Ruth Leon recommends… Bye (Ajo) – Silvie Guillem
Ruth Leon recommendsBye (Ajo) – Silvie Guillem
BYE (AJÖ) is a dance film choreographed and directed by the acclaimed Swedish choreographer Mats Ek, set to Beethoven’s last piano sonata, Opus 111. It is a poignant self-reflective solo made for and performed by the inimitable ballerina, Sylvie Guillem.
According to the choreographer, it is about a woman who, in leaving a certain stage in her life, starts a conversation with herself that leads to new experiences.
Silvie Guillem is now 58 years old, unimaginably “past it” for a ballet dancer and yet, here she is, in a new work expressly made for her by one of the world’s most famous and innovative choreographers.
She joined the corps de blllet of the Paris Opera Ballet at 16, and at 19 became an ‘etoile’ which is what the French charmingly call their top female dancers,. Unusually tall for a ballerina (en pointe she was more than 6ft tall), there was always a hunt for a good male dancer who was tall enough to dance with her.
In her very long career – most star ballet dancers retire in their early 30s – she has danced all the great ballet roles with all the great male dancers from Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov (much too short for her) to her favourite French partner, Laurent Hilaire, and, since she stopped performing classical ballets, has worked with many of the world’s top modern choreographers – Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant, William Forsythe – usually, as here, in works made for her.
She left Paris to become Principal Guest Artiste with the Royal Ballet but it wasn’t an easy relationship and she became known as “Mademoiselle Non” for her regular refusals to dance anything she had not personally chosen.
Silvie Guillem remains, at 58, a stunning dancer whose unrivalled technique, beautiful line and body flexibility still allow her to express the full range of her emotions.
It can be rented from Prime Video for $4.49 or purchased for £9.99. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started.
I have the video and enjoy Ivo Pogorelich playing Beethoven sonata op. 111. This was highlights of the ballet.