Ian Macmillan

Jane: Many thanks for that scenario link. It makes Judas Tree seem a tad pale by comparison. I see from "The Royal Ballet, The First 50 Years" that the first RB performance was at the Edinburgh Festival in August 1956, and that there were 10 performances in all, with no sign of any in later years. It is summarised as 'unsatisfactory,' with "Somes miscast as the sinister but pathetic central figure." So, whatever has happened elsewhere, it didn't last long enough with the RB to age at all! (It doesn't figure in the Rep for the Touring Company back then, but I guess BRB may have had a go with it in later years.)

Earlier this morning, BBC Radio 3 was investigating recordings of Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin, apparently a 'Pantomime Ballet' first put on in Cologne in 1926. In some 13 years of doing Links I can't recall seeing it mentioned anywhere, and I submit it as a prime candidate for 'having aged badly.' Is it in any company's current rep? (A very noisy score in places, it seems.)

Zenaida Yanowsky - perfection! She could never 'age badly.' Thank you.

Looks like you can hear the concert on Tuesday evening on BBC Radio 3:

Links - Saturday 25 November, 2023 Review - The Royal Ballet, The Dante Project, London: Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Reviews - Rambert, Death Trap: Cerberus, Goat, London: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Grace Spencer, Reviews Hub Reviews - Rhiannon Faith Company, Lay Down Your Burdens, London: Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Sonny Waheed, Reviews Hub Review - Sadler's Wells Young Associates, Mixed Bill, Maryam Philpott, Reviews Hub Tour Review - Ockham’s Razor, Tess, Great Malvern: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - National Ballet of Canada, Onegin, Toronto: Rebecca Ritzel, Globe and Mail News - 3 Pacific Northwest Ballet Dancers Promoted: Staff, Ballet Herald 'Tis almost the season ... Review - Royal New Zealand Ballet, Hansel and Gretel, Christchurch: Dr Ian Lochhead, Theatreview Report - Hong Kong Ballet, The Nutcracker: Staff, Ballet Herald

Links - Friday 24 November, 2023 Reviews - Rambert, Death Trap: Cerberus, Goat, London: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Vera Liber, BTG Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Paul Taylor Dance Company, Esplanade, Mercuric Tidings, Cloven Kingdom & others, New York: Alastair Macaulay, Financial Times Video Preview - Australian Ballet, Swan Lake: Emily Ackew, ABC News News - São Paulo Dance Company to tour UK and Ireland with triple bill: Graham Spicer, Gramilano News - Australasian Dance Collective and BlakDance announce First Collective Residencies: Jason Blake, Limelight Feature - Amy Harris retires from Australian Ballet: Chantal Nguyen, Sydney Morning Herald 'Tis almost the season ... Feature - New York City Ballet: Tales of the Nutcracker Kids: Gia Kourlas & OK McCausland, NY Times

Links - Thursday 23 November, 2023 Review - Doug Varone and Dancers, Mixed Bill, Philadelphia: Merilyn Jackson, Fjord Review Review - L.A. Dance Project, Gala Performance, Los Angeles: Victoria Looseleaf, Fjord Review Reviews - The Mongol Khan, London: Howard Loxton, BTG Rupert Christiansen, Spectator (+ Royal Ballet Dante Project) Preview (March 2024) - New York City Ballet, Mixed Bill, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - New York City Ballet, Copland Dance Episodes, New York: Mindy Aloff, Playbill Preview - National Ballet of China, 6th China International Ballet Season, Beijing: Chen Nan, China Daily Feature - How Ballet Nights is blazing a trail at Lanterns Studio Theatre: Jon Massey, Wharf Life News - American Ballet Theatre 2024 Summer Season: Staff, Ballet Herald Interview - Contemporary dancer Louise Lecavalier: Rebecca Ritzel, Globe and Mail Interview - Karon Davis and her Beauty Must Suffer dance exhibition in New York: Olivia Manno, Dance Magazine 'Tis almost the season ... Preview - Holiday Season with Ballet Stars, Miami: Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance News - It’s Nutcracker season in Philly: Ellen Dunkel, Philadelphia Inquirer

