Ballet Favorites

I guess this is the best place for this thread, although arguably it could go in theater as well. Mods, feel free to move if appropriate...
What's your favorite ballet and what performances have you seen?

My favorites would probably be Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Prokofiev's Cinderella and Romeo & Juliet, Deliebes' Coppelia, and Stravinsky's FIrebird. Of these, I've seen Swan Lake and Cinderella performed live. I have also seen Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (who hasn't? ;)) and love the music to his Sleeping Beauty.

I have seen Prokoviev's Cinderella performed live, in Manchester (stunning) seen the slightly querky modern production where it was based around a film set, with Charlie Chaplin, and, with considerable difficulty, many years ago (easier now!) got the whole of the score on CD. Superb music.

One of my favourite ballets. I think, for me, it is the simplicity of the orchestration. These are not complicated tunes, but they are haunting, and stick in the brain, and are likely to be hummed at odd moments during the day. Surely the mark of superb music. It stays with you.

I've seen nearly all of the classic ballets several times except for Coppelia which I will see in February or March for the first time.

My favourite is probably Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet, it's just an amazing ballet and the music is perfect. I am going to see it again at the end of this month.

One of my favourite ballets. I think, for me, it is the simplicity of the orchestration. These are not complicated tunes, but they are haunting, and stick in the brain, and are likely to be hummed at odd moments during the day. Surely the mark of superb music. It stays with you.

I know what you mean. On occasion those pieces suddenly pop into my head out of nowhere. No idea why but they stick for a while.

My favourite is probably Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet, it's just an amazing ballet and the music is perfect. I am going to see it again at the end of this month.

Oh, I am so jealous!:grumble: Every time Romeo & Juliet has ever played in or near Cleveland, I've not been able to go for some reason, and I want to see it desperately! My sister saw it back when the old Cleveland Ballet company was in existence, and she was absolutely enthralled by it--it's her favorite ballet as well. I've seen the Cleveland Orchestra perform music from the score, and I own the whole thing on CD--yes, the music is perfect!

Now I have seen Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Giselle, The Nutcracker and I am going to see Sleeping Beauty, and I have such a hard time choosing which one I like best. Romeo and Juliet had to be one of the most emotional ballets for me. Dont ask me why but I cried through the whole second half. Carmen had to be the most exciting because of the music...I loved that music. The Nutcracker is just a tradition and is so much fun to watch. Swan Lake, has to be the most inspiring, since I am a dancer. Giselle I think for the time being, is my favorite though. The choreography, the music, and the story all fit together. The ending, with the pas de deux with Giselle and the prince was just exquisite and I would do anything to see it again.

Now I have seen Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Giselle, The Nutcracker and I am going to see Sleeping Beauty, and I have such a hard time choosing which one I like best. Romeo and Juliet had to be one of the most emotional ballets for me. Dont ask me why but I cried through the whole second half. Carmen had to be the most exciting because of the music...I loved that music. The Nutcracker is just a tradition and is so much fun to watch. Swan Lake, has to be the most inspiring, since I am a dancer. Giselle I think for the time being, is my favorite though. The choreography, the music, and the story all fit together. The ending, with the pas de deux with Giselle and the prince was just exquisite and I would do anything to see it again.

May I ask which choreographer did Carmen? I've seen Carmen in a ballet by a Dutch choreographer. Was it in a classical setting or modern?

I think I only saw Giselle once or twice and it's been a while, but I remember I really liked it.

Oh, I love The Nutcracker. It's my fav of all time. I also enjoy the music to Sleeping Beauty.

The Carmen one, Jean Grand-Maitre choreographed it. I think it was a mix of both modern and classical settings. the story was the same, while some of the dancing was done with a bit more with a contemporary flare to it. Either way it was great. I saw it performed by Ballet British Columbia.

Does anyone have any feed back on Sleeping Beauty, I am going to see it soon and I was wondering if anyone had anything to say about it. Good or bad.

The Carmen one, Jean Grand-Maitre choreographed it. I think it was a mix of both modern and classical settings. the story was the same, while some of the dancing was done with a bit more with a contemporary flare to it. Either way it was great. I saw it performed by Ballet British Columbia.

