The Ballet of the Colon Theaterdirected by Mario Galizzi, the sumptuous production of Romeo and Juliet by the British choreographer Kenneth MacMillan (1929-1992); The work was first presented in 1965 in London and the Colón Stable Ballet has included it in their repertoire since 1990.
In the previous management Herrera pigeon Very sadly, only five performances of this title were scheduled to be performed by three pairs of protagonists.
This season, on the one hand, the roles of Romeo and Juliet have been assigned to four dancers of the Teatro Colón: Natalia Pelayo with Jiva Velázquez and Camila Bocca with Juan Pablo Ledo. The invited artists are those already scheduled from 2021: the Argentine Herman Cornejo and the American Isabella Boylston, both members of the American Ballet Theater in New York.
The word “unfortunately” fits here without exaggerating: perhaps most viewers do not imagine the long and intense hours of rehearsal that a montage like that of Romeo and Juliet: a multitude of events that take place on stage, the imposing scenography that the performers must make their own, the adaptation to the music of the orchestra (because the rehearsals, during most of the production, are done only with the accompaniment of the piano), the choreography itself and, as if that weren’t enough, the subtle mastery of the characters’ emotions.
We have to imagine all this and then think that the opportunity to vent the soul of this whole process occurs in a single performance, or at most in two: it is a real undertaking.
Undoubtedly, the profession of the dancer is one of the most difficult of the scene: it involves the body in its entirety, the most intimate emotions – which must be made visible without words – and the bonds that are established with the other characters. .
Awesome
The couple formed by Natalia Pelayo and Jiva Velázquez is scheduled for the show on Saturday 12 November. But, very fortunately, they were also assigned the function that we could call “preview” and which took place on Saturday 5th in a Teatro Colón absolutely crowded with audiences until the last corner of the row of heaven. The following comment deals with this function.
Let’s start by saying that the Romeo and Juliet by MacMillan can satisfy the most diverse tastes: those who simply love to see – through the goal of dance – one of the greatest love stories of all time; also those who appreciate the sheer spectacularity of MacMillan’s staging, Prokofiev’s soundtrack, massive sets and opulent costumes and original sets created by Nicholas Georgiadis.
And, finally, also of those who prefer to dwell on the particular way in which each interpreter interprets his or her role. In the latter sense, it must be said that Juliet by Natalia Pelayo has met all the expectations that could have been previously had: her journey through the three vital moments of the character is subtle and moving in their power.
The adolescent Juliet who discovers love with amazement, the passionate Juliet and the Juliet who resolutely faces death, are covered by Natalia Pelayo with a coherent evolution, of an authentic artistic truth. And perhaps it’s obvious how beautifully the role dances at all times.
As for Jiva Velázquez’s Romeo, there was also a dip in his character that seemed very profound and very real, beyond some slight hesitation in the strictly technical aspects.
The scene in which he enters masked at the Capulet party and discovers Juliet in the middle of the dance, is beautifully interpreted by this young and talented dancer: while he tries to seduce his first love, the haughty Rosalind who is also in the party, the his attention turns to Juliet very gradually, almost by chance: great.
Other great performances
And many noteworthy performances should also be highlighted by this cast. To begin with, that of that very difficult character that is Mercutio – mocking and provocative even when he is on the verge of death – that David Gómez has done in a wonderful way; Just like Gerardo Wiss in the role of Benvolio, Romeo’s other friend.
And a special mention for the fantastic Teobaldo by Nahuel Prozzi. This cousin of Juliet, a staunch enemy of the Montagues, has an authority, a cynicism and a coldness that Prozzi expresses magnificently.
The characters of Norma Molina’s The Nurse, Natalia Saraceno’s Lady Capulets and Igor Gopkalo’s Lord Capulets have also been very successful. And the prostitutes of Iara Fassi, Candela Rodríguez Echenique and Manuela Rodríguez Echenique, as well as Julián Galván’s Fray Lorenzo in his short role. To which must be added the corps de ballet, very involved in all the action.
A great tragedy of love told by dance. Nothing more and nothing less.
“Romeo and Juliet”
Excellent
Ballet of the Colon Theater. Director: Mario Gallizzi. Choreography: Kenneth Mac Millan. Music: Sergei Prokofiev. Stay: Teatro Colón, Libertad 621. Until 12 November.
POS
Source: Clarin
