Rachelm

Yes- I noticed this too and was quite disappointed.

 

 I think some of the comments about Kish are harsh! 

 

 

I agree- I really enjoyed his solo. 

I agree with those above- really enjoying the performances of Hayward (reminded me of Cojocaru's Clara), Campbell and Naghdi. I actually enjoyed Kish's solo very much and Lauren is always beautiful!

Olivia Cowley's Arabian stood out as an outstanding performance, as well as Harrod's gorgeous Columbine.

Gary Avis really gives heart and soul to Drosselmeyer and I feel he really drives the whole ballet- I absolutely love him in this role.

Debussy: Clair de Lune

Michael Nyman: The Heart Asks Pleasure First or Big My Secret (from The Piano)

Tolga Kashif: The Queen Symphony 3rd Movement (Who Wants to Live Forever)

Max Richter: Vivaldi Four Seasons Recomposed

I really enjoyed the ballet parts of the show- there is some lovely dancing, particularly from Irina Dvorovenko, former ABT principal.

Some of the story is pretty preposterous, but I'll happily take it to see some good dancing, and surprisingly good acting from the cast, many of whom are/were professional dancers, not actors originally.

The plot is very dark though, so it's not always an easy watch. Unfortunately it's not been picked up for a second series.

Catching up on yesterday's action from the Royal Opera House: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBvClXuMFCs

Beatriz Stix-Brunell looks a dream in the Raven Girl rehearsal! I love how much expression she puts into her dancing and she looks so fearless in all those lifts!

Watching Wayne McGregor work I find fascinating. His own vocal expression of the movement is so interesting to hear! 

It was also great to hear the interviews with the younger BRB company members and how excited they were when they got their contracts!

Northern Ballet are currently broadcasting a live rehearsal of their new production 1984

Which R&J TTP.  For me the MacMillan comes nowhere close to Morricone/Gable and Ashton (as performed by LFB as was).

 

I would have to say Fille fills me with joy every time I see it, as does Two Pigeons and The Dream.  

 

David Bintley's Hobsons Choice also ticks all my boxes as does David Nixon's Madame Butterfly.

Morricone's R&J was the first ballet that came into my mind as perfect, and I too much prefer it to MacMillan's as a whole ballet (although MacMillan's PDD are exquisite).

I also love both Peter Wright versions of the Nutcracker, BRB's probably just out-does the RB version for me.

 When I saw Yanowsky's Queen, Cojocaru was Amour and Nunez the Streetdancer and I'm not sure whether they were soloist or principals at the time (Rojo who was Kitri was definitely a principal).  

Cojocaru and Nunez were first soloists, if my memory serves me correctly. I suspect Yanowsky also was. 

Poor Lauren- I really hope she has much more luck in the future. Wonderful chance for Mendizabal though and I hope she does well

Completely forgot this was one. Enjoying the Canadians but was wondering if anybody knew how to access the earlier streams, in particular the Royal Ballet one.

The stream is available in 48 hours to view at leisure, I believe the Royal Opera House wrote on the comments feed earlier today- then you will be able to watch anything you missed. 

How wonderful to see Emma Maguire back rehearsing 'Scenes'. I do wish her well.

I thought I saw Emma Maguire- it was great to see her. What she must be going through doesn't bear thinking about. I wish her well too.

Really enjoying the live stream, especially the Scenes de Ballet rehearsal. It's so wonderful to see the dancers rehearsing and pick out all my favourites!

I think Darcey always came across in interviews so well. I loved how she would talk so candidly and with much humour. I think I remember from a documentary her mocking her own reaction to a new company member taking her place at the barre, thinking to herself "well, I'm there!!" It's such a wonderfully human thing to think! She helped me to see ballerinas as 'real' people, not unapproachable divas. She would talk about herself in such a refreshing way, so openly sharing how she used to cry in class at the RBS every morning. 

Of course her dancing was sublime too! 

I saw Midnight Tango last year and thought it was very good. Have you seen this too? Did you think Dance 'til Dawn was as good? It's coming to Norwich soon and I haven't yet decided whether to book or not!

Friday 8pm Sky Arts 2: Romeo & Juliet (Cuthbertson/Bonelli)

What a treat from Sky Arts this week! (Also Osipova/Acosta Giselle as previously mentioned Weds 8pm)

http://search.sky.com/tv/?term=sky%20arts%202&channel=main

I love the look of it from the video you posted, Janet. The music is lovely too. I look forward to seeing it on Norwich!

Link to Sky Arts 2 Listings:

http://search.sky.com/tv/?term=sky%20arts%202&channel=main

Today:  2pm Swan Lake (Yanowsky/Kish) &  8pm La Bayadere (Rojo/Acosta/Nunez)

I'd love La Fille Mal Gardee & Onegin as I've yet to see them. Triple Bill ballets I'd love to see: Dances at a Gathering, Gloria, Requiem, The Dream, La Sylphide, Raymonda Act 3 & Symphony in C. I'd really like to see Les Sylphides too, but this doesn't appear to be in The Royal Ballet rep. I agree a new Swan Lake would be wonderful!

When you search for Prima Ballerina Assoluta on Wikipedia (not necessarily an authoritative source, but still helpful)- there is a list of dancers who were bestowed the title:

1Pierina Legnani Italy and Imperial Russia 1893

2 Mathilde Kschessinska Imperial Russia ca. 1906

3 Alicia Markova United Kingdom 1933

4 Galina Ulanova Soviet Union 1944

5 Alicia Alonso Cuba 1959

6 Maya Plisetskaya Soviet Union 1960

7 Eva Evdokimova Bulgaria & United States 1976

8 Margot Fonteyn United Kingdom 1979

9 Anneli Alhanko Sweden 1984

10 Phyllis Spira South Africa 1984

11 Nina Ananiashvili Georgia 1988

12 Alessandra Ferri Italy 1992

I must admit to never having heard of three of them! Quite different from the Telegraph list!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prima_ballerina_assoluta

I loved the Rojo documentary too. I thought the sequence where she danced through the act III pas de deux, describing the character as she went, was superb.

I also really enjoyed seeing her in conversation with Cojocaru, as well as coaching Lauretta Summerscales, who I thought looked beautiful as Odette.

I haven't seen the ENB Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall, but after seeing this fantastic documentary I will try to journey down to London some time! The corps looked immense!

I love Rojo's passion and intelligence, I find her to be quite an inspirational woman, not just an inspirational ballerina.

Wonderful TV schedule Alison- thank you! So great to see so many ballets on with different casts- I'm particularly looking forward to Don Quixote and Lauren Cuthbertson in Sleeping Beauty.

Does anyone know who is dancing the Sugar Plum/Prince in The Royal Ballet Nutcracker? The Radio Times just names Meaghan Grace Hinkis as Clara.

Very much looking forwards to Christmas now!

I loved the Christopher Gable production- I'd have been so happy to see it again. I have very fond memories of Jayne Regan and William Walker in the lead roles. Phillip Feeney's score had some beautiful pieces- I still have a CD recording with them on.

Thanks for the info on possible recordings for DVD. I guess I will try and get to a cinema, just in case it doesn't happen!! 

Does anyone know if there is a planned recording for DVD or TV?