That's right, the ballet - we're classier than you think here at LeftLion, ya know...
Look, real talk, I’m no ballet expert. Sure, I - like any self-respecting millennial - binged episodes of Angelina Ballerina back in my youth, so I’d like to say my knowledge base is pretty comprehensive. But, again, not an expert. That said, there’s something special about watching athletes and performers at the top of their game, something magical about witnessing actual experts do their thing live, especially in an historic venue such as this. So I was certainly excited to check this out. Sadly, at least on the night I stopped by the Royal Concert Hall, the Varna International Ballet weren’t at the top of their game.
Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot to enjoy here, and myself and my partner were never bored. Some of the footwork was truly impressive, the titular character floating across the stage on her tip-toes with impressive grace. Our Albrecht was also deserving of applause, his landings barely making a sound and his leaps stretching high.
The tunes from the Varna International Ballet Orchestra were brilliantly executed too, with the musicians barely missing a beat throughout the show’s runtime. Giselle may not have as many well-known classics as Swan Lake, for example, but this mystical score was transportive and consuming from start to finish.
Even to the untrained eye, the missteps were clear to see, and by the time the curtain came down, the majority of performers looked tired
However, the orchestra’s elegance was, for large spells, not channelled into the on-stage performances. Where Albrecht showed his class, plenty of others were sorely lacking poise. There were a few notable slips, triggering awkward silences from the audience, and the peaceful silence of your usual ballet performance was absent for extended periods. Even to the untrained eye, the missteps were clear to see, and by the time the curtain came down, the majority of performers simply looked tired, shaky-legged and ready for a lie down.
While far from perfect, though, any trip to the Concert Hall is worthwhile, with its unique charm elevating the atmosphere of the production no end. Regardless of what happens on stage, there are never any missteps from them.
The Varna International Ballet are performing at the Royal Concert Hall until Thursday 23 February
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