January 27, 2010
Sylvia
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2010 A ballet whose score proved highly influential on Tchaikovsky’s much better-known Swan Lake is to be staged for the first time by the Tokyo Ballet. Set to varied and ambitious music by Leo Delibes, Sylvia debuted in 1876 just after Swan Lake, which Tchaikovsky called “poor stuff in […]
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2010
Photo by Enrico Nawrath
A ballet whose score proved highly influential on Tchaikovsky’s much better-known Swan Lake is to be staged for the first time by the Tokyo Ballet. Set to varied and ambitious music by Leo Delibes, Sylvia debuted in 1876 just after Swan Lake, which Tchaikovsky called “poor stuff in comparison.” The action follows the love affair between the chaste nymph Sylvia and a simple shepherd boy, Aminta, as they become hapless pawns of petulant Greek gods. Sylvia remained forgotten until British choreographic legend Sir Frederick Ashton revived it in 1952. Russian muse Polina Semionova stars as Sylvia and Brazilian heartthrob Marcelo Gomes as Aminta.
Sylvia
The Tokyo Ballet performs the Delibes classic for the first time, starring Polina Semionova and Marcelo Gomes. Feb 26, 6:30pm; Feb 28, 3pm, ¥3,000-¥13,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Ueno. Tel: 03-3791-8888.
