Enrico Cecchetti
Enrico Cecchetti | |
---|---|
Born | Rome, Papal States | 21 June 1850
Died | 13 November 1928 Milan, Italy | (aged 78)
Spouse | Giuseppina de Maria (1878-1927, her death) |
Enrico Cecchetti (Italian pronunciation: in the world.
After an esteemed career in Russia, originating such roles as both the Bluebird and Carabosse in Petipa's masterpiece,
Changes to the choreography of the male variations featured in the works of the Imperial Ballet's repertory. In 1890, Cecchetti performed in the ground-breaking production of The Sleeping Beauty, where his performance as the Bluebird caused a sensation in the audience at the Mariinsky Theatre. The choreography of the Bluebird has challenged male dancers even to the present day.
Cecchetti left the Imperial ballet in 1902 to accept the directorship of the Imperial Ballet School in Warsaw, Poland, then part of the Russian Empire. His farewell gala at the Mariinsky Theatre featured all of the leading ballerinas of the day, many of whom were his students. In order to have everyone pay him homage, the Paquita Grand pas classique was performed, with the inclusion of the favorite solos of all of the participating ballerinas. This led to the tradition of including a long suite of variations for several ballerinas.
In 1919 Cecchetti performed at the inaugural performance of the ballet, La Boutique fantasque, in London, appearing in the role of the shopkeeper.[5]
Mariinsky Theatre
In 1887 Cecchetti performed in St. Petersburg where Ivan Vsevolozhsky, the director of the Mariinsky Theatre saw him perform. He was so impressed with Cecchetti that he immediately hired Cecchetti as a principal dancer for the theatre.[6] This was extremely rare at the time because normally dancers would be asked to join a company on a lower level.
With the introduction of the
Cecchetti left the Imperial ballet in 1902 to accept the directorship of the Imperial Ballet School in Warsaw, Poland. His farewell gala at the Mariinsky Theatre featured all of the leading ballerinas of the day, many of whom were his students. In order to have everyone pay him homage, the Paquita Grand pas classique was performed with the inclusion of the favorite solos of all of the participating ballerinas. This led to the tradition of including a long suite of variations for several ballerinas.
In 1919 Cecchetti performed at the inaugural performance of the ballet La Boutique fantasque in London, appearing in the role of the shopkeeper.[5]
Teaching
In the tradition of classical ballet, techniques and parts are taught directly, person to person. The technique was passed on directly to Enrico Cecchetti, as he was taught by Giovanni Lepri in
In 1925, Arturo Toscanini appointed Master Cecchetti as director of the La Scala theatre dancing school.[9] Two years later, Cecchetti was deeply affected by the death of his wife and died in Milan on 13 November 1928.
Cecchetti Method
Cecchetti created a ballet technique that is now known as the Cecchetti method. This technique is popular with past and present ballet teachers, remaining fresh and contemporary.
Legacy
Among his notable students there were: Anna Pavlova, Cia Fornaroli, Pierina Legnani, Léonide Massine, Attilia Radice, Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, Dame Ninette de Valois, Dame Marie Rambert, Gisella Caccialanza, Vincenzo Celli, Luigi Albertieri, Dame Alicia Markova, Olga Preobrajenskaja, Matilda Kšesinskaja, Serge Lifar, George Balanchine, Ruth Page.[3]
As dancer and choreographer, he created and interpreted the Eunuch in the Scheherazade (1910) of Michel Fokine, Kostchei in The Firebird (1910), and the Magician in Petrushka.
Cultural depictions
- Pavlova and Cecchetti, duet from the Nutcracker, ballet by John Neumeier (The Frankfurt Ballet, 1971),
- Anna Pavlova, film by Emil Loteanu; portrayed by Georgio Dimitriou (1983).
- Nijinsky, film directed by Herbert Ross; portrayed by Anton Dolin (1980).
See also
References
- ^ Barringer, Janice (2007-01-01). "Cecchetti's choices. (Technique) Enrico Cecchetti". Dance Magazine. Macfadden Performing Arts Media LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ Wiley, Roland John (1990). A Century of Russian Ballet. New York: Oxford Clarendon Press. p. 375.
- ^ a b "archives.nypl.org -- Ruth Page collection". archives.nypl.org.
- ^ Ninette de Valois -Idealist without Illusions, Katherine Sorley Walker (1987) Hamish Hamilton
- ^ a b "Australia Dancing - Boutique fantasque, la". Archived from the original on 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Brillarelli, Livia (1995). Cecchetti A Ballet Dynasty. Toronto: Dance Collection Danse Educational Publications. p. 31.
- ^ Bland, Alexander; Percival, John (1984). Men Dancing. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- ^ Cass, Joan (1993). Dancing Through History. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall Inc. p. 114.
- ^ Dizionario biografico degli italiani(in Italian). Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana.
- ^ "Obituary: Laura Wilson". The Independent. October 22, 2011.
- ^ Poesio pg 80
- ^ Brillarelli pg 59
- ^ a b "American Ballet Theatre". abt.org.
Sources
- Media related to Enrico Cecchetti at Wikimedia Commons
- History of Enrico Cecchetti at Cecchetti USA