 Excelsior (Manzotti). Marta Romagna, Riccardo Massimi, Isabel Seabra, Robert Bolle, Raffaella Benaglia, Elisabetta Armiato, Ballet of La Scala Milan.
Published: 2003 Excelsior was one of the great Italian spectacle ballets of the late 19th century, a genre now almost entirely lost. It was recreated by Ugo dell'Ara for the Teatro Communale in Florence in 1967, and later for the La Scala Ballet. Its two acts and eleven scenes purport to tell the story of mankind's journey from darkness to light, employing a vast cast and including such events as the invention of the steamship, the openings of Brooklyn Bridge and the Suez Canal, the discovery of electricity and telegraphy, and the construction of the Mont Cenis tunnel linking France and Italy. The story is told through alternating mime and enormous ensemble dances, making for a fascinating and highly enjoyable two hours. [Coded for world-wide use on PAL compatible players.] |
