OT: Margot Fonteyn
La Donna Mobile
To some extent it was tittle-tattle, perhaps (probably) largely true tittle-tattle - an affair with Constant Lambert starting when she was fifteen, two abortions, a miscarriage with Nureyev, and, most of all, her marriage to that dreadful man.
I read her autobiography, must have been twenty five years ago, I would imagine, and, inevitably, it was a supreme glossy PR job. Lots of lovely photos of tutus, and a sense that gun-running and participating in fascist coups was all rather fun and glamorous, and her husband was shot for political reasons etc etc.
But what came out very clearly was here was someone whose talent transcended the narrow world of ballet; a true legend, yet at the same time someone who made some very poor judgements about life. I feel from the programme that she was never really able or allowed to be herself, from a young age as the star ballerina she led this artifial life supposedly protected by people, and, in the end she died in poverty.
I'm never quite sure whether it's necessarily a good thing making and showing such a programme. I think I would be happier with this gorgeous image of the most perfect dancer of my lifetime. The Truth Behind the Myth. Yeah, I think I already knew most of it, at least sketchily, and I don't think it contained any surprises. It would be strange TV to have clip after clip of her dancing; however, this programme is to "mark the 40th anniversary of her legendary performances with Rudolf Nureyev in Romeo and Juliet". If it was so important to mark an arbitrary anniversary of an arbitrary event, why not just show Romeo and Juliet and leave it to us to enjoy it for what it is.
But, on the other hand, I do like biography, I do want to know what goes on behind the legend, and just this weekend, Amazon have recommended that I buy "Winifred Wagner: A Life at the Heart of Hitler's Bayreuth" and "Ryan Giggs, The Autobiography" That Amazon computer knows me better than I know myself...!
-- http://www.madmusingsof.me.uk/weblog/ http://www.geraldine-curtis.me.uk/photoblog/
Moira de Swardt
"La Donna Mobile" wrote in message
>But what came out very clearly was here was someone whose talent
>transcended the narrow world of ballet; a true legend, yet at the
>same time someone who made some very poor judgements about life. I
>feel from the programme that she was never really able or allowed
to
>be herself, from a young age as the star ballerina she led this
>artifial life supposedly protected by people, and, in the end she
>died in poverty."
It was that very poverty towards the end of her life which enabled
me to see her dance in 1973 and again in 1976. South Africa was in
the throes of a cultural boycott and we weren't getting any overseas
dancers or singers of any quality. The ageing Dame Margot Fonteyn
attracted many South African fans, even though she was well past her
prime. I saw her in Johannesburg in 1973 and in Cape Town in 1976.
--
Moira, the Faerie Godmother
I hope my standard of living doesn't go up. I can't afford the one
I have now.
Mrs Terfel
Did she really have a miscarriage with Nureyev or was that just gossip?
Didn't think he was interested in women.............
Jon E. Szostak, Sr.
I'm certain he loved Fonteyn...my God...who didn't?
--
Jon E. Szostak, Sr.
"Mrs Terfel" <faye.c...@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:1124090915....@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
La Donna Mobile
Mrs Terfel wrote:
Well, this came out of the mouth of Lynn Seymour, who claimed that
Margot actually told Rudy in the wings at Covent Garden, in front of
various people, including Seymour. I think I read somewhere that he was
bisexual.
Gareth Williams
>
>
> Mrs Terfel wrote:
>
>>Unfortunately I missed that documentary.
>>
>>Did she really have a miscarriage with Nureyev or was that just gossip?
>> Didn't think he was interested in women.............
>>
>>
>>
> Well, this came out of the mouth of Lynn Seymour, who claimed that
> Margot actually told Rudy in the wings at Covent Garden, in front of
> various people, including Seymour. I think I read somewhere that he was
> bisexual.
When you had as much in the larder as he did, would *you* limit yourself
to baked beans?
Sorry, I was suddenly hit by a wave of inappropriateness. I'll get me coat.
--
Kind regards, Gareth Williams
Stephen Jay-Taylor
Most definitely. Soldiers AND sailors ( and the occasional English tourist
haplessly wandering under the Pont de Carrousel right in front of his
top-floor appartment on the Quai Voltaire at 3 o'clock in the morning in
September1987. I believe.)
"When you had as much in the larder as he did, would *you* limit yourself to
baked beans?" GW
Lord, lord, the barbarians are at the gates ! Disgraceful !! I shall
complain to somebody or other immediately !!! Now, where was I ? Ah yes !
His dresser was an ex-regimental Scottish squaddie who famously exclaimed on
viewing the Nureyev family jewels for the first time " Ae, that's a canny
set o' tackle you've got there laddie!" The standing joke at Covent Garden
surrounding his and Fonteyn's unlikely May/September pairing was "Well, the
poor cow needs something now to step on to help her climb up"
"Sorry, I was suddenly hit by a wave of inappropriateness. I'll get me
coat."
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Too late now. And don't forget your trousers this time.
SJT, who never forgets his ( or anybody else's... )
Stephen Jay-Taylor
Most definitely. Soldiers AND sailors ( and the occasional English tourist
haplessly wandering under the Pont de Carrousel right in front of his
top-floor appartment on the Quai Voltaire at 3 o'clock in the morning in
September1987. I believe.)
"When you had as much in the larder as he did, would *you* limit yourself to
baked beans?" GW
Lord, lord, the barbarians are at the gates ! Disgraceful !! I shall
complain to somebody or other immediately !!! Now, where was I ? Ah yes !
His dresser was an ex-regimental Scottish squaddie who famously exclaimed on
viewing the Nureyev family jewels for the first time " Ae, that's a canny
set o' tackle you've got there laddie!" The standing joke at Covent Garden
surrounding his and Fonteyn's unlikely May/September pairing was "Well, the
poor cow needs something now to step on to help her climb up"
"Sorry, I was suddenly hit by a wave of inappropriateness. I'll get me
coat."
David Melnick
> His dresser was an ex-regimental Scottish squaddie who famously exclaimed on
> viewing the Nureyev family jewels for the first time " Ae, that's a canny
> set o' tackle you've got there laddie!"
I've seen the photo. It's true.
Best,
dav, adding one thing to my purpose something
LJO
"La Donna Mobile" :
> I think I read somewhere that he was bisexual. >
A misunderstanding . . the statement was that "he is a bicyclist".
lav...@webtv.net
only saw her live on stage late in her career when her ballet technique
was minimal. She still had that presence on stage that made you look
at her. Someone who had followed her career described her as "poetry
in motion".
re Nureyev. He was very young when he defected from Russia and had
several affairs with women during those early years in the free world.
Fonteyn and Jackie O's sister Lee Radziwill are two that come to mind.
He eventually began an affair with the great Danish dancer Erik Bruhn
and stuck to male lovers thereafter including a porn star (an american
boy who starred in the french gay film "Le Beau Mec", go figure! :).
Stephen Jay-Taylor
Well that's what happens when Nature pricks you out.
SonnetJT