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04 helmikuuta 2022

Friday Bliss #177 - Finnish National Ballet 100 Years



Violetta Keller from Germany as Black Swan & the Chinese Jun Xia as Prince Siegfried. 
Photo: Roosa Oksaharju

Photo: Opera and Ballet

This year, the Finnish National Ballet is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Its first performance was seen on January 17, 1922, when the ballet master George Gé brought his own version of the Swan Lake. Gé had become acquainted with the Swan Lake in St. Petersburg before the Russian Revolution. The National Ballet has begun its anniversary with the same ballet, with choreography by David McAllister of Australia. The world of the ballet is very international: today 2/3 of the 76 dancers are of foreign origin. HERE you find a list of all the dancers, in case you wish to take a peek.


Japanese Hanako Matsune as White Swan. Photo: Roosa Oksaharju

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus situation, all performances have been canceled until the end of February. But the gala premiere was televised without audience on Saturday, January the 29th. The black and white swans are normally performed by the same dancer, but in the live broadcast, the dual role was divided between these two dancers: Hanako Matsune from Japan and Violetta Keller from Germany. As a result of the exceptional arrangement, there were also two princes: Michal Krčmář from the Czech Republic danced with Matsune and Jun Xia from China with Keller.


Czech Michal Krčmář & Hanako Matsune. Photo: Roosa Oksaharju

Photo: Opera and Ballet

I watched the performance on TV, of course it didn’t compare to a live show, that I have seen years ago at our old opera house. I think the staging and costumes were wonderful and the pair of Violetta Keller & Jun Xia were dazzling. All the photos of the post are from the press.

Choreography: David McAllister
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Bejamin Pope, Matthew Rowe
Production, costumes: Gabriela Týlešová
Valaistus: Kalle Ropponen


I wanted to have white flowers in this post, bought even white tulips, 
but they looked so ridiculously small. That is why I chosed these double eustomas
from February last year as their flowers look like ballet skirts to me.


Photo: Opera and Ballet

I have always loved the dance of the little swans!
See a performance on Youtube by KCB Dancers. 

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34 kommenttia:

  1. Guten Morgen Riita,
    ja, das finde ich auch, dass die Prärierose dem duftigen Tütü, der Tänzerinnen ähnelt.
    Ballett ist ja eine ganz große Liebe von mir und das Stuttgarter Ballett ist ja führend in der Welt nicht nur alleine durch Marcia Haydee und John Cranko.Da gibt es noch viel mehr.
    Wenn das Stuttgarter Ballett auf Reisen in die weite Welt geht, nimmt es hier immer noch seinen eigenen Tanzboden mit. Das macht so viele ich weiß, nicht jedes Ballett.

    Hier gibt es in Stuttgart wieder Vorstellungen, danz zaghaft, jetzt wieder ganz groß Mayerling,
    Das Ballett beschreibt die Tragödie von Mayerling und Kronprinz Rudolf und Mary Vetsera.
    Vielleicht kann ich das einmal sehen. Im Moment steht mir nicht der Sinn danach, denn mit Maske und den Auflagen, da mache ich nicht mit.
    Und deine Prärierose gefällt mir schon sehr gut.
    Habe ein schönes Wochenende und einen lieben Gruß Eva

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I know the tragedy of Mayerling, but did not know there is a ballet also. We wish that theatres and operas can give their performances again in late February. This has been a difficult time for music groups, singers and actors. Many have lost their income.

      Poista
  2. I have always been a big ballet fan, but probably also because I danced ballet by myself as a child. I love how they dance and express the story of a piece in the movements. Swan Lake is one of my favorite performances. I envy that you were able to see it on TV, I would love to see it again.

    ...and yes, this flower really looks like a ballet skirt. Hope you are doing good and everything is alright after the snow-storm at your place.

    Wishing you a sunny and chilling weekend. Greetings and hugs

    Nova☼

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Oh, you have danced ballet as a little girl. So you know the terms and movements and can appreciate great performance!

      Poista
  3. Ballet is very graceful. Love the white flowers. Have a wonderful day.

