tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post2975025837170899403..comments2024-03-05T22:44:45.962-05:00Comments on Great Opera Singers: Ballet Break! Darcey BussellUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-48638888699109562642014-02-08T23:16:25.006-05:002014-02-08T23:16:25.006-05:00I was fortunate to be the 4th november 2004 at the...I was fortunate to be the 4th november 2004 at the first performance of Sylvia with Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope. I was there¡¡¡ it was such a huge success. The ballet was wonderful, and Darcey was IDEAL. <br />I think ( and I've seen hundreds of dancers) that she is really unique in the ballet world. she as perfect dancing, and also she had that something...that made her a real superstar, or megastar as the wonderful Deborah Bull said once in an interview.<br />So, thanks a lot for this post¡¡ it brought back wonderful memories.Santinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-65685852022207708832012-09-12T09:14:17.496-04:002012-09-12T09:14:17.496-04:00Thank you, Kate! Actually, I love the "on ou...Thank you, Kate! Actually, I love the "on our toes:-) Well done! Yes, Darcey has done a lot for ballet: a world-class beauty, a great technique, and, perhaps most importantly, a wonderful personality--that magic "star-quality" that some performers seem to possess. It cannot be taught or learned, it's just part of them. It reaches out and grabs the audience and never lets go. Thanks for the comment, much appreciated!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-82672435363914350182012-09-12T09:06:56.485-04:002012-09-12T09:06:56.485-04:00The music is usually very lovely, that is true! E...The music is usually very lovely, that is true! Especially with the older ballets, from the 19th century. Delibes' Sylvia comes to mind, and of course Swan Lake. I think everyone knows the Music from Swan Lake, and also, of course the eternal Christmas ballet, the Nut Cracker. When it comes to Darcey Bussell, there is always the additional delight of just looking at her! Thanks, DanEdmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-47606516544102188152012-09-12T08:29:59.936-04:002012-09-12T08:29:59.936-04:00Keeping us on our toes (I didn't mean that to ...Keeping us on our toes (I didn't mean that to be a pun when I wrote it) Edmund with a change of direction!<br />I just recently listened to an interview Darcey Bussell gave to BBC Radio 4 Front Row. A fascinating life story, so far. <br />Though, I have been to the ballet a few times, It doesn't grab me the way opera does but I can only marvel at the beauty and grace of a dancer like Darcey Bussell.<br /><br />Great work again Edmund.<br /><br />KateVerdiwagneritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-23165804515053563252012-09-11T19:54:28.450-04:002012-09-11T19:54:28.450-04:00Hello Edmund, I am not a fan of ballet as a dance ...Hello Edmund, I am not a fan of ballet as a dance form, although the music is wonderful.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJVEb-qljADanPloyhttp://www.danploy.com/diary.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-90164331907520798762012-09-11T18:40:14.291-04:002012-09-11T18:40:14.291-04:00Thank you very much, Natalie. I really appreciate...Thank you very much, Natalie. I really appreciate that comment, because you are exactly right; it is the musicality and the charm that play such a large part in her appeal. Her big smile and direct appeal to the audience makes everybody feel that they know her personally. She was so much loved that the Queen of England herself intervened when Darcey announced she was retiring, and tried to convince not to quit so soon. But Darcey had physical problems, as almost all ballerinas do, and her two children were starting to grow up and she felt she owed something to her family life at that point. She felt that she was very lucky to have been able to have children. Many ballerinas can't. I know that Diana Vishneva has said that she wants to have a family too, so I would not be surprised to see here start to withdraw fairly soon. She spends so much time running around between here and Russia, it has be very exhausting.<br />Thanks again, I appreciate your comment, as always!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-40326400853506609712012-09-11T14:41:48.383-04:002012-09-11T14:41:48.383-04:00Sorry for replying late – my internet connection ...Sorry for replying late – my internet connection was broken yesterday. Thanks for the “ballet” article, Edmund. Bussel is a beautiful woman and a great dancer indeed. It’s clear from the first sight , that she is technically perfect, but the main thing in her dancing is charm and choreographic talent. Modern ballet borrows a lot from gymnastics, and not all ballerinas are musical enough; it seems that they do exercises instead of dancing. Bussel is an excellent dancer, first of all.<br /><br />n.a.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-81580496155364924952012-09-10T07:55:04.025-04:002012-09-10T07:55:04.025-04:00Thank you very much, Sally. My pleasure! I appre...Thank you very much, Sally. My pleasure! I appreciate the comment!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-86007030620276308222012-09-10T07:54:00.934-04:002012-09-10T07:54:00.934-04:00Thanks for the Darcey Bussell piece and the accomp...Thanks for the Darcey Bussell piece and the accompanying links.<br />Terrific stuff. I saw her dance at Covent Garden on one visit and<br />remember being struck by the tallness. And she was wonderful.<br /><br />Sally<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-91169243487959780952012-09-09T16:44:32.477-04:002012-09-09T16:44:32.477-04:00Thank you, Martha. Yes, tall indeed, but I think ...Thank you, Martha. Yes, tall indeed, but I think I agree with Mr. Hobbes--there was something about her height that actually increased her attractiveness, and even the aesthetics of visual appeal. The "lift," and most particularly the elevation of the feminine, is such an important part of classical ballet, and she was half-way there before the lift began:-) You can especially see it in her duets with Mukhamedov; he was not all that tall to begin with (but very strong), and his upward glances on lifts were almost an aetherial reaffirmation of the elevation of the feminine, in paricular the eternal feminine, which is so much celebrated in classical choreography. Thanks again for the comment!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-58786923672903935942012-09-09T16:37:36.988-04:002012-09-09T16:37:36.988-04:00Edmund, I never know what to expect when I come on...Edmund, I never know what to expect when I come on here:) I don't know much about ballet, but Darcey Bussell is certainly a joy to look at. This was a good introduction! Thanks,<br /><br />Martha<br /><br />ps. boy, you weren't kidding.she IS tall!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-1241890839926432382012-09-09T16:31:52.650-04:002012-09-09T16:31:52.650-04:00Thank YOU, Jeff! I'm really glad to know you ...Thank YOU, Jeff! I'm really glad to know you are also a fan. I have admired her for years, and I just felt compelled to write something. I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks again!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-85892901019606362732012-09-09T16:27:28.565-04:002012-09-09T16:27:28.565-04:00Actually, I'm one of those people you mention ...Actually, I'm one of those people you mention who is also a ballet buff, and I have always admired Darcey Bussell. You are so right to mention her beauty! She is an incredibly beautiful woman, and just a delight to watch. I don't know as much as you do about it technicallly, but yes....just form the point of view of enjoying looking at something beautiful, you could not have picked a better ballerina to talk about! Thanks!<br /><br />JeffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-50937102383700770582012-09-09T15:59:55.322-04:002012-09-09T15:59:55.322-04:00Thank you very much, Mr. Hobbes! Yes, you are rig...Thank you very much, Mr. Hobbes! Yes, you are right; one might say ethereal! I appreciate the comment!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-18174537015973414242012-09-09T15:41:30.709-04:002012-09-09T15:41:30.709-04:00Yes, she was and is remarkable. She moved like a f...Yes, she was and is remarkable. She moved like a feather and seemed often to float. I think her height added to her aesthetic appeal.JD Hobbeshttp://cinci.rr.comnoreply@blogger.com