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.
Bryan Hewison is Monsieur G.M.
nakis74 says
20 February 2012 at 06:09[..YouTube..] Sylvie is extraordinary She embodies Manon’s essence to perfection. Sensual, light, frivolous, an intoxicating combination of innocence and perversion. She rbings that irresistible French touch of hers to the part which no one has ever matched. The technique is superlative but it never shows, it becomes invisible yet extremely powerful since the movement just flows, naturally. Her Milanese Manon proved as if any prove was needed that Sylvie remains the supreme dancer of our times.
nakis74 says
20 February 2012 at 06:09Sylvie is extraordinary She embodies Manon’s essence to perfection. Sensual, light, frivolous, an intoxicating combination of innocence and perversion. She rbings that irresistible French touch of hers to the part which no one has ever matched. The technique is superlative but it never shows, it becomes invisible yet extremely powerful since the movement just flows, naturally. Her Milanese Manon proved as if any prove was needed that Sylvie remains the supreme dancer of our times.
Cloud Dance Festival (@clouddancefest) says
20 February 2012 at 09:11RT @gramilano: New Youtube video: Manon Act 2, the party scene, with Sylvie Guillem: http://t.co/R00AXZyj #ballet
Bob Thompson (@remitbt) says
20 February 2012 at 09:44RT @gramilano: Manon Act 2, the party scene, with Sylvie Guillem: http://t.co/VQwggUl6 #ballet – Brilliant ballet. great dancer
bob thompson says
20 February 2012 at 09:48There is something about older dancers in the Manon role. We saw Leanne Benjamin at the ROH in London last year with Steven McRae as Des Grieux. Despite being old enough to be his mother the chemistry between them was compelling and the performance red hot. Perhaps I am just getting old.
acuariosilvita says
20 February 2012 at 09:14[..YouTube..] Great dancer Sylvie Guillem!Bravooooo!I admire you!
acuariosilvita says
20 February 2012 at 09:14Great dancer Sylvie Guillem!Bravooooo!I admire you!
mademoiselleverte (@mademoiselle223) says
20 February 2012 at 10:49“@gramilano: New Youtube video: Manon Act 2, the party scene, with Sylvie Guillem: http://t.co/wRFi6hoD #ballet”
Grazie!Her Manon was great!
Nakis says
20 February 2012 at 10:55Sylvie Guillem is the ideal Manon and will always be so. She has brought lightness, charm, sensuality as well as an irresistible Frencht ouch to this role which no other dancer has matched. It was at the end of Manon’s variation on the January 27th performance at La Scala when someone from the audience shouted out “Diviina”. He was right and simply expressed what every single member of that audience of La Scala felt about Sylvie.
SuperBalletgirl101 says
20 February 2012 at 12:05[..YouTube..] As gorgeous as ever.
SuperBalletgirl101 says
20 February 2012 at 12:05As gorgeous as ever.
Tiburonian says
20 February 2012 at 16:03[..YouTube..] Magnificent. What I used to love so much in “Manon” is here in her performance; I haven’t enjoyed watching “Manon” as much as this since the 80’s and before. Thank you so much for uploading this.
Tiburonian says
20 February 2012 at 16:03Magnificent. What I used to love so much in “Manon” is here in her performance; I haven’t enjoyed watching “Manon” as much as this since the 80’s and before. Thank you so much for uploading this.
etik421 says
23 February 2012 at 06:14[..YouTube..] Sylvie toujours imitée, jamais égalée….
etik421 says
23 February 2012 at 06:14Sylvie toujours imitée, jamais égalée….
(@mademoiselle223) (@mademoiselle223) says
23 February 2012 at 07:15Joyeux anniversaire avec toute mon admiration et fasse que vous soyez toujours heureux…
Manon Act 2, http://t.co/4W2WI06a via @AddThis
Ravel1299 says
29 February 2012 at 14:42[..YouTube..] One of my dearest hopes is to watch her dance as the member of the audience someday.
