SYLVIA
THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET ARE BRINGING STANTON WELCH’S SYLVIA TO SYDNEY THIS NOVEMBER.
HERE ARE FIVE REASONS WHY YOU’LL WANT TO MEET SYLVIA
1. FEMALES FRONT CENTRE AND CENTRE
Ballet is full of heroines, but in traditional works they’re often tragic figures with messy fates. Sylvia has three strong main characters: the fierce hunter goddess Artemis; Sylvia, an adventurous nymph; and the mischievous, curious Psych. The story follows their loves, sorrows and triumphs to a rapturous conclusion.
2. STANTON WELCH
Our resident choreographer is also artistic director of Houston Ballet, and in his long career as a dancemaker, has honed a style that combines high-energy balletic movement, thrilling pas de deux and rich storytelling – perfect for updating the classics. Our audiences have adored several of Stanton’s pieces in recent years, including Madam Butterfly, La Bayadere and Romeo and Juliet.
3. THE MUSIC
When Tchaikovsky saw Sylvia in 1877, he was enchanted by Delibes’ score. “What charm and elegance, what riches in the melody, the rhythm, the harmony,” he raved. “I was ashamed. If I had known this music before, I would not have written Swan Lake”. Frederick Ashton claimed that he made his version of Sylvia, the most successful of the modern age, after Delibes came to him in a dream and begged him, with a hiss to save his ballet from oblivion. Choreographers George Balanchine and John Neumeier have also been unable to resist the lure of this lilting score with its stirring hunting horns.
4. BALLET, WEAPONISED
In 2018, our male dancers got the chance to combine dance with combat in the brutal gladiatorial scenes of Spartacus. In 2019, our female dancers will be learning sword fighting and archery to portray Sylvia and the other nymphs in Artemis’ band of armoured hunters.
5. A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE
Three headstrong women, three profound relationships that transcend the line between mortal and immortal. It all adds up to a blaze of chemistry and a plethora of opportunities for Welch to unleash the power of his pas de deux.
Is there any chance that Madama Butterfly be repeated before too much longer. This spectacular ballet should
be seen by a large audience of ballet lovers, including our vast audience of youngsters.
With such a vast number of soloists in the Company, I think the time for a revival is almost due!
Hi James,
We thoroughly agree that it would be wonderful to see Madama Butterfly on the stage again but unfortunately have no idea if that is on the cards any time soon. We can only keep our fingers crossed!
FAB team