Search the Community

As the General Rehearsal is tomorrow afternoon and the run starts that evening, I thought I'd start the thread. I thought that Laura Morera mentioned in last week's Insight that Will Bracewell and Yasmine Naghdi would be performing in the General tomorrow. Hopefully that will be the case, as I'm not booked to see them otherwise.

I'm looking for one good Stall Circle standing or central Balcony standing ticket for Manon on Friday 8th March 2024 7:30pm I know it's still a while away but putting it out there already. Thanks in advance for any offers or leads, Silke

TodayTix has listed the above productions for certain dates. However, these are currently not discounted. In fact the ticket prices are higher than if booked directly with the ROH. e.g. Manon 23rd February O/S M10: ROH price £140 vs TodayTix price £161, O/S V12: ROH Price £120 vs TodayTix Price £138. Amphi A46: ROH Price £99 vs TodayTix Price £114 e.g. Carmen 5th April O/S K13 ROH Price £245 vs TodayTix Price £282

Paris Opéra Ballet has announced the cancellation of tonight's première of what they call L'histoire de Manon due to a strike by artists of the ballet. It is apparently due to salary issues and the performances of 21 and 22 June are also threatened.

There are some performances of Manon in Stockholm over the next few weeks and I am wondering if anyone who reads this forum has plans to go and if so maybe they could post some words about it. I actually don't know the company at all, it came to my attention because Friedemann Vogel is guesting there as Des Grieux for 3 performances. His Manon is Sarah Erin Keaveney who is British and joined from the Royal Ballet School in 2018, so she is young. She's currently only a second soloist and this is a debut for her.

New on YouTube. Official Dance Europe channel link. Film clips by courtesy: Romeo and Juliet The Royal Ballet Mayerling English National Ballet Song of the Earth Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris Manon Stuttgart Ballet Mayerling Mayerling Hungarian National Ballet Interview filmed at the Royal Opera House, London With thanks to The Royal Ballet Press Office Filmed and Edited by Emma Kauldhar A Dance Europe Film ©2023

So, the Royal Ballet season starts tonight. I hope people who are going will report back.

I really enjoyed this last night. From the one previous time I've seen it (on DVD) I'm not a huge fan of Nureyev's choreography. But thought the performances here were great. I was completely gripped by act 3 in particular - Cojocaru was incredible. But also something about the whole atmosphere made it feel even more intense than usual. This was another filmed version very clearly not meant for public viewing, with bits of the action apparently only available from what seemed to be some kind of security camera. Another angle showed the full orchestra playing while the dancing and the action unfolded in front of them. For me at least, this unexpectedly added an intimacy not usually present when watching filmed ballets. Perhaps more of a sense of being there. Another video I feel lucky to have been able to watch. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DvZS5LJQwqo

ENB's national tour of Manon started in Manchester (Opera House) this evening. I attended opening night where Alina Cojocaru (lead principal at ENB since 2013) and Joseph Caley (lead principal since 2017) danced the leads. Both noted as debuts in the roles with ENB on the cast sheet. I cannot find the words to say how good it was. To roll out the cliches - it was simply out of this world, and it was a privilege to be there. The rapturous response of the audience indicated that most people there agreed with me. I speak as someone who hasn't always loved neo-classical ballets or MacMillan (my first experience being Romeo and Juliet with Birmingham Royal Ballet a couple of years ago). It was my first Manon (I've only clips of that final scene on YouTube). I am asking myself since leaving the theatre - why was it so good? Was it Cojocaru and Caley? was it MacMillan? was it Massenet? It was one of those nights where one is transported, convinced to the level beyond admiration. Every scene with Cojocaru or Caley in it had that extra authentic intensity that made me fascinated, entranced. I got the tingles alright - and the tears! Naive fool that I am, I couldn't imagine Cojocaru as Manon, having lapped up her crystalline classical Petipa performances with ENB. But how seductive, how womanly, how human she was as Manon on her journey through this tragedy. How could I doubt this complete artist? Similarly Caley's embodiment of Des Grieux matched Cojocaru's genuine portrayal, and I found myself so touched by his performance. What a partnership. The last (and only) time I saw them dance before was in that half-empty Coliseum on June matinee this year where they filled the theatre with their brilliance in Sleeping Beauty, that several forum members praised. I was completely unprepared to be so blown away by them again in this 20th century ballet. It's very late now, so regrettably I must omit to mention the many other aspects of this which made tonight complete theatrical magic, and a memory to treasure. Thrilled to have discovered this masterpiece, and so grateful to ENB for bringing it to a theatre near my home. It was staged at Manchester's smaller venue the Opera House (compared to the Palace theatre) but I was in the Circle which was quite full, the balcony was not full but the cheers when the curtain came down made it sound like a full house. Look forward to hearing others' thoughts on this run.