Ravel1299 says
29 February 2012 at 14:42One of my dearest hopes is to watch her dance as the member of the audience someday.
sangfroidjen says
17 March 2012 at 18:47[..YouTube..] If I could give this 10,000 thumbs up I would do it.
sangfroidjen says
17 March 2012 at 18:47If I could give this 10,000 thumbs up I would do it.
312charlene says
10 April 2012 at 06:25[..YouTube..] cant believe she’s already in her 40s
312charlene says
10 April 2012 at 06:25cant believe she’s already in her 40s
emoose111 says
17 April 2012 at 16:09[..YouTube..] yes she’s about 45 here, amazing right?
emoose111 says
17 April 2012 at 16:09yes she’s about 45 here, amazing right?
fabiesque says
25 April 2012 at 03:22[..YouTube..] Sylvie has spoiled us. She is the peak. After her: darkness
fabiesque says
25 April 2012 at 03:22Sylvie has spoiled us. She is the peak. After her: darkness
RedCloudBeechWaveAhh says
9 May 2012 at 08:51[..YouTube..] excited to see her work for 1st time, I watch. First 3 minutes: a great athlete; but entirely uniform, same level, same dynamic throughout, one minute the same as the next, but so is the musical performance; I love to watch her, but nothing changes from moment to moment. Am I too harsh–perhaps, but I am aware only of what I see and hear, no malice intended. If this is the height of ballet performance, we need to have a higher standard. Ok, now I watch the rest…I think maybe I expect too much
RedCloudBeechWaveAhh says
9 May 2012 at 08:51excited to see her work for 1st time, I watch. First 3 minutes: a great athlete; but entirely uniform, same level, same dynamic throughout, one minute the same as the next, but so is the musical performance; I love to watch her, but nothing changes from moment to moment. Am I too harsh–perhaps, but I am aware only of what I see and hear, no malice intended. If this is the height of ballet performance, we need to have a higher standard. Ok, now I watch the rest…I think maybe I expect too much
RedCloudBeechWaveAhh says
9 May 2012 at 08:55[..YouTube..] (2)… I expect too much from ballet. It is clear that she is a great ballerina, almost a perfect one. Here she also keeps the level of intensity, the dynamic, uniform, so I dont feel anything different from moment to moment, but it is a joy to see such fluency, ease. It is as if her technique transcends to the extent that she has total freedom to express something. She mostly doesn’t use that to create something new. She is gorgeous and such a master that it’s a pleasure to witness this. Also
RedCloudBeechWaveAhh says
9 May 2012 at 08:55(2)… I expect too much from ballet. It is clear that she is a great ballerina, almost a perfect one. Here she also keeps the level of intensity, the dynamic, uniform, so I dont feel anything different from moment to moment, but it is a joy to see such fluency, ease. It is as if her technique transcends to the extent that she has total freedom to express something. She mostly doesn’t use that to create something new. She is gorgeous and such a master that it’s a pleasure to witness this. Also
RedCloudBeechWaveAhh says
9 May 2012 at 08:58[..YouTube..] (3)… here timing and rhythm are very precise. She does not do something especially expressive or personal, but her relationship with the motion of the music is right on, she is in perfect unison with it. Any SG lovers forgive me, but I did want to say something challenging to the norm, since I didnt share the general opinion compietely. Ok, onward and upward, dancers!
RedCloudBeechWaveAhh says
9 May 2012 at 08:58(3)… here timing and rhythm are very precise. She does not do something especially expressive or personal, but her relationship with the motion of the music is right on, she is in perfect unison with it. Any SG lovers forgive me, but I did want to say something challenging to the norm, since I didnt share the general opinion compietely. Ok, onward and upward, dancers!
nakis74 says
11 May 2012 at 04:34[..YouTube..] I have seen many Manons and personally I feel Sylvie is the one who does someting very personnal and fascinating with this variation. You can see and feel her sensuality combined with a sense of frivolity and perversity. For her it is like a game she plays it light, she is never heavy like so many others or calculating and this is what makes her death scene later on in the ballet so appealing and moving. She is simply caught in the evolution of the various events which will lead to tragedy.
nakis74 says
11 May 2012 at 04:34I have seen many Manons and personally I feel Sylvie is the one who does someting very personnal and fascinating with this variation. You can see and feel her sensuality combined with a sense of frivolity and perversity. For her it is like a game she plays it light, she is never heavy like so many others or calculating and this is what makes her death scene later on in the ballet so appealing and moving. She is simply caught in the evolution of the various events which will lead to tragedy.
plumplumpudding says
12 June 2012 at 13:24[..YouTube..] LA DEESSE DE LA DANSE
plumplumpudding says
12 June 2012 at 13:24LA DEESSE DE LA DANSE
fabiesque says
12 July 2012 at 15:28you did not feel that way if you would have been there. Live is different. I can tell you…as a matter of fact I am the one who yells “BRAVA” at the end of the variation…(-:
Carol Reese says
14 July 2012 at 19:19[..YouTube..] Thank you so much for posting. I lost a video of one of her New York Manons and have been longing to see this scene again. She is beyond perfection.
Carol Reese says
14 July 2012 at 19:19Thank you so much for posting. I lost a video of one of her New York Manons and have been longing to see this scene again. She is beyond perfection.
Doolie2209 says
30 August 2012 at 05:45wow, she has AMAZING pointe
zzp1 says
25 September 2012 at 03:39She is not only one of today’ top performers but also one of the most versatile. Like Darcy Bussell a class of her own indeed. Powerful, elegant and powerful elegant.
Zaza6076 says
1 November 2012 at 21:53I agree with Red! Nice dancer exquisite mastery of movement, yes, but all on the same plane. For a story ballet it’s a bit dull.
cjaquay29 says
24 March 2013 at 18:13Legend
BeauvoirSartre says
7 April 2013 at 02:41Agree with ZaZa 6076. Technical excellence replaced art , became the art self. And where is the man with his fear, love, despair, delight?But Silvie – one of the best as Master.
celestialheath says
7 May 2013 at 19:2746? … She is 46 here????? Holy hell… I thought I was all washed up, but apparently I still have ~14 more years to make a career of this crazy thing called ballet… Heh, of course Sylvie is clearly an alien/cyborg/genetically engineered marvel of modern technology… but still: an inspiration none the less.
shirley leah says
22 June 2013 at 21:29Sylvie appears weightless – how does she do it?
gnguyen411 says
21 July 2013 at 18:59Every time I tried watching this, I only notice Sylvie dancing. It’s only till she stands still do I realized that there’s people in the background. And even then I have to focus really hard to figure out what the other people are doing. That’s what the main lead, the prima ballerina, should be capable of doing.
C. Weltscheff says
22 July 2013 at 08:48boring!
balletrose63 says
26 July 2013 at 09:073:01 AHAHAHA I tought he was dying