The Chateau and the ballet
The flat I rent is adjacent to the Chateau of Nice. In the book that Henry reviewed and I read – The Riviera at War – it refers to this being a place for German ordnance to fire on the Allies in the event of sea attack. You can see why as it’s atop of a hill on a promontory between the port and Promenade Des Anglais. It’s one of my favourite spots to stroll. Although it is a popular tourist destination, it’s never too crowded, especially in the morning.
I take the lift up the rather than the cardiac test on the steep steps. Once at the top there are parks, archaeological ruins, two cafes and breathtaking views over Nice – to the left there is the port, to the right the Promenade.
I take the bus train down which had a commentary on Nice‘s history and sights. It’s an excellent way to spend an hour or so as it’s never too crowded nor too noisy, easy to find a solitary bench and totally peaceful.
Michel di Vacri had invited me to his box at the Opera to watch the ballet Petrouchka. Of all the performing arts, I enjoy ballet the least. For me its a dancing troupe prancing about.
I can see there is movement and music but the absence of dialogue is off-putting to a garrulous old fool like me. Knowing little about Petrouchka, I mugged up to learn it’s a ménage a trois of 3 puppets written by Stravinsky.
It is one of the best exemplars of Le Ballet Russe made famous by Serge Diaghilev and his lover Nijinsky. Irritatingly all the programmes had gone so I did not know the artistes.
In the first scene even I realised that the story line bore little connection to what I had read. This was because it was a Jerome Robbins piece called En Sol and the second another modern dance called Verse Us.
All was explained when, somewhat reluctantly, the central greeter in the main vestibule handed a over a programme, 3 other Opera ushers saying there were none. If I had not been the guest of Michel I would have contemplated walking out at one of the two intervals but stuck it out through the actual Petrouchka.
I could not say whether it was a good performance or not but I did not see much variety in the steps, a lot of outstretched limbs and swirling about if you had asked me.
My mind drifted away to the shares I might buy for my ISA.
On the way back to the flat I passed a lap dancing club and reflected that a this was the pole-arity of stylistic ballet but if a ballerina ever wanted to supplement her income what fine a pole dancer she would be.
