Romeo and Juliet - Staatsballett München
New week, new ballet.. This time, I went to see Romeo and Juliet, the immortal romantic ballet, on the music by Prokoviev. The Bayerische Staatsoper is giving the John Cranko version, dating back in 1968. And last Wedsnesdy was a very special day. The 40iest birtday of the choreography. In front of a top class audience, the performance started yith a tribute to John Cranko, yith a film showing pieces of the 1968 performance, and an interview of John Cranko himself, in which he explained that his goal was not to create a Cranko style, but to make each of his choreographies unique. It was an emotional film, ended with a picture of Cranko's grave.
Then, time for ballet.
First, the music.. Maybe one of the most powerful musics created for classical ballet. Definitely ont of my beloved ones.
Then, the staging. Very classical, but still, it has survived well to time elapsing. Nice 19th century like costumes, a classical picturing of the city of Verone. A bit like Nureev version.
Then the choreography. Very romatic indeed, with lots of pas de deux, funny on the oter hand when it comes to the picturing of the city day to day life. A very powerful choreography for the bal, like in Nureev version, again, made the whole thing quite comprehensive and integrated.
Juliet. Lucia Lacarra. Splendid, once more. And with a great acting talent. From where i was seated up the theatre, she really looked and acted like a little girl she was supposed to be.
And a special mention to Mercutio, who did a real great job, full of enegry and precision, but also a lot of humour.
Two big regrets however. First, the orchester was obviously struggling with the music. Ok it's an utteerly difficut one. But still, they are all top musicians. And they had rythms problems,tones problems. It's a pitty.
And Romeo. Struggling as well. Technically, he was not so outstanding, and in his pas de deux with Lucia Lacarra who is so thin that she must not be too hard to carry, nothing was smooth at all. You could see the effort to carry her while she should have flown... Well...
But a very nice Gala evening after all, finished yith a nice drink up in the Golckenspiel bar, with a view on St Peter's Church.