Clogging up the airwaves
This is one for the lovers of the old classics – Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée has been released on DVD by ICA Classics with the original 1962 Royal Ballet cast of Nadia Nerina and David Blair in the roles of the young lovers Lise and Colas. You’ll also find Stanley Holden hamming it up as Widow Simone and the irreplaceable Alexander Grant in his signature role of Alain.
It was filmed at the BBC studios in September 1962 but basically uses all the famous designs of Osbert Lancaster that are still employed in The Royal Ballet production today. Some people will just melt with nostalgia when they see this.
La Fille mal gardée is available to buy on Amazon.co.uk and is region-free so can be played just about anywhere in the world.