English National Ballet Manon National Tour 17 October 2018 - 20 January 2019 www.ballet.org.uk/manon Continuing its commitment to UK touring and presenting world-class ballet to the widest possible audience, Autumn 2018 sees English National Ballet present Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon outside of London for only the second time in 30 years. English National Ballet will present Manon in Manchester (17-20 October), Milton Keynes (24-27 October) and Southampton (31 October–03 November) followed by performances at the London Coliseum (16-20 January 2019). English National Ballet, Manon. Dancers: Alina Cojocaru and Isaac Hernández © Jason Bell. Art Direction and Design Charlotte Wilkinson Studio. Famous for its expressive choreography and dramatic challenge, Manon features some of the most demanding and fulfilling roles in ballet. Manon is accompanied by Jules Massenet’s haunting music performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. The young and naïve Manon is torn between two lives: privilege and opulence with the wealthy Monsieur GM, or innocent love with the penniless student Des Grieux. Aristocrats and beggars, courtesans and harlots fill the stage as audiences are taken from a gambling den in 18th-century Paris to a desolate Louisiana swamp in this, one of British ballet’s most dramatic stories. Alongside Manon, English National Ballet also presents Swan Lake as part of its Autumn Tour. Further details can be found at www.ballet.org.uk Notes to Editors Listings information for Manon Manon Manchester Opera House Wednesday 17 October – Saturday 20 October 2018 Box Office: 0844 871 3018 or www.ballet.org.uk/manon Manon Milton Keynes Theatre Wednesday 24 October – Saturday 27 October 2018 Box Office: 0844 871 7652 or www.ballet.org.uk/manon Manon Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Wednesday 31 October – Saturday 03 November 2018 Box Office: 02380 711811 or www.ballet.org.uk/manon Manon London Coliseum Wednesday 16 January – Sunday 20 January 2019 Box Office: 020 7845 9300 or www.ballet.org.uk/manon

Foteini Christofilopoulou was at the dress rehearsal for the Royal Ballet's run of Manon (opens March 29th, through to midMay, 2018). Here are some photos: Christopher Saunders, Francesca Hayward, Alexander Campbell © Foteini Christofilopoulou. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr Francesca Hayward, Federico Bonelli © Foteini Christofilopoulou. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr Claire Calvert, Alexander Campbell © Foteini Christofilopoulou. Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr See more... Set from DanceTabs: Royal Ballet - Manon Courtesy of DanceTabs / Flickr By kind Permission of The Royal Opera House

Manon casting is now up on the ROH website. so pleased to see Bonelli and Morera cast together after their sensational Mayerling!

1 ticket wanted please for Manon performance on Wednesday 11th April? Anyone selling an affordable seat/standing?

The Friends General rehearsal today was Lamb & Pennefather. I know we don't generally comment on rehearsals but given the slow ticket sales for this run, I want to say that they were terrific and there are plenty of tickets left for the matinee on Saturday at, I believe, discounted prices. Grab a bargain !

I found this article about the life of courtesans in 18th century France quite revealing: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2014/04/elite_prostitutes_in_18th_century_paris_and_the_detectives_who_watched_their.single.html