Links - Wednesday 22 November, 2023 Obituary - Joan Jara, dancer and activist: Nick Caistor, Guardian Feature - Mayara Magri’s intellect, resolve, and versatility have powered her high-flying career: Kyra Laubacher, Dance Magazine Review - Sarasota Ballet, The Art of War, Dante Sonata, Company B, Sarasota: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Review - Northern Ballet, Beauty and the Beast, Norwich: Lu Greer, Reviews Hub October Review - American Ballet Theatre, Piano Concerto No. 1, Petite Mort, Études, New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Shaun Keylock Company, Fall Fête Mixed Bill, Portland: Amy Leona Havin, Oregon Artswatch Reviews - The Mongol Khan, London: Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Arifa Akbar, Guardian Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Marianka Swain, Telegraph Nick Curtis, Standard Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Charlotte Kasner, SeeingDance Gary Naylor, Arts Desk News - Birmingham Royal Ballet appoints Rachael Magson as new Director Of Development: Staff, Theatre Weekly News - AI as part of dance creation: Garth Grimball, SF Examiner Review - Motionhouse, Starchitects Save Santa! , Birmingham: David Mead, SeeingDance And the prize for all-time weirdness goes to: Recoil Performance Group, MASS-bloom explorations, Melbourne: Gracia Haby, Fjord Review

Links - Tuesday 21 November, 2023 Reviews - The Royal Ballet, The Dante Project, London: Siobhan Murphy, The Stage David Jays, Standard Review - Sarasota Ballet, The Art of War, Dante Sonata, Company B, Sarasota: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Reviews - Akram Khan Company, Jungle Book Reimagined, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Jerry Hochman, Critical Dance Review - Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballad Unto, Love Fear Loss, Regardless, For Crying Out Loud, New York: Carla Escoda, Bachtrack Review - Australasian Dance Collective, Halcyon, Brisbane: Madelyn Coupe, Fjord Review Feature - Celebrating ‘The Red Shoes’ – the film and the exhibition: Jann Parry, Gramilano Feature - Love, heartbreak, death: National Ballet of Canada dancers prepare for a career-defining Onegin: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Interview - Ayelen Parolin masters the choreography of comedy: Chris Wiegand, Guardian News - Royal Ballet to visit Jacob's Pillow next year: Karen Campbell, Boston Globe 'Tis almost the season ... Review - Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker, Birmingham: David Mead, SeeingDance Puzzle - Put your best foot forward and try to solve this dance-themed crossword puzzle: Oregon Artswatch. Direct Link

Links - Monday 20 November, 2023 Reviews - The Royal Ballet, The Dante Project, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Review - Ballet Black, Nina: By Whatever Means, London: Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Gramilano Review - Emanuel Gat Dance, LoveTrain2020, London: Vera Liber, BTG Reviews - Birmingham Rep, The Snowman, London: Nicola Claire, SeeingDance Jane Darcy, Reviews Hub Review - Dance Reflections, "takemehome", New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature - Derek Hough, America’s Ballroom Ambassador, hits the road: Brian Schaefer, NY Times Interview - Australian Ballet Principal, Benedicte Bemet: Susan Bendall, Dance Australia Interview - Ex-Bangarra Choreographer Stephen Page: Jane Albert, Limelight News - West Australian Ballet announces 2024 season: Staff, Dance Australia News - Vancouver’s Boom Box company forced to postpone shows: Sara Horowitz, Straight.com

Links - Sunday 19 November, 2023 Review - Mosaic International Dance Festival, Royal Ballet Star, Nureyev – Legend and Legacy, Dubai: Graham Watts, Gramilano Review - BalletBoyz, England on Fire, London: Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Review - Emanuel Gat Dance, LoveTrain2020, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Review - Van Huynh Company, Re:Birth, London: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Abby Z and the New Utility, Radioactive Practice, Portland: Amy Leona Havin, Oregon Artswatch News - Ballet fans queue for the queue after Bolshoi computer meltdown: Maxim Tucker, The Times (+ share) 'Tis the season ... Review - West Australian Ballet, The Nutcracker, Perth: Sarah Green, Australian Stage Review - Tuff Nutt Jazz Club, Nutcracker, London: Sarah Crompton, Observer

From X/Twitter, for what it's worth - I've not found anything to corroborate the story. If true, presumably he'd leave The Mariinsky?

One of those involved on stage back then assures me that their Giselle was not shortened.

