Barenboim is unexpectedly ‘charmed’ by Jacqueline du Pré ballet
mainThe Cellist, a ballet on the life of Jacqueline Du Pré, opens tonight at the Royal Opera House.
In the past, Du Pré’s husband Daniel Barenboim was outraged by prurient intrusions into their life together.
But, according to the choreographer Cathy Marston ‘he was both charming and charmed by the idea’.
She tells the FT: ‘When I first had the idea I met Daniel Barenboim to ask his advice, and to find out whether it was something that he wanted…. He was both charming and charmed by the idea.’
Marston focuses on Jackie’s relatinship with the cello, rather than with other people. ‘I didn’t want to make judgments about the decisions that Daniel made, because I can understand everyone’s perspective on that. And what a difficult position he was in at the time. No, that’s a different ballet, a different story…’
Read on here.
Until it is seen, who knows what it will be like. But the idea does make me queasy, especially as MS ended up limiting her movement and ability to express herself. And there are plenty of ballets who have used real people’s lives and turned out to be disasters, such as the Princess Diana ballet in recent times.
Also, will it involve ballerinas pretending to play the cello in a pas de deux?
Prince Charming
Ridicule is nothing to be scared of.
Meanwhile in Toronto, Tapestry Opera’s Jacqueline receives its world premiere on Wednesday:
Jacqueline dives into the real-life struggle between celebrity virtuosic cellist Jacqueline du Pré and the multiple sclerosis that ravaged her body, mind, and talent, robbing her of her identity, her breathtaking musical gift, and her life.
This intimate piece for soprano and cello brings two contemporary virtuosi to the stage: celebrated American soprano Marnie Breckenridge as Jacqueline, and renowned cellist (and former du Pré protégé) Matt Haimovitz playing du Pré’s only constant companion, her cello.
https://tapestryopera.com/performances/jacqueline/
Matt Haimovitz was the first cello soloist DB worked with after a long break following the death ofJduP. I remember them in London doing Saint-Saens 1st concerto but they seem to have gone their separate ways unfortunately since that auspicious start
Very cute as well : https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/english-chamber-orchestra-andrew-davis-matt-haimovitz/cello-concertos/
… and married to Luna Pearl Woolf, the composer of tomorrow’s opera.
The others involved:
Librettist: Royce Vavrek
Soprano: Marnie Breckenridge