Went to American Ballet Theater again tonight, courtesy of my friend the rehearsal pianist. This time it was "La Bayadère" and India, but once again a 19th century production. Quite lovely, actually, and a beautiful set. (The bronze idol who does a little break-dance-like dance at the start of Act 3 was my favorite.) The story is, however, of a shape I gather shared by many classic works of ballet - star-crossed lovers are divided by the death of one in Act 1, but reunited when the other, too, dies at the end of Act 3. Not to be Marxist about it, but one can't imagine a happy base generating this particular genre of superstructure!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Went to American Ballet Theater again tonight, courtesy of my friend the rehearsal pianist. This time it was "La Bayadère" and India, but once again a 19th century production. Quite lovely, actually, and a beautiful set. (The bronze idol who does a little break-dance-like dance at the start of Act 3 was my favorite.) The story is, however, of a shape I gather shared by many classic works of ballet - star-crossed lovers are divided by the death of one in Act 1, but reunited when the other, too, dies at the end of Act 3. Not to be Marxist about it, but one can't imagine a happy base generating this particular genre of superstructure!