I've never really been a Gillian Murphy fan. I saw Paloma Herrera do this live, and personally I think it was infinitely better. But maybe that's just me.
I saw this wonderful performance at the Met in 2006. Let's hope ABT puts the ballet back into the repertoire soon, and with Gillian dancing the role of Sylvia often. This one should have been filmed by PBS for the Dance in America series.
I prefer Darcey in this, she did a much better job. British trainned dancers understand Ashton much better than Americans will ever do. Gillian is a great dancer but she suits the Balenchine style better. She's a turner but I'm not sure that's what makes a principal. She's too "loose" when she dances, hasn't got the control of other dancers.
Because Ashton choreographed mostly for the royal ballet which had british trained dancers. There are differences between "styles" of ballet between countries, especially Russia, Britain, America and to slightly France; the training in those countries reflects it. Also, genrally, people from different countries have different physiques (particularly without travel) - take a russian , they are often VERY petite, long limbed, dead thin and flexible; yet americans are often taller.
yeah i was wondering about the specifics of british style ..also, can't forget about cechetti and bournville - and why do you say french is only slightly different?
Well, the French dancers seem to be a mix of all of them really - all the other styles have stemed from French though! There isn't really one category you can put French Ballerinas under, compared to American or Russian, for instance.
Ashtons ballet would have used a British style so a British trained dancer would understand the choreography better. This also means that you'll find american dancers are much better at Balanchine becasue thats the style he choreographed for.
Are you kidding? Have you seen her in Swan Lake? How much more control could you get? In Odile's variation? She's exquisite. She suits the Pepita/Ianov Style better than Balanchine.
murphy's odette? how much more control? a lot. that beginning part of the white swan adagio you can see she rushes (see lopatkina, i have it posted). its too fast for the adagio. yes, she turns well so there's a lot of control in the odile variation, but that doesn't make a great odette/odile. her arms could use some work too, considering she's a principle. and her characterizations just aren't really there.
I was refering to the control of her arms particularly in this piece. They seem too "loose". Murphy's fouettes in the odette variation are very controlled yes, but she couldnt turn otherwise. And those arms arent Ashtonian in the slightest...
@sylphida unless you can do a perfect adagio without mental people like you commenting on every single minor mistakes that people don't see if they actually watch not try to discriminate. you shouldn't be opening your big mouth to say things you'd regret if you saw gillian for real. besides if you ever danced you know it's not easy and you do get nervous
its not an unfair comment and you don't need to be able to dance odette to recognize that its not gillian murphy's strongest role ... you can see at times how great she can be but there's a certain something that just isn't there ... not that i don't like her odette, but ... well, to better illlustrate what i mean may i point you towards lopatkina or vishneva?
oh
julie101rox 4 months ago
I've never really been a Gillian Murphy fan. I saw Paloma Herrera do this live, and personally I think it was infinitely better. But maybe that's just me.
MouthingWords 1 year ago
Artistry = Darcey Bussell
Control = Sylvie Guillem
I haven't seen a great deal of Gillian Murphy, but what I have seen didn't give me goosebumps like the 2 aforementioned have been known to.
Haven't seen Miss Murphy live though, so I shouldn't really judge yet.
digger24752 3 years ago 4
I saw this wonderful performance at the Met in 2006. Let's hope ABT puts the ballet back into the repertoire soon, and with Gillian dancing the role of Sylvia often. This one should have been filmed by PBS for the Dance in America series.
palubob 3 years ago 3
I think no matter wat Gillian dances she will always look beautiful:-D
LilacQueen406 3 years ago 5
Infinitely awesome!
Who played Aminta for this performance? Ethan, David, Maxim?
mydiorella 4 years ago
All have danced it, but im pretty sure Maxim... not positive though...will have to check!!!!!
NeonSkittlesX 2 years ago
my abosolute favorite dancer of all time!!
I love Gillian Murphy!
cabcaba3 4 years ago
I like her MUCH better in sylvia then swan lake
tomato527 4 years ago
Emm...troubadour8, may I know what do you mean by "you hit nail on the head". Is it good or bad beacause I do not really understand.
DCstudent 4 years ago
"You hit nail on the head" means that a person has something (like a thought or idea) exactly right.
