Robert Hayward as Scarpia and the Company of Tosca. Photo James Glossop. I can confidently say I am someone who knows very little about opera. I know some of the most famous operas, some of the most famous music, and some of the most famous performers. I had never seen an opera live before going … Continue reading Review: Tosca, Opera North, Saturday 28th January 2023
Author: Madeleinesstage
Forgotten Ballets: Tally-Ho, or The Frail Quarry, 1944
Among my collection I have several programmes from the Ballet Theatre's (now American Ballet Theatre) 1946 tour to England. The company performed at the Royal Opera House in the Summer of 1946, one of the first tours to England by a company following World War II. The ballets featured on the programmes I have are … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Tally-Ho, or The Frail Quarry, 1944
Review: South Pacific, UK Tour, Nottingham Theatre Royal
Gina Beck (Nellie Forbush) and Julian Ovenden (Emile de Becque) in Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. Photo by Johan Persson. I barely knew anything about South Pacific before I sat down to watch it, and most of what I did know was the basics. The famous songs (Happy Talk, I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right … Continue reading Review: South Pacific, UK Tour, Nottingham Theatre Royal
Forgotten Ballets: The Dance Dream, 1911
In the early 20th century, before the age of Ballet Rambert and the Vic-Wells Ballet, British ballet was mostly based at two London theatres: the Empire and the Alhambra. These theatres were music halls primarily, but a large portion of an evening's programme would be dedicated to ballet, and both theatres employed a full corps … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: The Dance Dream, 1911
The Sadler’s Wells Ballet and the Phoney War
On the 3rd September 1939, the United Kingdom and France officially declared war on Nazi Germany. Two days earlier, Nazi Germany had invaded Poland. This would begin the start of the Second World War, the deadliest military conflict in history. 900 miles away from Warsaw, a ballet company was disembarking from a train, which had … Continue reading The Sadler’s Wells Ballet and the Phoney War
Three Forgotten Dancers of the Ballet Russes
The Ballet Russes became a sensation in the 1910s. Their first Paris season of 1909 led to further seasons in the city, along with engagements in London, Monte Carlo, and further beyond. Under the leadership of Serge Diaghilev top artists came together to produce some of the most interesting ballets of all time. Some of … Continue reading Three Forgotten Dancers of the Ballet Russes
Forgotten Ballets: Flore et Zéphire, 1796
Flight on stage has traditionally been portrayed by actors on wires. From Peter Pan to Billy Elliot, these wires help take theatre beyond the stage, quite literally. So it's no surprise that they've been utilised in ballet. And one of the oldest ballets, if not the oldest, we know to have used wires, is 1796's … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Flore et Zéphire, 1796
A Homage to the Queen
In 1953, the British Empire was preparing for the coronation of their new Queen, Elizabeth II. And the Royal Ballet was no different. Frederick Ashton's ballet Homage to the Queen united the top dancers of the company in a marvellous pièce d'occasion. The ballet premiered on the 2nd June 1953, the same day as Elizabeth … Continue reading A Homage to the Queen
Forgotten Ballets: Fiammetta, 1864
A slightly earlier contemporary to Marius Petipa was Arthur Saint-Léon. Preceding Petipa in the role of Maître de ballet of the Imperial Ballet, Saint-Léon arrived in Saint Petersburg in 1859, holding his post for 10 years. During that time he'd create and stage ballets for the company, and one of them, was 1864's Fiammetta, often … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Fiammetta, 1864
Review: An Evening of Music and Dance, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Saturday 7th May 2022
I was happy to sit down in the Royal Concert Hall on Saturday evening. Last time I was there it was to see School of Rock, and it was nice to see the beauty of the auditorium without a musical stage and backdrop set up. But more selfishly, I was sitting in the front row … Continue reading Review: An Evening of Music and Dance, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Saturday 7th May 2022
The Mystery of the Grand Italian Opera Company in Liverpool, 1882
