Triumph for ballet

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 6

Triumph for ballet

Start of tke Russian Ballet, at tbe Town Hall, April 17. Reviewed by Heath Lees. Huge bouquets of flowers, prolonged, reverences to the audience,.a gala,programme of possibly-decadent dimensions, .'and a flamboyance that speaks of long and unimpeachable tradition — all these and more combined to create the typical glitter and occasion - of ..the Bolshoi Theatre., The programme embraced a wide variety of set pieces. Some of these were legend- ■ ary, for example the tremulous agony of Fokine’s choreography for the dying swan, beautifully danced by Maya Plisetskaya, whose arms, wrists, and hands have ' . to be seen in action to be believed. Other excerpts, such as the pas de deux from “Diana arid

Acteon,’’"combined simplicity of conception with a bold athleticism that seemed to flow with grace and purpose from toes to fingertips in long, unbroken phrasing. The modern repertoire was not ignored completely, thanks largely to the scene from the ballet, ; “Notre Dame de Paris,” to music by Maurice Jarre. Jarre’s mid--1960s score „ sounds dated now, but still projects a mood of warm sympathy within its abrasive edge; a blending of opposites which the dancers matched with great sensitivity. Utter fidelity to the music and the over-all atmosphere is one of the most striking things about the company and was the cornerstone of two of the most successful pieces, the “Pas de deux de Classique” and the highly evocative “La Rose.Malade.”

The dancing is always magnificent, but even apart from the showpiece from “Don Quixote” it is rarely projected as an end in itself, but more as a strong partner in the total experience. Perhaps for this reason one felt a little sad not to have the complete dimension of an unfolding story — a real ballet, with scenery, interplay, continuity, and contrast. Continual switching from one style and ethos to another made for mental restlessness as the programme progressed, and it became difficult not to think the unkind thought that this could easily become just a parade of some of the company’s greatest hits. Nevertheless, even if the element of parade is admitted, its quality is obviously superb. As a ballet event it was a triumph.