ELJPAH 4 years ago
although her odette is better, i still love her. i love you Gillian Murphy
DCstudent 4 years ago
dear dc We totally agree you hit nail on the head
No one better in the USA nowadays .. Do enjoy all her performances
we look forward to hearing from you again with up toi date info 4us v. soon
troubadour8 4 years ago
I prefer Darcey in this, she did a much better job. British trainned dancers understand Ashton much better than Americans will ever do. Gillian is a great dancer but she suits the Balenchine style better. She's a turner but I'm not sure that's what makes a principal. She's too "loose" when she dances, hasn't got the control of other dancers.
tanyawade 4 years ago
"British trainned dancers understand Ashton much better than Americans will ever do."
...this is interesting, can you explain a bit more why that is please?
sylphida 4 years ago
Because Ashton choreographed mostly for the royal ballet which had british trained dancers. There are differences between "styles" of ballet between countries, especially Russia, Britain, America and to slightly France; the training in those countries reflects it. Also, genrally, people from different countries have different physiques (particularly without travel) - take a russian , they are often VERY petite, long limbed, dead thin and flexible; yet americans are often taller.
Rose1991 4 years ago
yeah i was wondering about the specifics of british style ..also, can't forget about cechetti and bournville - and why do you say french is only slightly different?
sylphida 4 years ago
Well, the French dancers seem to be a mix of all of them really - all the other styles have stemed from French though! There isn't really one category you can put French Ballerinas under, compared to American or Russian, for instance.
Rose1991 4 years ago
Ashtons ballet would have used a British style so a British trained dancer would understand the choreography better. This also means that you'll find american dancers are much better at Balanchine becasue thats the style he choreographed for.
Rose1991 4 years ago
I couldnt have put it better myself. That's exactly what I meant. She's a Balanchine dancer without a doubt.
tanyawade 4 years ago
Are you kidding? Have you seen her in Swan Lake? How much more control could you get? In Odile's variation? She's exquisite. She suits the Pepita/Ianov Style better than Balanchine.
mydiorella 4 years ago 3
murphy's odette? how much more control? a lot. that beginning part of the white swan adagio you can see she rushes (see lopatkina, i have it posted). its too fast for the adagio. yes, she turns well so there's a lot of control in the odile variation, but that doesn't make a great odette/odile. her arms could use some work too, considering she's a principle. and her characterizations just aren't really there.
sylphida 4 years ago
I was refering to the control of her arms particularly in this piece. They seem too "loose". Murphy's fouettes in the odette variation are very controlled yes, but she couldnt turn otherwise. And those arms arent Ashtonian in the slightest...
tanyawade 4 years ago
@sylphida unless you can do a perfect adagio without mental people like you commenting on every single minor mistakes that people don't see if they actually watch not try to discriminate. you shouldn't be opening your big mouth to say things you'd regret if you saw gillian for real. besides if you ever danced you know it's not easy and you do get nervous
cjoyoates 1 year ago
I agree that she suits petipa better than Balanchine -- she is by no means a Balanchine dancer.
kdub10009 4 years ago
I will never understand the hype around Gillian. She's cold, not an actress, bad feet and arms. Just one person's opinion, but I just do not see it.
kdub10009 5 years ago
her turns are awesome.
sylphida 5 years ago
Yes, Gillian is definitely a natural turner but I agree with your earlier comment - something is just missing.
kdub10009 5 years ago
lol bo you crack me up. Why are you so protective of her?
Clockmouth 5 years ago
I think this is ashton's sylvia, like gillian murphy in this, not odette. Amzingly strong though...
balletboy85 5 years ago
umm when u r an ABT principal than u can talk... but until than I wouldn't say anything until u r as good as her...
BoBence911 5 years ago
its not an unfair comment and you don't need to be able to dance odette to recognize that its not gillian murphy's strongest role ... you can see at times how great she can be but there's a certain something that just isn't there ... not that i don't like her odette, but ... well, to better illlustrate what i mean may i point you towards lopatkina or vishneva?
sylphida 5 years ago
gorgeous! she's such a beautiful dancer!
swinginchic 5 years ago
i've never seen "Sylvia"... always "Coppelia", sometimes with bits of Sylvia thrown in... ;)
nadador64 5 years ago