March 17 - Rudolf Nureyev (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 17th may be found here: Josef Rheinberger (2019), Michael Finnissy (2020), Élisabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre (2021), and Nat King Cole (2022)

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Rudolf Nureyev (17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993) was a great Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Household Name

Even folks who say that they

Have no interest in ballet,

When asked to name a famous dancer

Would give “Nureyev” as their answer.

 

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October 11 - Jerome Robbins (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 11th are here: Archibald T. Davison; Daryl Hall (2019), Simon Sechter (2020), Russell Oberlin (2021)

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Jerome Robbins (11 October 1918 – 29 July 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theater director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Rhyme for Robbins

Though Robbins, (Jerome)

Felt at home

No matter what the dancing venue,

Story (West Side)

Showed his best side,

With Leonard Bernstein on the menu.

 

 

 

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January 27 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Mikhail Baryshnikov (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 27th are here: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (2020) and Jerome Kern (2021)

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was one of the greatest composers of all time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variations on a Speculative Theme

In his last surviving letter from 14 October 1791, Mozart told his wife that he had picked up Salieri in his carriage and driven him to the opera. -- Wikipedia

 

(1)

When Mozart ran into Salieri,

He was naturally cautious and wary.

This Italian rival

Was bent on survival,

And had more than a hatchet to bury.

 

(2)

If a writer who writes on Salieri

And Mozart is going  to be fair, he

Has to use tact

To consider each fact,

It’s a danger zone for the unwary.

 

 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪    

 

 

Mikhail Baryshnikov (b. 28 January 1948) is a Soviet-Latvian-born Russian-American ballet dancer, choreographer, and actor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tights

There are those who declare it a pity

    When Mikhail Baryshnikov

    Didn't take his trousers off

When appearing on Sex in the City.

 

 

 

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May 18 - Margot Fonteyn (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 18th may be found here: Perry Como (2019) and Meredith Willson (2020)

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Margot Fonteyn (18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991) was an English ballet dancer who spent her entire career as a dancer with the Royal Ballet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Wind

Despite differences in background and temperament – she was methodical while he was wildly exuberant – and a 19-year gap in their ages, the pairing of Nureyev and Fonteyn was brilliant, as they were not partners but two stars of equal talent who pushed each other to their best performances. --- adapted from Wikipedia

Dame Margot Fonteyn

Had thought it insane

  To dance with the young Russian star --

She, twenty years older,

And he, young and bolder,

  Their temperaments not on a par, --

But new juxtapositions

Can pique one’s ambitions

  To show off the best that you are.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]