welcome back sir fredric
Good to see Ashton remembered. I always liked his ballets. Patineurs was always my favorite.This disc also has some seldom seen ballets like the Brahms waltzes.(I have it on betamax. the first and last time is was on TV) It doesnot hurt that the RB at the moment is loaded with talent, This disc jolns my other favorite ones. ( The RB disc of Coppelia is another.)
Worth Owning for 'Les Patineurs'
The Royal Ballet's homage to Frederick Ashton is a DVD definitely worth owning, if not just for the stunning video of 'Les Patineurs' and 'Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan'. However, the rest of the DVD isn't as interesting.
'Les Patineurs', starring Steven McRae, with music by Giacomo Meyerbeer, is everything an ideal Ashton ballet should be: simple, elegant, technical, and full of nuances.
The story is a simple one, about 'the ice skaters', and all of their intricate and beautiful patterns. Paired with 'Les Patineurs' are three videos of the principal dancers and soloists in rehearsal, where they mope about the difficulty of the steps (something I wouldn't recommend watching).
The next ballet on the DVD is 'Divertissements', which is a collection of elegant pas de deux and solos. Unfortunately, the majority of them are in the same, melancholy mood, as pretty as they are. The Sleeping Beauty - Awakening Pas de Deux isn't very interesting,...
A wonderful selection of Ashton favourites
Frederick Ashton has claim to be my favourite choreographer and whose work unfailingly exudes style, charm, poise and humour to name but few of its attractions. All of these are clearly exhibited in this marvellous disc of choreographic confections.
Les Patineurs depicts various scenes set in an imaginary world of ice-skating. The music is by Meyerbeer arranged and orchestrated skilfully and wittily by Constant Lambert in 1937 and seemingly just as fresh today as it was then. The ballet remains a popular repertoire ballet with revivals most years. The key figure is the `Blue boy, who takes on the role of the `King of the Ice' demonstrating his superior skill at various moments throughout this 27 minute ballet. This role is expertly despatched on this occasion by Steven McRae whose star role is surrounded and enhanced by equally expert pairs and small groups of featured `skaters'.
This fun piece is followed by the 42 minute `Divertissements' which consists of 6...
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