Superb! Thank you! LOVED seeing Ferri, Browne, and Baryshnikov...in La Sonombula. Now I am going to go listen to Montserrat Caballe sing Bellini's opera La Sonumbula...🌹
This appears to be the episode of Dance in America that aired on PBS on February 5, 1988. Here is the LA Times review: It’s been years since the “Dance in America” series last presented either the New York City Ballet in works by George Balanchine or the Merce Cunningham ensemble in choreography by Cunningham. So why is PBS ignoring these inimitable companies tonight and bringing us an hour of second-hand Balanchine and Cunningham dancing by American Ballet Theatre (8 p.m. on Channel 24, 9 p.m. on Channels 28 and 15; Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 50)? The answer probably involves the availability (as dancer and host) of Mikhail Baryshnikov, who was briefly a member of City Ballet and, at 40, is still the biggest name in American dance. For star-struck viewers, that may be enough. ... Set to Vittorio Rieti’s arrangements of music by Bellini, “La Sonnambula” represents Balanchine’s meditation on the darker themes of Romantic ballet. The plot (involving a poet’s choice between an earthly, worthless love and an unattainable, dangerous vision) is familiar yet strange, and the choreography rich in allusion. The uneven performance finds Leslie Browne overwrought and unmusical as the Coquette, Alessandra Ferri oddly prosaic as the enigmatic Sleepwalker and Baryshnikov superficial as the doomed Poet: He dallies and dies as an uncomprehending innocent. Johan Renvall makes a deft Harlequin.
I've never seen it before, either. And thanks for suggesting Prodigal Son, that will be new to me, too! I should have guessed it's Balanchine... some of the steps and positions surprised me and made me smile. Should've suspected it was him!
Mary Sanchez Yes, as soon as I saw the long line of dancers take hands by reaching over, under and around each other, and then miraculously unwind without releasing hands ........ I smiled. Yep, that's Balanchine. Very unique ballet. Haunting. So different, I think, in style, costume, setting. Just great! All the soloists were wonderful (Julie Kent), and Ferri was in incredible. Thank you so much for posting this gem ❤️👏❤️👏
i had to rewatch the part where La Sonnambula walks in because i realized she does the WHOLE THING EN POINTE! HOLY SHIT! so beautiful. ;_; And that was a real candle the whole time eh? Wow. This was great.
Placing the Poet's body in the Sleepwalker's arms is a terrifically shocking moment. I don't think there's anything quite like it in ballet. However, I've seen productions where the effect is fudged (an effigy is secretly substituted) and consequently ruined. I understand the reason (there is doubtless a physical risk for the ballerina,) but it's unfortunate.
yes, the whole scene is so touching ... and then the moment you realize they're laying the body in the sleepwalker's arms and she carries him up the stairs is shocking ... I remember the first time I saw it with NYCB I thought about it for days afterward
@@DianaMoon11428 yes, of course, you have to be willing to go along with the illusion ... but the candlelight going up the stairs and the last time you had seen that candle was in the hand of the girl carrying the poet, makes it a pretty easy illusion to surrender to
@@DianaMoon11428 With the camera zooming in, you can see that Ferri has all the weight she can handle. The exit through the doorway is a sharp turn out of view as quickly as possible. Also, the ballerina ascends the staircase with a lightweight dummy. It's called stage magic!
@@DianaMoon11428 I don't think anyone thinks she's really carrying a grown man up the stairs - can't you get past that and just enjoy?? Theater requires you to surrender to it sometimes.
MOLTO BRAVI a riportarci al clima dell'oneiria con i suoi equivoci e le sue sottese parvenze dentro un gioco bilico al tempo reale come in un sogno astante.Bighin GIULIO RENZO
I have only been watching ballet videos for a couple of months. So glad I discovered this. The entire company are brilliant. I enjoyed immensely! Who is the ballerina with the candle? Thank you for sharing. Dallas Texas
Oh I absolutely love this. Thank you for upload. I love the gothic romance feel of this peace. I love Leslie and Misha partnering in here. I have a soft spot them, because of Turning point and it´s great to see, how their proffesional relationship and partnership has evolved and matured since then. Leslie has become absolutely wonderfull ballerina and no doubt Misha can take some credit for that, since she spent most of her career in ABT under his leadership. Misha Alessandra ppd is so cute, sweet yet disturbing. Guy finds girl, who is actually in sort of uncounsious state and turns her into his plaything and ten takes advantage of her.