Links - Sunday 12 November, 2023 Feature - Hear the dance: Audio Description comes of age: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review - Tuff Nutt Jazz Club/Drew McOnie, Nutcracker, London RFH: Zuzanna Lachendro, New Statesman Review - Volksoper & Staatsballett, Vienna, Iolanta and The Nutcracker: Colin Davison, BTG Preview - The Jazz Continuum explores Black social dance — from past to present: Celia Wren, Washington Post

Links - Saturday 11 November, 2023 Reviews - BalletBoyz, England on Fire, London: Zoe Anderson, Independent Sim Dixon, BcForum Louise Levene, Financial Times Vera Liber, BTG Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Review - Australian Ballet, The Dream, Marguerite and Armand, Sydney: Chantal Nguyen, Sydney Morning Herald Review - Kyle Marshall Company, Ruin, Alice, Onyx, New York: Carla Escoda, Bachtrack Review - Ballett Zürich, Nachtträume, Zürich: Jeannette Andersen, SeeingDance Reviews - Ballet West, The Firebird (Christensen), Fever Dream, Stars and Stripes, Salt Lake City: Sophie Bress, Fjord Review Dean Speer, Critical Dance October Review - New York City Ballet, Serenade, Orpheus, Theme and Variations, New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Akram Khan Company, Jungle Book, Chicago: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Review - Michelle Ellsworth & Others, Evidence of Labor and the Post-Verbal Social Network, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Exhibition - The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror, BFI, London: Charlotte Kasner, SeeingDance Photo Album - 27 rare vintage photos of the New York City Ballet: Brittany Natale, Veranda

Reflecting much of what has been written above, the newspaper reviews have been a bit on the iffy side, I'd say.

Links - Friday 10 November, 2023 Reviews - BalletBoyz, England on Fire, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Debra Craine, The Times ** Mark Monahan, Telegraph Sanjoy Roy, Guardian Nicola Claire, SeeingDance Scott Matthewman, Reviews Hub Review - Washington Ballet, Such Sweet Thunder: An evening inspired by William Shakespeare, Washington DC: Richard Selden, The Georgetowner Review - Ballet West, The Firebird (Christensen), Fever Dream, Stars and Stripes, Salt Lake City: Chris Myers, The Utah Review Review - Kyle Marshall Company, Ruin, Alice, Onyx, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review - Paul Taylor Dance Company, Book of Beasts, Le Sacred du Printemps (The Rehearsal), Black Tuesday, New York: Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes Review - Sydney Dance Company, Up Close: Somos, Sydney: Deborah Jones, FollowSpot Review - Catherine Tharin Dance, Mixed dance/film bill, New York: Karen Hildebrand, Fjord Review Preview - Matthew Bourne/New Adventures, Edward Scissorhands, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - In this new version of The Jungle Book, Mowgli Is a young girl navigating the climate crisis: Kevin Filipski, Playbill Feature - Backstage with RB principals Matthew Ball and Mayara Magri: Marie-Claire Chappet, Tatler Feature - American ballet troupe gives classic performance in Beijing: Chen Nan, China Daily News - Regent’s Park Open Air theatre appoints Drew McOnie as artistic director: Chris Wiegand, Guardian Graham Spicer, Gramilano ** Sorry, the Times share function isn't working for me this morning.

Links - Thursday 9 November, 2023 Review - Ballett Zürich, Nachtträume, Zürich: Maggie Foyer, Bachtrack Review - Northern Ballet, Beauty and the Beast, Newcastle: Dora Frankel, BTG Review - Rambert, Death Trap Double Bill, Bath: Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Review - Royal Ballet/Hayward & Campbell, The Limit, London - Linbury: Rupert Christiansen, Spectator Review - Bill T. Jones & others, Watch Night, New York: Elisabeth Vincentelli, NY Times Interview - BalletBoyz: ‘Short shows without an interval are the best’: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Interview - Canadian National Ballet Principal Dancer Piotr Stanczyk on retirement: Anya Wassenberg, Ludwig Van Interview - Chelsie Hill, founder of the Rollettes dance team: Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, NY Times Preview - Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Cinderella, Ottawa: Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen Preview - The San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest returns: Charlie Pike, SF Examiner Preview - Stand Up Dance, Anatomalia, Vancouver: Raynee Novak, Straight.com Preview - MimeLondon's first season: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - Black ballet dancers to be showcased in online archive: Gemma Nettle, The Stage News - English National Ballet appoints Maria Seletskaja as Musical Director: Florence Lockheart, Classical Music

