I’m sitting writing this while waiting for a big storm we have been promised. It is certainly windy, and there have been a few drops of rain, but the afternoon is still.
Well, I had planned to write about the whakatau from two weeks ago and my first Māori lesson this week, but the lesson was cancelled, so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for that post. However, this week I did go and see the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s “Don Quixote”. This was a revival of a production first performed in 2008, with a lovely, bright setting inspired by 1950s Barcelona.
With music by Minkus and original choreography by Petipa, and first performed in 1869, it is one of the older ballets still performed. This version was choreographed by Adrian Burnett, after Petipa. The main dancing roles go to Basilio and Kitri, a pair of young lovers. On the night we went, we saw Jacob Chown as Basilio and Lucy Green as Kitri. They danced with great spirit and character, and Lucy Green polished off the 32 fouettes in the well-known pas de deux with ease. It was a great evening, with an excellent Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and a fuzzy fun toy dog that almost stole the show. All pictures courtesy of http://www.rnzb.org.nz/
Well, since I started typing, the rain has started, so it looks like it is time for another cup of tea and some sofa time before I begin cooking. We are having friends round for dinner tonight, and I’m going to make beef in beer, which is definitely food for a stormy late summer/early autumn night.
Time for tea…
…as the rain comes….
Thistles and Kiwis 