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The Rite of Spring

I was very much looking forward to the Rite of Spring as after having studied it for my dissertation I was longing to see it performed on stage in full. It is a popular piece and even though I did quite enjoy it, I wasn't particularly bowled over by the whole experience. There are some great moments but I didn't really feel much tension or sense of danger, which I hoped I would.

The company danced excellently throughout, showing a real sense of unity and drive and they clearly enjoyed performing the work and coming together as a company.

I'm not sure that I like the "splayed hands squatting" position that was adopted through most of the ballet, it looked somewhat dated, sometimes a bit silly and at times a bit camp! The highlight were the scissors on the floor, I was quite amazed by the synchronicity displayed by the company throughout this section, corps de ballet acting literally as one breathing lifeform. The hops in between by the chosen one, did look a bit like "hop scotch" though rather than there being any risk or danger attached to this obstacle course.

Having never seen the ballet before I don't know whether it failed to hit me because of the choreography or the execution or whether it was because it had just followed A Different Drummer which did subdue me for the rest of the evening. People who have seen the Rite before would be able to comment on this aspect.

A Different Dummer

A Different Drummer, was a very odd experience. I'm not really sure why it was revived having not gone down particularly well when it premiered.

Thanks to people posting on this thread, save a couple of moments, I did actually manage to pretty much follow the story so that wasn't a problem but like someone mentioned earlier, the piece just didn't manage to stir anything in me whatsoever.

The subject matter was interesting and I thought that this story would pretty much suit Macmillan to the hilt. Unfortunately I sat there watching everything but very aware that nothing was going on in my head! None of the focal points registered with me and I pretty much got nothing from the piece. This was definately not the fault of the dancers who did a stirling job and committed totally to their parts but I just didn't think the material was very good to start with and there is only so much they can do.

It all seemed a bit showy with little real substance. The applause at the end from the audience was one of the quietest I have heard at the Opera House so I guess that people weren't that enamoured by the piece.

Chroma

This brings me onto Chroma, which opened the bill. I saved this to last because I felt that this was the most successful piece of the evening and I loved every minute of it.

The whole time I sat their I could feel the blood pumping through my body as I got completely caught up in the music and visuals. Unlike the other pieces on the bill, this piece completely involved me on every possible level!!

I can understand why some people don't like Chroma but it's been the most exciting thing I have watched on the Opera House stage in my short time of attending the ballet.

Everything about it is for me a success from the lighting, costumes and set to the choreography and cast. After seeing it twice now I cannot imagine another group of dancers performing this piece; however I did think that Mara Galeazzi, although different, was an excellent replacement for Alina Cojocaru.

I really love this particular cast of dancers, some of which we have seen a lot of and some we have seen relatively little of. I am glad that this piece has given oportunities to some of the lesser known dancers in the company.

I felt that after everyone coming back to this piece for a second time, the dancing seemed to elevate to an even greater height than previously and that is saying something! All the dancers totally had the choreography in their body and just performed at the top of their ability.

Although it is very much a group piece and everyone is given equal stage time I did have a few highlights. One being Eric Underwood and Lauren Cuthbertson's pas de deux. These two dancers do work very well together and although not an obvious pairing do very much complement each other stylewise.

My other favourite was the pas de trois of the three younger males. This is a very exciting section and all three performed with exhuberant energy and gusto also demonstrating some pretty high extensions too!!!

I have to say that the piece wasn't as "shocking" or revolutionary this time around and I think it totally appropriate for this dynamic ballet company to dance. The choreography isn't all that crazy and it is very beautiful to watch.

Well done to all involved.