Links - Wednesday 8 November, 2023 Reviews - Dance Reflections, Various Programs, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times -- Ola Maciejewska, Bombyx Mori: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Reviews - Tuff Nutt Jazz Club/Drew McOnie, Nutcracker, London RFH: Staff, Theatre & Tonic Staff, WestEndTheatre Theo Bosanquet, WhatsOnStage Financial Times October Review - Boston Ballet, Bach Cello Suites, Trois Gnossiennes, Form and Gesture, Vertical Road (Reimagined) 2023, Boston: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Tessa Redman, LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE/LOVE, Auckland: Rose Tapsell, Theatreview Preview - Jess Curtis/Gravity, Into the Dark, San Francisco: Lou Fancher, SF Classical Voice Preview - Alina Cojocaru presents La Strada: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - American Ballet Theater returns to China as US-China ties show signs of improving: Simina Mistreanu, Han Guan Ng, Independent And for the record: King enjoys ballet performance so much ‘he could not stop tapping his feet’: Jacob Phillips, Evening Standard and elsewhere!

Links - Tuesday 7 November, 2023 Interview - The Royal Ballet's Reece Clarke – Don Q and Me: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Reviews - Tuff Nutt Jazz Club/Drew McOnie, Nutcracker, London RFH: David Jays, Evening Standard (and Yahoo! News ) Siobhan Murphy, The Stage Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Vera Liber, BTG Jonathan Gray, Gramilano India Lawrence, Time Out Review - Hong Kong Ballet, Gala & Great Gatsby, Hong Kong: Kevin Ng, HK Economic Journal Review - Paul Taylor Dance Company, Various Programs, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Mary Cargill, Danceviewtimes Review - Pacific Northwest Ballet, Wartime Elegy, The Window, Love and Loss, Seattle: Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times Reviews - New English Ballet Theatre, Genesis Dance Project and New Works, London: David Mead, SeeingDance Graham Watts, Bachtrack Reviews - William Kentridge, Sibyl; Sydney Dance Company, Somos, Sydney: Geraldine Higginson, Dance Australia Film Preview - The Red Shoes - Next Step: Kyra Laubacher, Pointe Magazine Previews - Rhiannon Faith, Lay Down Your Burdens, Barbican: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Lyndsey Winship, Guardian (+ Interview) Preview - Ballet Fantastique, Babes in Toyland: A Holiday Story, Eugene, OR: Staff, En Face Magazine News - Queensland Ballet AD Li Cunxin highlights lack of Federal Government funding for local arts companies: Staff, Dance Australia

Links - Monday 6 November, 2023 Review - Northern Ballet, Generations - Joie de Vivre, Adagio Hammerklavier, Intimate Pages, London: Sarah Crompton, The Observer Also - Maud Le Pladec, Twenty Seven Perspectives Reviews - Tuff Nutt Jazz Club/Drew McOnie, Nutcracker, London RFH: (Not your average Nut, it seems!) Debra Craine, The Times (+ share) Lyndsey Winship, Guardian David Mead, SeeingDance Feature - National Ballet of Canada's Piotr Stanczyk retires this month: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Photo Album - Don Quixote at The Royal Ballet – Nuñez, Muntagirov, Naghdi, Ball: Dasa Wharton, Gramilano Q & A - Rafael Bonachela, AD of Sydney Dance Company: Katie Cunningham, Guardian Q & A - Dani Rowe, new Artistic Director at Oregon Ballet Theater: Staff, En Face Magazine News - Fitting farewell for legendary ballet dancer and actor Sir Jon Trimmer: David Haxton, NZ Herald News - Powwow and ballet classes for Indigenous youth in Edmonton prove 'dance universal language': Toula Mazloum, Edmonton Journal