It sounds awesome. The version I saw was in a modern setting (a bit West Side Story like)


Does anyone have any feed back on Sleeping Beauty, I am going to see it soon and I was wondering if anyone had anything to say about it. Good or bad.

The music is great, really a typical Tsjaikovski. I can't tell you anything about the choreography unless it by Sir Peter Wright . As for the decors, the version I've seen was very classical, with a lot of gold.

Oh well, the version I am seeing is by Marius Petitpa...so I guess you cant help me. But I have seen other ballets by him and I have always seemed to like them. I have confidence that it will be beautiful. I LOVE the music to Sleeping Beauty...it gives me chills. In my ballet class a few weeks ago I learnt the Aurora Varitation from the first act. Its a beautiful variation, but a very challenging role.

All I really want for my birthday is tickets to see the Moscow Ballet perform The Nutcracker. They are coming to where I live this christmas and I missed seeing it when I was 5 and I still am quite sad about that...yes I have dragged it on for a while :(. But the tickets are quite a bit more expensive then the other ones...and I am hoping to go :) Again, any feedback on the Moscow...even though I am sure they are amazing!

oh and if you ever EVER get tired of me asking questions...please just let me know :) I know I can get very annoying. But thank you so much for all of your answers :)

Oh well, the version I am seeing is by Marius Petitpa...so I guess you cant help me. But I have seen other ballets by him and I have always seemed to like them. I have confidence that it will be beautiful. I LOVE the music to Sleeping Beauty...it gives me chills. In my ballet class a few weeks ago I learnt the Aurora Varitation from the first act. Its a beautiful variation, but a very challenging role.

Marius Petipa is the original choreographer of the Sleeping Beauty and the version I saw was based on that, only slightly updated.

It's said that the Sleeping Beauty is one of the most challenging ballets, asks a lot of the dancers.

Hope you enjoy it!


oh and if you ever EVER get tired of me asking questions...please just let me know :) I know I can get very annoying. But thank you so much for all of your answers :)

Ask away, that's what the thread is for :D

I noticed that as you said, Sleeping Beauty has to be on of the hardest...I looked up some videos on youtube and they are amazing!!!! I am pretty excited and I am sure I will enjoy it.

So for another question :)...since I am great at those...who are some of your favorite dancers??

So for another question :)...since I am great at those...who are some of your favorite dancers??

My favorite dancers are mainly from the Dutch National Ballet since I go there regularly and thus know them pretty well.

I don't have favorite dancers that aren't active anymore and whom I've only seen on TV. A dancer like Margot Fonteyn was great, but seeing them in real life is always better then on TV.

One of my favorite active dancers is Sofiane Sylve from the New York City Ballet, she danced with the Dutch National Ballet for years untill she transferred to New York.

I've seen Swan Lake by the St. Petersburg Ballet at the Russian NAtional Ballet perform The Nutcracker, which is my all time fav ballet.

I loved the second pas de quatre from Sleeping Beauty, very quirky. I'd love to dance to it. Has anyone heard the music from The Magic Toy Shop by Rossini and Resphegi? 9sorry if his name is wrong! That brill.

I love ballet music. I've got allsorts of russian pieces, my fave from proki (i call him that cos i cant spel his name - the romeo and juliet/ luteninent kije guy). All time fave? nothing beats Tchaikovsky!!!

My little ones just danced the nutcraker,so guess which one is my favorte at the moment,but i do love Carmina Burana

I love the music to Pineapple Poll :)

I loved Swan Lake when I got to see it. I've seen it twice, one by the National Ballet Company here in Canada and the other by the Company in Kiev..can't remember what it was called. >.<

Another one of my favourites is Sleeping Beauty.

Has anyone ever seen La Sylphide? I've been waiting for it to come here, but I don't think it's going to anytime soon. :( Or if anyone even still performs it...

And one more thing...Ahhh...I'm soo excited. This year, my cities ballet season is looking amazing. Peter Pan (RWB), Giselle (ABT) aaand Romeo and Juliet (NBC). :B

Anyone knows where I could see on line or at least listen to the full Copelia ballet?

I have seen Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet last week in Lucerne (yes, I'm from Switzerland). It was really great. Most of all, I liked the balcony scene.