Amazon Forest | Christie's

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The Amazon Forest It's story concerns a female spirit, Ela, who falls in love with a mortal man, O Homen Blanco (op.cit. programme notes, Royal Festival Hall, 1978)

Amazon Forest

Details

Amazon Forest
Production: Première - Gala, Rio de Janeiro, August 6th, 1975; First performance with Nureyev - New York, November 18th, 1975
Music: Villa-Lobos
Choreography: Frederick Ashton
Design: José Varona
Character: Ela

A ballet costume, the dress of turquoise chiffon, with boned and ruched bodice decorated with white fabric flowers and green plastic leaves, the skirt with handkerchief hem line, inscribed inside at waistband in purple fibre tip pen Amazon; and a group of foliate design head bands, the garlands of imitation green leaves with white and blue fabric bud and flower decoration; accompanied by a corresponding costume design in watercolour and pencil inscribed in blue ink To Dame Margo [sic], who gave us love and artistry. With true affection, José, Rio VIII '75 additionally signed José Varona, NY.75 and inscribed A Deusa (Margot Fonteyn) 'Foresta Amazonica' (Villalobos) Ballet do Rio de Janeiro -- 14x11in. (35.5x28cm.); and three corresponding photographs, two by Roy Round of Fonteyn performing with David Wall, one by Louis Peres of Fonteyn performing with Nureyev, largest -- 9½x11½in. (24.2x29.2cm.); and a corresponding set design Foresta Amazonica, graphite and coloured pencil -- 7¾x12in. (19.7x30.5cm.) (7)

Literature

BLAND, Alexander Fonteyn and Nureyev, London: Orbis Publishing, 1979, pp.204-205 (illus.)

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Lot Essay

Fonteyn performed Amazon Forest with Nureyev in New York when it was included in a mixed programme for one of his Nureyev and Friends seasons. The New York Times praised ..Fonteyn's iridescent and delightful performance in a light and slight love pas de deux. This was brief, rhapsodic and had Dame Margot whirled across the stage by Mr. Nureyev, with serpentine and sinuous arms and her great liquid eyes all recalling...her sea sprite of fire and water in the same choreographer's 'Ondine'...

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