"Scottish Symphony" by George Balanchine
"La Sylphide" by August Bournonville
The Old Stage on September 2nd and 5th, 2023
One always looks forward to the new season. The first program this year features George Balanchine's "Scottish Symphony" and August Bournonville's "La Sylphide." Balanchine was inspired to create his ballet in 1952, set to the third symphony of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. The Royal Danish Ballet has never performed this ballet before.
Scottish Symphony
The ballet features a solo sylph and a solo Scotchman as the leading characters. At the premiere, principals Holly Dorger and Jonathan Chmelensky danced their parts in their usual international style. The second cast included Danish principal Emma Riis-Kofoed and Danish soloist Sebastian Pico Haynes, who danced their roles with a more harmonious style. In fact, it was the best performance we have seen from Emma Riis-Kofoed.
Similar to "La Sylphide," the couple must not touch each other, but it is the Scotchmen who protect her from the solo Scotchman, not the Sylphs, until the end when the Solo Sylph, Solo Scotchman, Scotchmen, and Sylphs all dance together. "Scottish Symphony" is not an action ballet; it aims to create the feeling of old Scotland.
La Sylphide
"La Sylphide" is the only Bournonville ballet in this season. Nikolaj Hübbe's third attempt at "La Sylphide" had its premiere on October 24th, 2020, under Corona restrictions, receiving excellent reviews.
This time, Nikolaj Hübbe chose two of his principal dancers, Stephanie Chen Gundorph and Alexander Bozinoff, to make their debuts as The Sylph and James. Gundorph is a tall and very expressive dancer, while Bozinoff danced his James rather mechanically.
Stephanie Chen Gundorph performed quite well. However, she will need more experience to build an outstanding performance. It might take some time to develop the role. Luckily, she proved that she can get there soon.
In the second performance, the leading roles were given to principal Wilma Giglio as the Sylph and principal Jon Axel Fransson as James. Especially Jon Axel Fransson delivered an outstanding performance. He had previously danced the premiere in 2020 with Ida Praetorius. Both Praetorius and Andreas Kaas, who partnered with Wilma Giglio, are currently on leave from The Royal Danish Ballet.
Christina Hammari and Esther Lee Wilkinson shared the roles as the witch Madge in this production.
The evening also demonstrated that Nikolaj Hübbe and his team can and will continue to perform the Bournonville ballets.
We are hopeful for many more years of the company performing. Bournonville's legacy can remain strong for the Royal Danish Ballet.
The question is whether Nikolaj Hübbe can secure significant ballets for the company. This will require establishing relationships with professional ballet creators. Currently, the RDB has too few in-house creators.
I can't wait to see better ballets at RDB, but I won't wait much longer.
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