Rudolf Nureyev Sleeping Beauty Variations

[@marymanessis8502]

Thank you for this video

[@VaingloriousGabagool]

Wonderful video, thank you sir

[@classicalaid1]

I have seen many of the Nureyev National Ballet of Canada Sleeping Beauty ballets live. About a hundred times. I was there almost every night for years. Mesmerizing. Just the other afternoon, I was chatting with Nureyev's partner, Nadia Potts, prima ballerina. We were both attending the filmed version of Nureyev's Paris Opera Ballet IMAX Swan Lake. Potts and Nureyev partnered for four years. I also know another of his Canadian partners, Veronica Tennant. They are both grateful for his elevating their company and teaching them a great deal.

[@KentGBecker]

@@classicalaid1 thanks! You have much history with Nureyev with over a hundred viewings

[@cheriestl]

Truely elegant and important!

[@cheriestl]

He clearly captured the public’s attention in the West.

[@tarantellalarouge7632]

thanks you for the video and analysis. It is possible to see the whole choreography of Sleeping Beauty by Nureyev on YT with Sylvie Guillem and Laurent Hilaire (who are from the generation named "les bébés Nureyev" at POB). For me, it is the best version of this ballet on YT, both for Prince Desiree and Princess Aurora ! it is difficult to do better .... I think that many versions of Nureyev choreographies are still danced at POB

[@Superpeacenik]

Thank you very much for the video. There is always so much to learn from it. In La Scala's Sleeping Beauty, Roberto Bolle danced a very similar version of Desire's Act II variation. The full recording of this 2002 performance is available on KZbin (with Diana Vishneva as Aurora).

[@KentGBecker]

@@Superpeacenik thanks! It's interesting to compare Nureyev and Bolle doing the same steps.

[@kathleenoneill7414]

I love your videos! ❤

[@KentGBecker]

@@kathleenoneill7414 thanks for tuning in!

[@Sergio.x.Madonna]

The National Ballet of Canada still does this production of Sleeping Beauty which I'm thankful for. I've seen it 4 times now, the first was back in 2009. I'm pretty sure the variation is still there. But I'm not sure if they kept the original. It seems like the Paris Opera Ballet is under Nureyev's choregraphy with updates before the 4th variation (and perhaps others too). The travelling is omitted before the bournville allegro, perhaps they find it too awkward and made the transition smoother? overall i love this analysis!!

[@KentGBecker]

@@Sergio.x.Madonna thanks for the details on the versions. Probably most productions have changes over time

[@kuramahieikuramahiei]

You finally talk about nureyev!! How exciting. I know you are a baryshnikov fan.

[@KentGBecker]

@@kuramahieikuramahiei I'm a fan of both! But you're right, I have many more Baryshnikov videos.

[@GrandOldMovies]

The music in the first variation you analyzed in the video is I believe the Gold Variation from the 3rd act ("Wedding") of The Sleeping Beauty. It's part of the section of Gold-Silver-Diamond solos. I'm assuming Nureyev moved it to the 2nd act ("Vision") to give the Prince a solo, since traditionally Desire doesn't have a solo in this act. I love watching older films (1960s through early 1970s) of Nureyev, in which you see not only his jumping power but how clean his technique was, how complete his turnout, and how stretched out were his legs and feet. In her Nureyev biography, Julie Kavanaugh said that Nureyev was influenced by the older Soviet-era ballerinas he partnered (before he defected) to work on his turnout and leg/feet line. This then influenced male dancers in the West. I've watched older films (from the 1950s-early 1960s) of dancers like Jacques D'Amboise and Edward Villella, and they lacked that kind of clean footwork, but Nureyev's influence really made a difference for male dancers today. I saw him onstage from the late 1970s through the 1980s. He was no longer the dancer you see in the earlier films (per the Kavanaugh biography, his body had stiffened considerably by then, mainly from overwork), but he always brought such excitement to his performances. You just knew he wanted to be no place else but onstage dancing!

[@KentGBecker]

Thanks for the detailed info! I thought that he might have swapped variations from another act. I think the Prince also has another, much longer variation in his Act II. Must have been a thrill to see him dance, something I never experienced.

[@sandatoacsen9858]

🧚💋💖

[@pheebsbee1280]

Compared to Baryshnikov and Polunin, Nureyev was a little heavy on his feet and less athletic.

[@neuzapinheirotorres3940]

Ninguém tinha a elegância nem a alma tão transbordante ao dançar. Pura poesia.❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@gonefishing167]

Thank you so much. Many, many years ago my sister and I took our mum to see Nureyev dance. Wonderful experience. I do remember my sister saying that she was so surprised at the male dance. She thought their role was to mainly just hold the ballerina? 🩰. I may not have explained this very well but - it was a magical night 🩰🩰🩰🩰🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@KentGBecker]

Thanks for sharing! Must have been a great experience. I never saw him live.

[@gonefishing167]

Thank you. It was many, many years ago and he was at the point of retiring. You’re right, I’ve never forgotten it. Very cherished memory.after saying that, what must have it been like to see Barishnikov dance? Oh my. Can’t have everything can we - but we could hope. 🩰🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