At the beginning of 2011 an extraordinary happening occurred in the ballet world…
Sylvie Guillem, who had almost given up her pointe shoes and had been focusing on contemporary dance, returned to one of her most celebrated roles, Manon.
Kenneth MacMillan's ballet had won her praise all over the world, so the 46 year-old was certainly taking a gamble, but one which paid off magnificently. The three performances at Milan's La Scala were a triumph.
Here she dances with Massimo Murru the first act pas de deux, set in the bedroom of Des Grieux's lodgings in Paris.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
RT @gramilano: New YouTube video: Manon, Act 1, the bedroom pas de deux with Sylvie Guillem and Massimo Murru: http://t.co/3cNfoTCe #
[..YouTube..] She is light, coquettish, a young girl in love who will soon be torn between her feelings for De Grieux (marvellous Massimo Murru) and her need for luxury (the other two extracts from Manon at the party scene and her death scene complement her portrayal admirably). This is Sylvie Guillem revealing the very soul of MacMillans ballet. Lets hope that more theaters in Europe will follow La Scala”s example and the audience will have another chance to witness the genius of the Divine Sylvie as Manon.
[..YouTube..] Quel immense bonheur!!! merci mille fois gramilano pour cette vidéo (et les autres)…Sylvie Guillem est vraiment la plus grande danseuse du monde!
[..YouTube..] If an alien from another world ever were to ask to see female human beauty in movement…i”m showing him/her this!!!!!!!
If an alien from another world ever were to ask to see female human beauty in movement…i”m showing him/her this!!!!!!!
Quel immense bonheur!!! merci mille fois gramilano pour cette vidéo (et les autres)…Sylvie Guillem est vraiment la plus grande danseuse du monde!
She is light, coquettish, a young girl in love who will soon be torn between her feelings for De Grieux (marvellous Massimo Murru) and her need for luxury (the other two extracts from Manon at the party scene and her death scene complement her portrayal admirably). This is Sylvie Guillem revealing the very soul of MacMillans ballet. Lets hope that more theaters in Europe will follow La Scala”s example and the audience will have another chance to witness the genius of the Divine Sylvie as Manon.
Got goosebumps watching that! it must have been amazing live, thank you for filming it!!
I love that she comes back after all these years and still brings just as many tears to my eyes. LOvely sylvie…never will your flame fade.
i love you forever Sylvie
This woman will be dancing till she’s 80!
I would love to dance Eugene Onegin with Ms. Guillem, but I guess I’d be too young for her. I saw her in class when SFB was touring in London, and I fell in love …with the intelligence of her dancing.