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Royal Balletand Jonathan Cope's farewell February 2006 London, Covent Garden by Ann Williams |
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As posted on our Postings pages... I found it a mixed evening, but on the whole I wouldn’t have missed it. 'Ballet Imperial' was carefully danced and lovely to look at, but lacked the sharp attack that NYCB would doubtless have brought to it. Bussell was gorgeous though; I love the deliberation and clarity she brings to all of her steps. Philip Gammon, I thought, handled the Tchaikovsky piano score with noteworthy aplomb. Acosta and Lamb both brought lucidity to Robbins’slight 'Afternoon of a Faun' - he's dancing like a dream at the moment, and I loved that brilliant minimalist box set. Incidentally, at the back of the programme it is stated: 'The female role in Afternoon of A Faun is supported by an anonymous donor'. Does anyone know what this means? I personally haven’t seen a programme note like this before. The Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux didn't disapppoint. It's a real showstopper of a piece and Ansanelli dived into it with glee, ably supported by Bonelli (I can’t wait to see what she’ll make of the Ashton and MacMillan roles that hopefully await her).
The RB's 'Firebird'never fails to thrill me with it's unbeatable combination of Stravinsky's genious score and Goncharova's sumptuous designs. Personally, I miss the final, thrilling moment which the RB used to provide on Firebird's early 90s outings, when the entire assembled cast met the last taut strain of Stravinsky's climactic ending with synchronised upturned faces and upraised arms, a thrilling theatrical artifice. This time, they just stood there while the music rained down on them. Yoshida was a brilliantly commanding Firebird who made the dancing look effortless - a stunning feat. She's an underrated and underused dancer in my view and I just hope somebody wakes up to this before she retires. There’s still time.
 © Jenny Taylor
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