The score is published under the title Night Shadow, by Vittorio Rieti. I have a CD of the music, a 2-disc set called Ballet Gala, on Seraphim. Also contains music by Drigo, Helsted, and others. I don't know if it's still available or if there are other recordings. But search Night Shadow instead of Sonnambula. Good luck!
I even didn't know there was a ballet called 'La Sonnambula'.. but the music is a mix, there are lynes also from 'Lucia di Lammermoor' which is another Bellini's Opera... yes, because 'La Sonnambula' was born as Operatic music...
+Simona Adriani I don't think Bellini wrote an opera called Lucia di Lammermoor. At least the most popular opera by that name was written by Donizetti. However, there is music from the opera Norma written by Bellini added to this Sonnambula ballet.
I mistake because the two operas are very similar, them both speak about a girl who get mad after going married to another man rather the one they loved. Those are tragedias, because everyone dies at the end, while I prefear sonnambula, because it has an happy end ;-)
+Simona Adriani Well that's the strange thing. In both Puritani and Sonnambula, the operas, there are happy endings, ie no one died and weddings. However, for this ballet, they made it into a tragedy and they didn't give them the names. So I guess they wanted a more tragic tone for the ballet because that would be more effective I guess.
Noting the cast, guessing this must be ABT, not NYCB (where Balanchine's company was). Embarrassed to say I kept nodding off watching this. A good soporific.
@@Marcel_Audubon Sorry I forgot the question mark. Thank you for the info was wondering what co. it was. And yes the music is good for me if insomnied.
Yes, it was an ABT production. When it was shown on TV, there was a conversation with Baryshnikov. He said that when he left NYCB to become artistic director at ABT, he asked Balanchine for the rights to mount La Sonnambula (among others.)
I would not want to try to take away any of the enjoyment expressed by viewers of this ballet, but I must say that I agree with streetcar's assessment. I have experienced this ballet as repetitive...sleepify-ing...and slow-paced. Beyond some expression of appreciation for the mid-19th century costumes, I have nothing good to say about this. The male dancers look fantastic. Swallow-tail jackets and brilliantly white tights look wonderful in a classical ballet. With this much said, five minutes of 19th century quadriles by the corps dancers was more than enough. I did not need another fifteen minutes of the exact same routine. The music was very much the same, from start to finish. For the large group ball room scene, to the part with the male lead embracing a candle-holding ghost, the music was the same. It's good that viewers enjoyed this. I'm sorry to be typing anything to try to dampen enthusiasm and appreciation. For my taste, this was slow-paced, and I did not like the very un-classical squatting, crouching movements of certain segments.
Nice to finally see this ballet. Some fun choreographic ideas of Balanchine to enjoy. However, I do find that the kissing and manipulating of the sleepwalker did not age well (much like the prince kissing Aurora).
This is obviously an ABT production after Misha had been with Balanchine's company and became director of ABT. So it's in the 80s. No, the candle is not a real flame. They use electricity, as the flame goes out at moments and then relights. The choreography left out a key moment where Misha lays down in front of the sleepwalker and she flitly steps over him without missing a beat. That they left out? And the NYCBallet dancers I've seen in this - Darci, Wendy Whelan, are much more the sleepwalker. I just think Alessandra Ferri is too human and a more wispy dancer is better. And Misha is held with wires in the last scene where he staggers in, stabbed and the sleepwalker carries him. She could otherwise never have lifted Misha. Oh, and the crying scene is left out, the Harlequin especially is not seen.
There are no wires involved in the Sleepwalker carrying the poet. His full weight is laid in her arms, and she just needs to manage the few steps through the doorway before letting him down, out of sight.
Don't be a dope, of course it's a real flame, but it's a stage candle, can't go out ... and there aren't any wires happening here. She only has to carry him a few feet and doesn't lift him, he's placed into her arms. Again, don't be a dope.
A very good choreography for the time. No longer attractive to watch. Baryshnikov, Browne and Renvall are at their best, yet Ferri is still in her early stage.
