reminding me of other great lyic ballerins who have
danced
the role. In New York, I remember Carla Fracci, Natalia Makarova,
Marianna
Tcherkassky and Martine Van Hamel as particularly ethereal. When
Nureyev
visited New York with his own company dancing the Lacotte/Taglioni?
version,
such famous stars as Ghislaine Thesmar and Gelsey Kirkland were also
quite ethereal in this completely different version. The scenery was
updated
but not new in style - simply the old idea with differerent backdrops,
the
effective changes being the chair with the false back in Act I and the
elevator taking the title character in and out of the tree in Act II.
Nicolai
Hujbbe as James was quite different from the Danish dancers who
often take this role, Peter Schaufuss and Erik Bruhn as examples
of what we are used to in England and America. He has much the
same strengths as Nureyev, a fantastic actor, a fantastic partner
and a wonderful mime. Like Nureyev, some of his technique seems
a bit held back, especially in the ballon, ronde de jamb and battements
departments exactly like Nureyev. Nevertheless, it is a heartfelt
and believable performance which wins over the audience. Interesting
names in the corps in this performance, as Rose Gad (Paulsen),
Tommy Frishoi and Ib Jeppesen.
Arrow