Red Cardinal: white

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

BLUE AND WHITE AT THE BALLET

Edgar Degas "Blue Dancers" c. 1890

The Australian Ballet is back in town - goody!!

I went to see the double-bill "Imperial Suite" program...

Two ballets I've not previously seen -

gorgeous classical dance, not narrative stories, just achingly beautiful poetic motion....

Ballet Imperial (1951) choreography by George Balanchine, a tribute to the spirit of Russian ballet, an homage to Petipa and Tchaikovsky - the music was the Concerto No 2 in G for Piano and Orchestra Op. 44.

Our much-loved Qld Symphony Orchestra was in the pit,

and the dancers wore a symphony of deep blues and purples - the Imperial blue and white of the Winter Palace.

Serge Lifar's 'showpiece' ballet, Suite en Blanc (1943) -

created for the Paris Opera Ballet, a dazzling and difficult display, a rare gem of the Australian Ballet's repertoire.

I loved it to bits...

From the magical opening - white on a black background, dozens of dancers artfully arrayed -

to the exciting and spectacular ending...

In the cool of the morning, I looked out to see this pesky, garden-destroying pest, perched high on our neighbours' roof:

Behold the Australian brush turkey, the enemy of all Brisbane gardens and gardeners...

They can barely, fly, so why did he make the effort to go up there?

AAAHHHHH - that would explain it!!

After a while, Mr Turkey managed to flutter across the adjoining fence and into our gum tree, where he perched, and sulked, while I took photos..

Eventually he managed to climb down, and go about his business.

Which would be scratching around in the mulch looking for food, tossing said mulch all about the lawns and paths, making a mound for hatching eggs, and creating havoc, and making his turkey gobble noise.

Begone, turkey pest - go back to the bush!