La Sylphide

La Sylphide is a ballet choreographed for the Danish Ballet by a 25-year-old who became legendary to music composed by a 20-year-old for whom this is the only music that has survived. A Danish version of a French Ballet set in Scotland complete with witches borrowed from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. A scaled-down Austin Symphony occupied the pit, only the tympani is afforded any breathing room; the bassoons with the French horns at their backs gained my immediate sympathy. No wonder they wear ear plugs. The million dollar sets and costumes borrowed from the Boston Ballet sparkled.

I was surprised to note that not a single principal dancer with the Austin Ballet comes from Austin, indeed there were only two from all of Texas. The part of the witch was played by the ballet’s associate director who hales from Alberta Canada, giving the boss a hard time must have created a bit of a laugh on stage. One assumes the ballet slippers used by the sylphs afford a modicum of support but the effect on stage was of the clacking of a small herd of elephants, competing loudly with the music. One wonders why all those woman were competing for the attentions of the balding lothario who played James.

Half a page of the program is devoted to acknowledging the medical staff who support the dancers. Austin audiences not noted it seems for punctuality the performance began 15 minutes late and the first half lasted barely half an hour. At intermission the patrons quickly departed their specially draped seats to run quaff their complimentary champagne. The things one must do to raise funds to support the arts.

La Sylphide is in the National Ballet of Canada’s repertoire so I know I’ve seen it as part of a larger program but can’t say as I remember it. Canadians it would seem get more pliés for their bucks. The educational material supplied on the ballet’s web site was quite informative as was the 45 minute Footlights program before the performance. Pity more people don’t show up early to see it.

Much was made during the talk of the pantomime used by this choreographer. Given the distance from the stage these motions were difficult to discern even with binoculars. What one could see from the back of the upper balcony one wonders. There were a lot of empty seats last night. An opening night performance the dancers were joined for their bows by the conductor and the artistic director who brought flowers for the two leading ladies. A ballet company led by a choreographer, one suspects the associate director’s position is far from honorary.