Last night I saw American Ballet Theater dance Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. The New York Times has a pretty derisive review of it today, but I liked their description of the production as a "workhorse". It's true-- it's a very traditional, theatrical production. It's the kind of production your boyfriend is thinking of when he rolls his eyes at the thought of going to the ballet.
But the music is incredible. Prokofiev wrote two ballets, this one and Cinderella, and I love both of them so much. Even though I absolutely know Prokofiev was working in the early decades of the 20th century, I'm always surprised to remember it for some reason. Somewhere in my mind I think he lived in the 19th century, but it isn't true and there are lots of influences in his music to remind me of it. Early pop standards, Stravinsky, jazz. Prokofiev reminds me of Douglas Sirk because they both have this talent for hiding the sinister inside the saccharine... the love theme from Romeo and Juliet is a great example of this I think. It's way too much... swelled to the point of soap operatic, like it's poking fun at itself. I think he's much more earnest in little peeking moments... Juliet's dance with Paris at the ball is lovely, all chimes and flutes, light and moving beat to beat, little teenager's heartbeat. Or the couples' dance in Act II, which has this funny little chasing phrase in it. Like, lifting the edge of something to peer under it. He does this a lot.
The song of the knights at the ball-- this is the one that always makes it onto "Top 100 Classical Hits" compilations-- is the heaviest bloodflow of a song I've ever heard. It's like a river of blood just washing and washing over the stage. I love the choreography for it in the ABT production because it's just this slow, steady dance by the whole company and it looks incredible in costume. Like an army of late Medieval, early Renaissance paintings. That kind of heavy stillness.
And there's this phrase Prokofiev repeats over and over right at the end of the ballet-- in the ABT choreography it's when Juliet is stretching over the top of her tomb to touch Romeo's hand before she dies-- and it's so beautiful. The movement, but really the music. It's so quiet and calming, like a very sad lullaby. That's another thing I love about the score-- it seems to stress that these are kids, more than a little unaware of the consequences of their actions. Romeo and Juliet is one of those stories where the real tragedy is that it didn't have to be a tragedy.
Gillian Murphy danced Juliet. I thought she was lovely. It's funny because, she's so tall, it makes some things look ridiculous-- like her jumping into her nurse's lap-- and it makes other things look amazing, like when she reaches her arms up from the floor to clasp her father's neck in a plea not to marry Paris. These long, white arms just stretching and stretching. Juliet is a part with a lot of acting in it compared to the lead in other ballets, but the moments when she really dances were lovely. All the sinewy, flustered turns &lifts in the balcony scene with that pretty, thin skirt fluttering around her in the blue light.
Lincoln Center looks wonderful. The new LED banners on the risers of the front steps are a soft, cold white, and the new fountain is lovely at night. Afterwards I went to the Manhattan Center to say hello to some friends at the final night of Amma's annual visit to the city, but I had to leave and listen to the ballet on my headphones outside for a few minutes because it was way too much to go from ABT to a 24-hour kirtan in 45 minutes. New York is insane.
Psalm 147 (idiomatic translation)
Bring your devotion, for here is a fitting place: delightful and apt.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem, and gathers exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds their wounds. Discerns the number of stars, calling each by its name.
Great is the Lord, of great power. Of understanding beyond all among us. He sustains those who seek him, and leaves all else to their own ends.
So cry with praise to God, and make it music:
Who covers the sky with clouds and brings rain to the earth, grass to the mountains. Food to cattle and infant ravens.
Who does not delight in strength, of the horse nor the warrior. But revels in those who, in awe of his might, believe in his mercy.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Praise God, O Zion.
For he has braced your perimeters and graced you with descendents. Keeps peace around you and grain on your land.
He has struck the earth with his commandment, and it runs out swiftly. Here, where snow spreads like wool: frost sifts like ash, and shards of ice fall sharp on the landscape. So that you might endure it, he has sent his message. It brings wind, and fresh waters.
His words brought to Jacob, his judgments to Israel. But not so to others. Those who don’t yet know, don’t know.
Praise the Lord.
Luke 1:26-39 (idiomatic translation)
In those days there were miraculous preparations in advance of the child Christ.
At the time of the spring equinox, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, in Galilee, to the bride of Joseph, of the house of David. Joseph was betrothed to a young girl named Mary, daughter of Anne and conceived through union with the Holy Spirit. Mary lived in her own house.
Gabriel came to Mary, arms full of lilies to honor her. He said: hail Mary, you live in Grace. The Lord is with you.
And Mary was frightened of the angel’s intentions. Gabriel told her: try to be brave and calm, the path of your life has found favor with God. Even now, bright life grows inside you. You shall bear a son and name him Jesus; he will affect the earth greatly. He is the Son of the Most High, who will grant him the throne of David his father. He will rule the house of Jacob and his reign will never end.
Mary asked the angel how it could happen. She told him she had never slept with a man.
And the angel said: the Holy Spirit will come upon you, overcome you. The child to be born will not be the son of Joseph. He will be the Son of God. Gabriel said: I have been as well to Elizabeth, your cousin, past the age of bearing children. She too has conceived a child through assist of the Lord.
(The child Elizabeth carried would be John the Baptist.)
Gabriel said: Nothing is impossible for God.
Mary told the angel she was the servant of the Lord and that it should be done to her according to his plan.
And Gabriel left her.
And Mary made quick preparations to visit Elizabeth near the Old City of Jerusalem.