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Another Night with Teatro alla Scala
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Sylvie Guillem
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By Don Kolman
The Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company completed its Southern California stay at the Orange County Performing Arts Centers Segerstrom Hall Sunday afternoon, July 15th, with a final performance of Sylvie Guillem's interpretation of the ballet classic Giselle. This performance was received with thunderous applause by a full capacity house.
Miss Guillem states in the final line of her Program Notes, "This ballet is not a creation, but rather the result of meditation -- an interpretation of life". Guillem can certainly not be criticized for an inconsistent interpretation -- she is most definitely consistent from the beginning of the overture of Act I to the final curtain of Act II. Her vision appears to be one of late nineteenth century grit and grime.
The lighting during the overture prologue is so dark that unless one is seated in the first few rows, it is difficult to see what is happening. In Act I, the usual romanticized peasant costumes have been replaced by drab black and brown ones, and the typically quaint village has become a revolving wall that manages to reduce the size of the stage so dramatically that dancing becomes difficult for lack of space. Miss Guillem's own ankle length dress might be correct for the feeling she is trying to achieve, but it hides her legs and makes it impossible for the audience to see and appreciate her wonderful dancing. Miss Guillem dances Giselle with wonderful strength and precision. Her extensions are as magnificent as ever. The only problem with Miss Guillem's dancing is that, in the early stages of Act I, she dances with such strength and vigor that one wonders just how she will manage, by the end of the act, to become the fragile being who goes mad and dies when her true love proves false. She doesn't quite bring it off.
Massimo Murru, as Albrecht, is strong and attentive but doesn't really come into his own until Act II when both his partnering and dancing are outstanding. In the secondary roles, Deborah Gismondi and Antonio Sutera are a joy to behold in the peasant pas de deux. Miss Gismondi dances with exceptional grace and speed. Mr. Sutera is an outstanding partner and a powerful soloist. Francesco Ventriglia is both menacing and evil as Hilarion. The corps de ballet dances with verve and enthusiasm throughout.
The Wilis of Act II are no longer dressed in traditional white costumes but rather in individual mid-calf length wedding gowns. Gone are the menacing attitudes and gestures replaced by a group of girls who just love to dance and don't seem to realize that they are killing the men whom they force to dance along with them. Francesco Ventriglia dances with precision and his elevations are a pleasure to behold. Miss Guillem and Mr. Murru dance beautifully together. She appears completely relaxed and confident in their numerous, lovely, and dangerous lifts.
Sylvie Guillem may be commended for the creation of this clearly defined and well thought out production of Giselle. It is most assuredly not the traditional interpretation and thus will definitely not appeal to many long time balletomanes.
Teatro Alla Scala Ballet Company will be repeated: Amarcord and Carmen Wednesday July 11th at 8:00 p.m. Giselle will be presented on Friday, July 13 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, July 14th at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, July 15th at 2:00 p.m. at Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 740-7878 or (213) 365- 3500 or www.ocpac.org. $20-$80.
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