An absolute masterpiece with wonderful music!!! Baryshnikov is fantastic, as he usually is🙏
This shows that Balanchine's genius had so many different sides.
I saw this choreography yesterday at the New York City Ballet. It is magical.
the way Baryshnikov slowly steps back right as the music becomes fuller and deeper, it works so well.
I also love how he ducks underneath her candle-holding hand.
Maravilloso, hermoso, brillante.
Superb! Thank you! LOVED seeing Ferri, Browne, and Baryshnikov...in La Sonombula. Now I am going to go listen to Montserrat Caballe sing Bellini's opera La Sonumbula...🌹
It is wonderful. I love Misha. Terrific dancer and artist!!!
This appears to be the episode of Dance in America that aired on PBS on February 5, 1988.
Here is the LA Times review:
It’s been years since the “Dance in America” series last presented either the New York City Ballet in works by George Balanchine or the Merce Cunningham ensemble in choreography by Cunningham.
So why is PBS ignoring these inimitable companies tonight and bringing us an hour of second-hand Balanchine and Cunningham dancing by American Ballet Theatre (8 p.m. on Channel 24, 9 p.m. on Channels 28 and 15; Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 50)?
The answer probably involves the availability (as dancer and host) of Mikhail Baryshnikov, who was briefly a member of City Ballet and, at 40, is still the biggest name in American dance. For star-struck viewers, that may be enough.
...
Set to Vittorio Rieti’s arrangements of music by Bellini, “La Sonnambula” represents Balanchine’s meditation on the darker themes of Romantic ballet. The plot (involving a poet’s choice between an earthly, worthless love and an unattainable, dangerous vision) is familiar yet strange, and the choreography rich in allusion.
The uneven performance finds Leslie Browne overwrought and unmusical as the Coquette, Alessandra Ferri oddly prosaic as the enigmatic Sleepwalker and Baryshnikov superficial as the doomed Poet: He dallies and dies as an uncomprehending innocent. Johan Renvall makes a deft Harlequin.
That was great. One of the Balanchine works I had never seen. Baryshnikov in his prime was a sublime dancer. Watch him in The Prodigal Son!
+David Holmes He is the best Prodigal son ¡¡¡
I've never seen it before, either. And thanks for suggesting Prodigal Son, that will be new to me, too! I should have guessed it's Balanchine... some of the steps and positions surprised me and made me smile. Should've suspected it was him!
I’m a huge Prodigal Son fan
Mary Sanchez Yes, as soon as I saw the long line of dancers take hands by reaching over, under and around each other, and then miraculously unwind without releasing hands ........ I smiled. Yep, that's Balanchine. Very unique ballet. Haunting. So different, I think, in style, costume, setting. Just great! All the soloists were wonderful (Julie Kent), and Ferri was in incredible. Thank you so much for posting this gem ❤️👏❤️👏
What a great ballet--it's a miracle that you posted it--infinite thanks.
i had to rewatch the part where La Sonnambula walks in because i realized she does the WHOLE THING EN POINTE! HOLY SHIT! so beautiful. ;_;
And that was a real candle the whole time eh? Wow. This was great.
and the end she must have had her feet on blood.
Allessandra Ferri and Misha , what a duo
How wonderful! Thank you for posting this masterpiecem and with the incomparably sublime Baryshnikov and the lovely Leslie Brown!♥
Johan Renval: WOW!!!
I saw him as the Golden Idol about 100 years ago. Really great!
It is a stark piece. Am I the only one who sees an inverted Swan Lake with shades of Jeune homme et la Mort?
Thank You for posting. I used to have this on video and loved it. Still love it.
Who wouldn't fall in love with Alessandra Ferri?
Thank you 🌹🌹🌹
Of course the whole thing is WOW!
Alessandra is always spectacular
And she is still beautiful. Just a magnificent dancer.
Don Schwellenbach yeah ballerina assoluta
Masterpiece🎇
LOVE IT
СПАСИБО!!!
