Serge Lifar - Discusses and Performs Parts of 'L'après-midi d'un faune' (c1940)

[balletnut]

I saw Nureyev in this (not in the autumn of his life) and I was absolutely spellbound by him - although he was naturally so passionate, in this he was graceful and serene but, of course, still animal-like. His magnetism was really terrific.

I agree with you Nick, there was something different in the air on a performance with Rudi.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi balletnut - thes equalities we are chatting about are i'm sure a good part of what made nureyev stand above many other of the dancers of his generation, that and the publicity of jumping to the west - still at his zenith when i was a kid in the early 70shis performances were quite special. lucky you to have seen him in 'l'apres midi d'un faune' - i've seen the footage but it's not the same as being there. cheers!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi again silkenthreaddance - unfortunately i don't know anything about this footage which is the same as that of the earlier upload - just different parts of the performance. i'm guessing it's semi-amateur. the earlier upload has the name 'Serge Lifar - 'L'apres midi d'un faune' (c1940's) ' - you can search my channel using that to find it - i should really put all the bits together! i agree being in the open air adds a lot to the atmosphere - great you like it too.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi silkenthreaddance - sadly i never saw him in this role - only on film - you are lucky to have seen it! i suspect it was a smart move on his part to take on less dance strenuous roles later in his career. i saw nureyev a lot as a kid in london, often several times a week - 1970-1975 - lots of great memories: swan lake, sleeping beauty, giselle, romeo and juliet ... and his forays into modern works such as those of glen tetley. there was something different in the air on a nureyev performance