Royal Ballet Insight and In Rehearsal discussion

[miriskusnik 46]

Apologies if this is off-topic, but I haven't (yet!) attended a rehearsal and I was curious about the casting. Is it usually the first cast who performs? Would this depend on whether the rehearsal is the same day as a performance? Any tips on making educated guesses about the casting would be very much appreciated! 

[John Mallinson 4,937]

It depends on the relation of the rehearsal to the opening night. Bayadère, for example had its general rehearsal yesterday with the first cast and it opens tomorrow. Sometimes the rehearsal and opening are on the same day in which case it won't be first cast, probably second or another. Casting is never announced publicly in advance but you can phone the ballet office at ROH to find out.

 

[miriskusnik 46]

17 minutes ago, John Mallinson said:

It depends on the relation of the rehearsal to the opening night. Bayadère, for example had its general rehearsal yesterday with the first cast and it opens tomorrow. Sometimes the rehearsal and opening are on the same day in which case it won't be first cast, probably second or another. Casting is never announced publicly in advance but you can phone the ballet office at ROH to find out.

 

That answers all my questions! Thanks so much for sharing these details - really appreciate it. 

Edited October 31, 2018 by miriskusnik

[alison 9,466]

13 hours ago, Richard LH said:

Sorry if this has been made clear elsewhere, but what exactly is the etiquette expected on the Forum about commenting on a Dress Rehearsal?  I am thinking of what I should or should not post about yesterday's DR of La Bayadere. 

 

Clarifying: this is the RB Insight and "In Rehearsal" thread, which is not the same as dress rehearsals anyway.  Don't the RB put something about how the DR should be approached on the cast sheet?  They used to, back in my day, something about not treating it as a performance - so I guess that still applies.  Certainly be aware that it is just that - a rehearsal, and has a different function from a performance, so e.g. dancers may not be dancing flat out.

[Sim 12,804]

They were certainly dancing flat out yesterday!  We got a full performance, not a rehearsal.  We were very lucky.

[Richard LH 1,304]

9 hours ago, Sim said:

They were certainly dancing flat out yesterday!  We got a full performance, not a rehearsal.  We were very lucky.

Yes they were...and we were indeed very lucky. It was great to see and bodes well for tonight's opening night and the rest of the run. The Shades white act was just brilliant - well done girls! The rehearsals, such as  we saw on World Ballet Day, have certainly paid off. 

Campbell's  virtuoso spot as the Bronze Idol was received particularly warmly. 

[capybara 7,633]

4 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

Campbell's  virtuoso spot as the Bronze Idol was received particularly warmly. 

 

As is the case with Ali in Le Corsaire, The Bronze Idol usually garners the most applause in La Bayadere.

 

 

[Richard LH 1,304]

Yes it is literally a bright, stand-out moment. 

[Richard LH 1,304]

Perhaps  one reason for the full-on dress rehearsal was that it was being filmed, presumably as back up/infill  for the  live screening and hopefully a disc release.

[Odyssey 898]

Please can you say who danced the solo shades at the rehearsal.

[John Mallinson 4,937]

Yuhui Choe, Yasmine Naghdi, Akane Takada

[Odyssey 898]

Thank you -what a strong line up!

[Xandra Newman 884]

40 minutes ago, John Mallinson said:

Yuhui Choe, Yasmine Naghdi, Akane Takada

What a starry line-up for tonight's Opening Night of "La Bayadere" with Vadim Muntagirov/Natalia Osipova/Marianella Nunez and Solo Shades Yasmine Naghdi/Akane Takada/Yuhui Choe! 

 

I don't have a ticket for tonight, I have seen Marianella Nunez as Gamzatti during the last run, and as I have to budget I have chosen to see the Akane Takada(Nikiya)/Yasmine Naghdi(Gamzatti)/Steven McRae cast this coming Saturday. 

[graemew 147]

I see that Marianela's insight inDecember has been moved to the  Linbury. Those of us who managed to get tickes have been told that we will be allocated new seats. Since the Linbury has more than twice the capacity of the Clore, I would imagine that once the ticket re-allocation has been completed, another batch of seats will become available.

I wonder whether the same will happen with Steven McRae's even in February?

Good that a wider audience can enjoy but i rather suspect that the intimacy will be lost.

I got my two tickets for both events when a few more were released for general booking. Both, like most Insights, were sold out well before booking level reached "Friends" level. I hadn't realised that tickets were held back for the general booking date.

[Odyssey 898]

I think comments regarding last night's Infra rehearsal should be posted in this thread.