Placing the Poet's body in the Sleepwalker's arms is a terrifically shocking moment. I don't think there's anything quite like it in ballet. However, I've seen productions where the effect is fudged (an effigy is secretly substituted) and consequently ruined. I understand the reason (there is doubtless a physical risk for the ballerina,) but it's unfortunate.
yes, the whole scene is so touching ... and then the moment you realize they're laying the body in the sleepwalker's arms and she carries him up the stairs is shocking ... I remember the first time I saw it with NYCB I thought about it for days afterward
@@DianaMoon11428 yes, of course, you have to be willing to go along with the illusion ... but the candlelight going up the stairs and the last time you had seen that candle was in the hand of the girl carrying the poet, makes it a pretty easy illusion to surrender to
@@DianaMoon11428 With the camera zooming in, you can see that Ferri has all the weight she can handle. The exit through the doorway is a sharp turn out of view as quickly as possible. Also, the ballerina ascends the staircase with a lightweight dummy. It's called stage magic!
@@DianaMoon11428 I don't think anyone thinks she's really carrying a grown man up the stairs - can't you get past that and just enjoy?? Theater requires you to surrender to it sometimes.
MOLTO BRAVI a riportarci al clima dell'oneiria con i suoi equivoci e le sue sottese parvenze dentro un gioco bilico al tempo reale come in un sogno astante.Bighin GIULIO RENZO
I have only been watching ballet videos for a couple of months. So glad I discovered this. The entire company are brilliant. I enjoyed immensely! Who is the ballerina with the candle? Thank you for sharing. Dallas Texas
FERRI
Very good si mikhail and ferri.
I have never seen this!!! OMG!!!!
Strong lady!! She cradle carried the much larger man!
More videos of Misha ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
Not available on DVD (or even VHS) ?
Oh I absolutely love this. Thank you for upload. I love the gothic romance feel of this peace. I love Leslie and Misha partnering in here. I have a soft spot them, because of Turning point and it´s great to see, how their proffesional relationship and partnership has evolved and matured since then. Leslie has become absolutely wonderfull ballerina and no doubt Misha can take some credit for that, since she spent most of her career in ABT under his leadership. Misha Alessandra ppd is so cute, sweet yet disturbing. Guy finds girl, who is actually in sort of uncounsious state and turns her into his plaything and ten takes advantage of her.
Love Browne
Primera vez q veo esta obra, no sabía que wxistia
❤❤❤
Browne seems so much older than Baryshnikov in this film, and yet is actually nine years older than her.
VERY SMART SI MIKHAIL AND FERRI , SA LA SONNAMBULA BALLET , FOR SUPER FISH' S DAYS.
wow johan renvall
Great to see this! :-)
he had such genius for comic roles! loved his “boy” in the 1983 Don Quixote as well
I do not understand why is this magnificent peace choreographed by Balanchine is not danced more often?
New York City Ballet performs it fairly regularly. In fact they just did it in their fall season 2023.
I love this, but where can I buy this music?
The score is published under the title Night Shadow, by Vittorio Rieti. I have a CD of the music, a 2-disc set called Ballet Gala, on Seraphim. Also contains music by Drigo, Helsted, and others. I don't know if it's still available or if there are other recordings. But search Night Shadow instead of Sonnambula. Good luck!
It's a combination of themes from different operas by Vincenzo Bellini
@@Marcel_Audubon But none from La Sonnambula!
@@philipkuttner7945 not true, 'Ah! Non Credea Mirarti' is used very effectively for the death scene
I even didn't know there was a ballet called 'La Sonnambula'.. but the music is a mix, there are lynes also from 'Lucia di Lammermoor' which is another Bellini's Opera... yes, because 'La Sonnambula' was born as Operatic music...
+Simona Adriani I don't think Bellini wrote an opera called Lucia di Lammermoor. At least the most popular opera by that name was written by Donizetti. However, there is music from the opera Norma written by Bellini added to this Sonnambula ballet.
+Simona Adriani Also I Puritani written by Bellini
Maybe is Puritani ai was thinking about ;-) I mistake! The aria whom music I heard is called 'qui la voce sua soave'
I mistake because the two operas are very similar, them both speak about a girl who get mad after going married to another man rather the one they loved. Those are tragedias, because everyone dies at the end, while I prefear sonnambula, because it has an happy end ;-)
+Simona Adriani Well that's the strange thing. In both Puritani and Sonnambula, the operas, there are happy endings, ie no one died and weddings. However, for this ballet, they made it into a tragedy and they didn't give them the names. So I guess they wanted a more tragic tone for the ballet because that would be more effective I guess.
