Sunday 31 December 2006

more Giselle

I've watched the whole ballet now, and I'm slightly more warmly disposed towards Albrecht. On the strength of the performance of danseur Johan Kobborg in Act 2, I can believe he really loved Giselle after all, and was basically a mixed up guy who got torn between two worlds. Maybe he should have been honest with her, but hey, men [and women] aren't always honest with the people they're involved with and care for... I also re-read the story in a super book by my friend and web client Adele Geras. In Adele's interpretation, the tale is told from Albrecht's POV and she vividly conveys his confusion, regret and love for Giselle. I also feel more sympathy for Giselle... poor lass just succumbed to a relationship cock up, and I'm sure most women in the world have been there too. She was far more noble about it in the end than a lot of us would have been too...



I still feel v. sorry for poor old Hilarion, who didn't deserve his fate, because basically he was a good guy. But I suppose that plotwise, the ballet has to illustrate the power of the Wilis to dance a man to death, and he was an obvious candidate if they weren't going to kill off Albrecht....

But really, with ballet, it's less about the story and more about the performance. And having read a few synopses of famous ballets, they all seem pretty mental... It's the beautiful dancing that matters, and even if the reasons for the emotions are a bit contrived, the artistic power of gifted dancers can just make you sob, even if you think the story is rather silly...

ps. have decided not to post about New Year's resolutions and stuff, because I'm starting to find that it's all really getting on my tits! What's the point of making wild pronouncements about the year to come? To my mind it's asking for trouble...

4 comments:

ann said...

I have to confess ballet has never been my thing... as for the new year resolution stuff, I promise every month a new diet and more self-discipline, so who am I kidding... anyway tomorrow's just another day.

Wishing you a Happy Healthy and Successful New Year

lotsa luv ann xxxx

grrrr......... word verification

Saskia Walker said...

Oh, Wendy, too funny! I'm so with you about wild pronouncements. ;-)) Last year I said I wouldn't work weekends this year. Was I able to keep that vow? Was I %$£! LOL

For your dance research you could read at Nikki's Circus Excite. her heroine is a dancer and the descriptions are wonderfully vivid.

Anonymous said...

I'm laughing too! I'm a total goal whore. Seriously, I love making (and re-making) goals. It helps me stay motivated, even though I know they're going to change constantly. And I love that bit of satisfaction that comes with checking stuff off my list.

Still, I also know that I have to be careful, or I'll spend all my time making goals and never doing any writing! Just another of the dangers of working for yourself...

Happy new year! s.

Portia Da Costa said...

Yeah, tomorrow's just another day, Ann, isn't it? Just like any other... I read a good bit on Anna Black's blog the other day about not making resolutions and goals and stuff for 2007, but instead, just endeavouring to live in the moment more, and making the most of what's happening as it's happening. This makes much more sense to me more than saying I'm going to do this and that in 2007, and my goals are this and that... Circumstances and people who are outside your control can and will stop you doing what you aspire to do, and/or deny you your goals... but they can't stop you quietly enjoying the very simple moments of life...