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Theatre listings >
Scottish Ballet
- Spring 2004 tour.
The Four Temperaments [1946].
Choreographer - George Balanchine.
Soft Underbelly [1999].
Choreographer - Ashley Page.
Five Ruckert Songs [1978].
Choreographer - Peter Darrell.
Acrid Avid Jam [2001].
Choreographer - Ashley Page.
32 Cryptograms [1996].
Choreographer – Ashley Page.
Company - Scottish Ballet. Website.
Artistic Director - Ashley Page.
Dancers - here .
Tour Dates and Times - here
.
Seen to review at Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 27 Sept 2003.
Run Time - 2 hours 15 mins including two intervals.
Reviewer - Vivien Devlin.
Fabulous celebration of 55 years of modern dance.
This ambitious programme features recent work by Ashley Page while the
centenary of the pioneering Master of contemporary dance, George Balanchine
and the 75th anniversary of the birth of the late Peter Darrell, Founder
of Scottish Ballet are both commemorated.
The Four Temperaments refers to the
emotional `humors`, melancholy, sanguine, phlegmatic and choleric. Balanchine
created the work as his response to the aftermath of World War II, reflecting
change and freedom in American life. Paul Hindemith, (who fled Nazi
Germany in 1938) was commissioned to write the score, which captures a
shifting mood from carefree to sombre (a brief disciplined goosestep),
and moments of quirky humour. This is a poignant, soulful and graceful
piece expressing the exquisite purity of movement.
Ruckert's five poetic songs, set to Mahler's haunting music, provides
the perfect narrative behind Peter Darrell’s inspired choreography.
Created in 1978 his Five Ruckert's Songs is
now seen as his signature work. A woman dances as in a dream, her long
skirt swirling, reminiscing on youth and lost romance. She appears
fragile yet her thoughts expressed through song show courage. “ If
you love youth, don’t love me, love the spring which is young every
year.” Dancer Patricia Hines has a cool, serene quality,
matched by the clarity of voice of singer, Karen Cargill. The final scene,
beautifully lit by George Thomson, as the woman decides her fate, is a
theatrical gem.
Music is the underlying key to Ashley Page`s choreography and in Soft
Underbelly, American composer Wim Mertens has created a complex
score blending slow and frenetic movements. A trio demonstrate balletic
and fast-paced acrobatic skills with flair.
Acrid Avid Jam, a short intimate duet
is set to a strident beat with lyrical undertones by Aphex Twin. From
brief encounters in slow motion to quick kick boxing sequences, this is
a fresh, freeflowing, vibrant piece.
The Scottish Ballet orchestra is in full force for 32
Cryptograms with a dynamic score by Robert Moran - the opening
bars have immediate resonances to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
Nine dancers, immaculately dressed in grey waistcoated suits, go through
their energetic paces in a series of neatly controlled sequences with
elegant precision.
Overall, this is a fabulous celebration of fifty five years of modern
dance. Artistic Director Ashley Page is certainly keen to show off the
versatility and assured confidence of the new-look Scottish Ballet. Its
future looks bold and bright.
©Vivien Devlin 1 April 2004. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Other EdinburghGuide reviews of Scottish Ballet Autumn
2003 tour and The
Nutcracker.
Dancers.
Joanne Bungay, Mark Kimmett, Martina Forioso, Adam Blyde, Eve Mutso, Robert
Doherty, Robin Bernadet, Lorna Scott, Patricia Hines, Anne Dancer, Louisa
Hassell, Claire Robertson, Cristo Vivancos, Lorna Beattie, Luciana Ravizzi,
Kara McLaughlin, Jose Perez, Victoria Willard, Emma Sandall, Vassilissa
Levtonova, Soon Ja Lee, Erik Cavallari, Glauco Di Lieto, Mauro Tambone,
Jocelyn Giles, Adrian Cunesco, Diana Loosmore, Jarkko Lehmus, Lillian
Pommier.
Tour Details of Scottish Ballet's 2004 Spring
Tour.
Tour begins .
31 March - 3 April at 7.15pm Mats at Sat at 2:15pm at Glasgow
Theatre Royal 0141 332 9000.
14 – 17 April at 7:30pm Mats on Thurs at 1:30pm and Sat at 2pm
Edinburgh Festival Theatre 0131
529 6000.
29 April to 1 May at 7:30pm Mat on Fri at 1:30pm and on Sat at 2:30pm
at Inverness Eden Court 01463 234234.
Tour
ends.
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