Among the programmes in my collection is one of my eldest: a visit to Liverpool by a Grand Italian Opera Company. It was a fully reputable tour, yet newspaper reports indicate that the scheduled performances never took place. I aim to find out why. Through my collecting I've become more well-versed in the world of … Continue reading The Mystery of the Grand Italian Opera Company in Liverpool, 1882
Review: Scènes de Ballet/A Month in the Country/Rhapsody, The Royal Ballet
Marianela Nuñez and Matthew Ball as Natalia and Beliaev in A Month in the Country, 2019. Photo Tristram Kenton/ROH. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Frederick Ashton Foundation, the Royal Ballet have mounted a triple bill comprising of works by their founding choreographer. These works originate from 1948, 1976, and 1980. One earlier masterpiece, … Continue reading Review: Scènes de Ballet/A Month in the Country/Rhapsody, The Royal Ballet
Spotlight On: Olga Preobrazhenskaya
The late 19th-early 20th century was the Golden Age of Russian Ballet, with the Imperial Ballet being at the centre of it. And, for the first time, the Russian Ballerina was equal. Mathilde Kschessinskaya had become the first Russian Ballerina to master the 32 fouettes, originally done by Italian Pierina Legnani, and we'd soon see … Continue reading Spotlight On: Olga Preobrazhenskaya
Forgotten Ballets: Les Mohicans, 1837
In the first part of this series (see here) I looked at a ballet from 1837, during the Romantic Era of ballet. The ballet, Le Chatte, didn't receive the least performances of the Romantic ballets premiered at the Paris Opera. That distinction goes to Les Mohicans, which premiered just months before La Chatte, and involves … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Les Mohicans, 1837
Review: Casanova, Northern Ballet
Dancers of the Northern Ballet in Casanova. Photo by Emma Kauldhar. Date: 26th March 2022 (Matinee) Venue: Lyceum Theatre, SheffieldCasanova: Lorenzo Trossello Cardinal de Bernis: Andrew TomlinsonFather Baldi: Harris BeattieSeminarians and Servants of the Inquisition: Sean Bates, Filippo de Vilio, Jonathan Hanks, George Liang, Bruno Serraclara, Archie ShermanThree Inquisitors: Antoni Cañellas Artigues, Gavin McCaig, Joseph … Continue reading Review: Casanova, Northern Ballet
Taglioni in Saint Petersburg, 1837-1842
Marie Taglioni is credited with being the first dancer to truly dance en pointe. Born in Stockholm, Sweden to dancer and choreographer Filippo Taglioni and Swedish dancer Sophie Karsten, it was under her Father that she rigorously trained. Today she's most known for originating the title role in La Sylphide (1832), a ballet which utilised … Continue reading Taglioni in Saint Petersburg, 1837-1842
Forgotten Ballets: The Triumph of Neptune, 1926
Choreographer George Balanchine was a genius. There's no denying that. His musicality and neoclassical style have influenced countless other choreographers, and his works are performed all around the globe. But that's not to say all of his ballets are remembered. Balanchine defected from the Soviet Union in 1924 and worked with the Ballet Russes for … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: The Triumph of Neptune, 1926
Forgotten Ballets: Le chatte métamorphosée en femme, 1837
A lot of us can probably name a ballet. Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty are some of the most common answers I get when I tell people I'm interested in ballet- I've also gotten Giselle, and Anna Pavlova's Dying Swan. But there are plenty of ballets that have fallen by the wayside, some … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Le chatte métamorphosée en femme, 1837
Spotlight On: Dauberval + La fille mal gardée
If you're familiar with ballet, you might know a ballet called La fille mal gardée. This ballet (the name translating to The Poorly Guarded Girl) is one of the oldest surviving ones, although not with it's original choreography, or music. What we know as La fille mal gardée can be traced back to other choreographers: … Continue reading Spotlight On: Dauberval + La fille mal gardée
Spotlight On: Tamara Karsavina
Tamara Karsavina is one of the greats. Her contributions to dance are undeniable, and a rather large amount of roles she created are still in repertoire. So what was her education and life like? Her memoir, Theatre Street, covers from her birth in 1885, to the year 1918. Her main focus is on her career. … Continue reading Spotlight On: Tamara Karsavina
Madeleine's Stage 