The two pairings of Anna Rose O'Sullivan/William Bracewell and Mayara Magri/Marcelino Sambe gave a wonderful run through that suggests they have more than mastered the demanding nature of the movements and will give mesmerising performances.  

I always find that Wayne McGregor comes across as a very encouraging and helpful person to the dancers he is working with - demanding but generous with praise. He is also very good at communicating to an audience.

I was surprised that this was classed as a rehearsal as it resembled an insight evening  ( and a very good one at that) with some lovely live music and an in depth chat which included the wonderful Ed Watson.

A very enjoyable watch. 

 

[LinMM 5,940]

Agree about Wayne McGregor ...I don't always like his choreography but he strikes me as someone you might well want to work with as a dancer. 

I must check to see which cast I've got for Infra on the 26th!!

[Odyssey 898]

Just watched the Nutcracker insight. Christopher Carr at his charismatic best!

Lovely  to see David Yudes dancing Hans Peter. Partnering Isabella Gasperini in a last minute cast change. The depth and breadth of this company is quite awe inspiring right now. Gary Avis was also a delight and it was good to have a short interview piece with him. Final praise must go to the wonderful rehearsal pianist who, I am ashamed to say, I didn’t catch her name. Such wonderful chemistry between everyone involved - even Kirsty helped out with miming  Drosselmeyer’s  assistant .

Edited November 21, 2018 by Odyssey

[capybara 7,633]

7 minutes ago, Odyssey said:

Final praise must go to the wonderful rehearsal pianist who, I ashamed to say, I didn’t catch her name. S

 

Kate Shipway.

[bangorballetboy 4,230]

I feel all Christmasy now

[bangorballetboy 4,230]

[capybara 7,633]

This list of participants in alphabetical order looks very strange indeed.

[Mary 2,935]

'Royla ballet'

[JohnS 1,634]

As does Royla Ballet.

I thoroughly enjoyed the YouTube relay and seeing all five dancers being coached by Kevin O’Hare and Samantha Raine, Anna-Rose O’Sullivan effervescent.  Very interesting to hear from Martin Yates with all the illustrations and looking forward to Don Q in the next few weeks, in the theatre and the cinema relay.

[Richard LH 1,304]

Wow Yasmine really nailed those 32 fouettes! Much admiration for her and Sambe in the studio.

So pleased to have been able to attend and see just a little of the hard work and skills that go into these productions. Looking forward now to seeing it all again on YouTube...

...and getting pretty excited about the opening night and the rest of the run...!

[Blossom 445]

Another wonderful insight. Aside from the ballet, I particularly enjoyed hearing Martin Yates who was incredibly entertaining in addition to imparting so much interesting music history. My friend and I had a lovely chat with him afterwards too. 

[Xandra Newman 884]

2 hours ago, capybara said:

This list of participants in alphabetical order looks very strange indeed.

 

Yes very strange indeed. Surely the Director KevinO'Hare should be mentioned first, followed by the Principal, first soloist etc. 

[Douglas Allen 358]

1 hour ago, Richard LH said:

Wow Yasmine really nailed those 32 fouettes

 

As she did 28 and travelled a bit, I feel this is overstating the case a trifle. 

I don't think it important as it is still a couple of weeks away from performances. On the whole I don;t think people not professionally involved could or should draw many inferences from rehearsals or other studio work. As a member of the audience it's the performance only that matters. Looking at work in a studio informs and enhances our appreciation of the performance.

The Insight tonight on Don Q was interesting as far as it went without convincing me that the ballet is or should be a core element in the Royal Ballet's repertory and it also slightly reinforced the impression that Kevin O'Hare is a fine Director, but I've never had the feeling that his forte is to be a coach/ballet master/rehearsal director of classical pas de deux.

[Richard LH 1,304]

6 hours ago, Douglas Allen said:

As she did 28 and travelled a bit, I feel this is overstating the case a trifle. 

 

Ah, but I was counting the doubles as well Douglas!

It was so exciting to see close up. 

[Jan McNulty 15,739]

20 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

 

Ah, but I was counting the doubles as well Douglas!

It was so exciting to see close up. 

 

The only technical knowledge I have is that a fouetté is only a single turn.

 

I never count and I don’t know why fouettes seem to make or break a performance for a dancer when it is one step sequence over in a minute or so.

[Richard LH 1,304]

Well after the coda sequence Kevin O'Hare said "I would buy a ticket to see that"!  I'll go by his judgement !