Links - Sunday 5 November, 2023 Review - American Ballet Theatre, Single Eye, Depuis le Jour, On the Dnipro, New York: Marina Harss, Fjord Review Review - Northern Ballet, Generations - Joie de Vivre, Adagio Hammerklavier, Intimate Pages, London: David Mead, SeeingDance Review - Ballet BC, HERE - Enemy in the Figure, BOLERO X, Little Star, Vancouver: Janet Smith, Stir Review - Via Katlehong, Via Injabulo, London: Maggie Foyer, SeeingDance Catchup Review - New York City Ballet, Concerto Barocco, Orpheus, Symphony in C, New York - October 1: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - New English Ballet Theatre, Genesis Dance Project and New Works, London: John O'Dwyer, Seen and Heard Review - Hubbard Street Dance, Of Peace - Triple Bill, Chicago: Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune Review - Ephrat Asherie Dance, Odeon, Portland: Lindsay Dreyer, Oregon Artswatch Review - Mary-Jane O’Reilly and Company, Ballet Noir, Auckland: Jennifer Shennan, ... on dancing Feature - Popcorn and Pliés: Our top 5 haunting ballet movies: Alanna Love, En Face Magazine Feature - Alvin Erasga Tolentino, Accumulation, Vancouver: Mike Usinger, Straight.com News - Casting for The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake (March-May 2024) announced: Graham Spicer, Gramilano And: Meet the Royal Ballet’s sizzling power couple: Jeremy Taylor, Sunday Times (+ share)

Links - Saturday 28 October, 2023 Feature - Alessandra Ferri’s Next Act: Running the Vienna State Ballet: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Interview - Li Cunxin: ‘I wake up, and I’m looking at the sky thinking, why am I here? Lucy Clark, Guardian Book Excerpt - Mr B: George Balanchine's 20th Century: Jennifer Homans, Literary Hub Review - Australian Ballet, Swan Lake, Brisbane: Ruth Ridgway, Bachtrack Review - Lyon Opera Ballet, Dance I, II, III, New York: Faye Arthurs, Fjord Review Reviews - Ballet National de Marseille/(La) Horde, Room with a View, New York: Candice Thompson, Fjord Review Siobhan Burke, NY Times. (+ second program) Review - Kidd Pivot/Crystal Pite, Assembly Hall, Vancouver: Sara Harowitz, Straight.com Review - New York City Ballet, 2 Programs - 26 September & 3 October, New York: Leigh Witchel, dancelog.nyc Review - Florence Peake, Factual Actual, Edinburgh: Róisín O'Brien, Fjord Review Photo Feature - English National Ballet at Bristol Hippodrome, Mark Taylor; Photos - Laurent Liotardo, Bristol World News - Cuba's National Ballet celebrates 75th anniversary: Anett Rios & Alien Fernandez, Reuters News - Stuttgart Ballet’s Mackenzie Brown is promoted to Principal: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Preview - V'ni Dansi, Louis Riel Day Celebration, Vancouver: Sara Harowitz, Straight.com And: Iraqi dancer Leezan Salam's journey to preserve ballet in a conservative culture: Maan Jalal, Aymen Al-Ameri, The National News

Links - Friday 27 October, 2023 Reviews - Royal Ballet, Anemoi, The Cellist, London: Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Mark Ronan, The Article Reviews - RB/Francesca Hayward & Alexander Campbell, The Limit, London, Linbury: Graham Watts, Bachtrack Joy Sable, Jewish Chronicle Jann Parry, Gramilano Review - Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, New Ballet mécanique, Half Life, Ghent: Deborah Weiss, Bachtrack Review - Bayerisches Staatsballett, Alice in Wonderland (Wheeldon), Munich: Jeannette Andersen, SeeingDance Review - Compagnie Nacera Belaza, L’Onde (The Wave), Los Angeles: Victoria Looseleaf, Fjord Review Review - Sadler’s Wells & Universal Music UK/Kate Prince, Message in a Bottle, Sydney: Richard Cotter, Australian Stage Feature - How the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra works with dancers to create magic: Steve Smith, Playbill Preview - Black British Ballet, Island Movements, London ROH: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - Dance Umbrella/Via Katlehong Dance, Via Injabulo, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper News - Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi coming to a cinema near you: Staff, Ballet Herald And: ‘Don’t scratch the floor’: Australian breakers battle for Olympic spots: Jack Snape, Guardian

https://slippedisc.com/2023/10/brawl-breaks-out-in-ballet/