    VastaaPoista
  4. Herrliche Fotos, liebe Riitta. Ich liebe das Balett.. hachz! Herzlichst, Nicole

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I love ballet too, the dancers are spectacular!

      Poista
  5. Thank you for the visit to the Ballet ... In this Moment I hear the Music ;-)
    Have a nice weekend and Greetings from Germany
    Kirsi

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Tsaikovsky’s music is one of my favourites!

      Poista
  6. Oh, I havn't had a chance to see and enjoy Ballet in my life. Must be so elegant and graceful♬  I LOVE the last picture you added. And Yes, Thankyou so much fro adding the White Flowers.
    Sending lots of love from Japan, miyako

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I wish you are able to see a ballet some day Miyako!

      Poista
  7. Beautiful images of the ballet performances. So graceful!

    VastaaPoista
  8. The photos are wonderful. Let's hope, we can go to performances again. The flowers are a promise of spring.
    Magdalena

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I think the whole world is eagerly looking forward to this pandemic to end!

      Poista
  9. How nice, those Japanese roses! It looks like snow.
    Bon week-end!
    Astrid

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Ballet skirts & snow, you are so right Astrid!

      Poista
  10. How nice!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Happy weekend, Riitta!

    VastaaPoista
  11. I love ballet... love love love. I danced ballet for years until an injury stopped me. How beautiful the pictures are of the dancers, thank you

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Oh, you have danced ballet also. Sorry for your injury. Have a nice weekend.

      Poista
  12. Beautiful Riitta! When I was a teen I was smitten with ballet dancers and practiced a lot on them for drawing people and faces.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I love the paintings of ballet dancers by Edgar Degas 💕

      Poista
  13. The last reflective shot is beautiful. We can have theatre (and seated performances) but not concerts with dancing and where the audience might sing. And there are rumored to be police at concerts that go ahead to make sure the audience doesn't sing. I have no idea how true that is. I think it's to fine the performer if they encourage it. It's a weird time!

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. It is a weird time. Finland probably gets rid of all covid restrictions by mid February. I’ll still be careful.

      Poista
  14. Dear Riita,
    you are right, the flowers you are showing today go well with the ballet skirts! :-) I believe you that the ballet performance on TV is not comparable to a live ballet, but both have advantages. On TV you can often see the actors better and closer than from a seat in the theater... And you don't have to wear a mask at home ;-))
    Hugs and best wishes, Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/02/mutze-schal-handschuhe-neue.html

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. I would love to see this live, the dancers were so skilful.

      Poista
  15. Me habría encantado verlo. Las flores blancas son preciosas. Besos.

    VastaaPoista
  16. Yo que soy un enamorado de la danza y de la música clásica, pienso igual que tu, que lo primero (la danza) es para verlo en directo, y para lo segundo, (la música clásica) no es tan importante, ya que basta con cerrar los ojos y pensar que estás en la sala de conciertos.
    Y es para felicitar a ese grupo de Ballet, por esos cien años, en los que seguro que han tenido que superar difíciles situaciones, como las secuelas de la guerra civil de Finlandia de 1918, que según me dijiste un día duró décadas, la gran depresión, la segunda guerra mundial, etc. etc. por lo que se merecen mi aplauso y todos mis respetos por este Centenario.
    Tu entrada como siempre, una preciosidad, así como tu flores.
    Cordiales saludos, amiga Riitta.

    VastaaPoista
    Vastaukset
    1. Gracias por tu comentario querido Manuel,

      La Guerra Civil Finlandesa fue rápida y terminó en medio año en 1918. Pero sus traumas han afectado a la gente durante décadas, ciertamente al igual que la Guerra Civil Española. En 2018, Finlandia celebró el final de la Guerra Civil hace cien años y se publicó muchos libros sobre el tema.

      Saludos, riitta

      Poista
  17. I love Ballet and these photos feature some fantastic performances. The featured flowers are so beautiful and goes well with ballet. So true, these flowers look like ballet skirts.
    Have a great day!
    Amila - leisureandme.com

    VastaaPoista

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