There is an opera by the same name with music of Bellini
and some of that music is used here, along with other Bellini excerpts
@@Marcel_Audubon I could tell
오후11교시
I am very sad ni jennie , for death si mikhail b, and for sleepwalker si ferri.
Noting the cast, guessing this must be ABT, not NYCB (where Balanchine's company was). Embarrassed to say I kept nodding off watching this. A good soporific.
@@Marcel_Audubon Sorry I forgot the question mark. Thank you for the info was wondering what co. it was. And yes the music is good for me if insomnied.
Well, the title does mean "The Sleepwalker". Perhaps Alessandra Ferri nodded off before coming onstage.
Yes, it was an ABT production. When it was shown on TV, there was a conversation with Baryshnikov. He said that when he left NYCB to become artistic director at ABT, he asked Balanchine for the rights to mount La Sonnambula (among others.)
I would not want to try to take away any of the enjoyment expressed by viewers of this ballet, but I must say that I agree with streetcar's assessment. I have experienced this ballet as repetitive...sleepify-ing...and slow-paced. Beyond some expression of appreciation for the mid-19th century costumes, I have nothing good to say about this. The male dancers look fantastic. Swallow-tail jackets and brilliantly white tights look wonderful in a classical ballet.
With this much said, five minutes of 19th century quadriles by the corps dancers was more than enough. I did not need another fifteen minutes of the exact same routine. The music was very much the same, from start to finish. For the large group ball room scene, to the part with the male lead embracing a candle-holding ghost, the music was the same.
It's good that viewers enjoyed this. I'm sorry to be typing anything to try to dampen enthusiasm and appreciation. For my taste, this was slow-paced, and I did not like the very un-classical squatting, crouching movements of certain segments.
@@philipkuttner7945 😂👌
In che anno siamo ?! Giovanissima julie kent!
Siamo in 1987, secondo la persona che l'ha messo qui.
@@Marta44339 28 anni quindi wow ! Grazie ☺️
@@Kattydoggylovely Julie Kent e' nata in 1969, Baryshnikov in 1948.
Julie Kent was still in the corps here, at 18. She was promoted to soloist in 1990 and to principal in 1993.
Nice to finally see this ballet. Some fun choreographic ideas of Balanchine to enjoy. However, I do find that the kissing and manipulating of the sleepwalker did not age well (much like the prince kissing Aurora).
Гениальное творение . Нельзя взгляд оторвать. ❤
It aged perfectly
This is obviously an ABT production after Misha had been with Balanchine's company and became director of ABT. So it's in the 80s. No, the candle is not a real flame. They use electricity, as the flame goes out at moments and then relights. The choreography left out a key moment where Misha lays down in front of the sleepwalker and she flitly steps over him without missing a beat. That they left out? And the NYCBallet dancers I've seen in this - Darci, Wendy Whelan, are much more the sleepwalker. I just think Alessandra Ferri is too human and a more wispy dancer is better. And Misha is held with wires in the last scene where he staggers in, stabbed and the sleepwalker carries him. She could otherwise never have lifted Misha. Oh, and the crying scene is left out, the Harlequin especially is not seen.
There are no wires involved in the Sleepwalker carrying the poet. His full weight is laid in her arms, and she just needs to manage the few steps through the doorway before letting him down, out of sight.
Don't be a dope, of course it's a real flame, but it's a stage candle, can't go out ... and there aren't any wires happening here. She only has to carry him a few feet and doesn't lift him, he's placed into her arms. Again, don't be a dope.
Полная реплика 1го акта Щелкунчика ... для подобной интриги несоответствующий музыкальный материал...
Bellini and Tchaikovsky sound nothing alike.
A very good choreography for the time. No longer attractive to watch. Baryshnikov, Browne and Renvall are at their best, yet Ferri is still in her early stage.
dopey analysis - no longer attractive to watch?
Begone, woman!
Ferri is much, much, MUCH too corporeal and too earthy in every way. The opening bourree sequence is embarrassingly bad.