It was hardly rock ‘n’ roll, but Paul McCartney’s debut into the world of ballet with an orchestral score and tale of love set in a royal undersea court premiered at a packed house at the New York City Ballet last Thursday.
But the work McCartney created — Ocean’s Kingdom — with the company’s ballet master-in-chief Peter Martins, who choreographed the work and admitted in media interviews the crowd was there for McCartney rather than the hour-long ballet itself, was met with a mixed response in one early review posted last Friday.
Britain’s The Telegraph said the music “certainly wasn’t an embarrassment. A sparse string interlude was moving in its delicacy,” but, noting McCartney had a hand in the story and choreography, the review added “As the lights dimmed and the dancing started, it was clear that the performance was ballet for beginners.”
Photo: AFP照片:法新社
The former Beatle took more of a role in the ballet than most composers. He worked on the love story about an ocean dwelling princess called Honorata as well as the set, costumes by his daughter, and elements of the choreography. The production was budgeted at around US$800,000 (NT$24.4 million). (Reuters)
保羅‧麥卡尼一反先前的搖滾風,這回獻上他為芭蕾舞劇譜曲的處女作,這部作品有管弦樂配樂,描述海底皇宮內的一段愛情故事。該舞劇上週四在擠滿觀眾座無虛席的劇院內,由紐約市立芭蕾舞團首演。
麥卡尼與該團首席芭蕾總監彼得‧馬丁斯一同創作芭蕾舞劇《海洋王國》,而為該劇編舞的馬丁斯則在媒體訪問時坦言,廣大群眾是慕麥卡尼之名而來,而非為了看這一小時的芭蕾。但在上週五率先刊登出的一篇報章評論,則對該作品反應不一。
英國《電訊報》寫道,該音樂「確實沒有使人難堪之處。弦樂微弱的間奏,唱出其柔美優雅。」但評論因發現麥卡尼在劇情以及編舞上都軋了一腳,所以補充道:「當燈光漸暗、舞者正準備開始跳舞時,顯然舞蹈動作是初學者跳的芭蕾。」
這位前披頭四成員,在舞劇製作過程中所扮演的角色,比大多數舞蹈配樂作曲家,是有過之而無不及。他不僅參與編寫海洋公主歐諾拉塔的愛情故事,也對場景、其女兒所設計的服裝,以及編舞的元素加入個人意見。該劇製作耗資大約八十萬美元(約新台幣兩千四百四十萬元)。
(路透/翻譯:林亞蒂)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
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