Scheherezade

I do hope you make it, strikes notwithstanding. And, yes, Vadim is definitely worth it.

It might help if Friends were included in the multiple offer lists.

Not as good as might have been hoped. Lottery funding for 1 year rather than a full Arts Council reprieve.

Just loved this rehearsal. A surfeit of fabulousness!

Thanks for this, Candleque, it’s really good to know.

So am I, MJW, very happy indeed. The rest of the cast looks pretty good too. And like Dawnstar (below), I too seem doomed to see Gina Storm-Jensen’s Lilac Fairy on endless repeat. And, yes, it would be nice to see someone else just once in a while. Ah well …

Children love a bit of blood and guts. The original fairytales were full of it. Not to mention the likes of Roald Dahl. “You might think you know this story. You don’t, the real one’s much more gory.” Anyone?

A very good point!

I have always liked this production and what a terrific opening night! A gorgeous, heartbreaking Odette from Emma Hawes, with a notably heartbroken Siegfried from Aitor Arrieta, a very controlling Von Rothbart, danced with relish by James Streeter as puppet-master to Hawes’ Odile and some lovely formations from a corps of swans who projected real emotion into what can sometimes seem a somewhat formulaic brief. Loved all the soloists: Francesca Velicu was particularly noticeable, bringing real characterisation to her early role as lead peasant; a neat and musical pas de trios; pacy national dances - the Spanish dance given some real zing by Emily Suzuki, Eireen Eveard, Fernando Carratala Coloma and Daniel McCormick (looking uncannily like brothers from where I was sitting). And up in the balcony - and deservedly - a very appreciative audience indeed!

Or as my grandmother used to say: “There’s only one thing worse than getting old, and that’s not getting old.’

Almost exactly what my mother said, except she used to say 'as old as my mouth and a little older than my teeth'.

It will take a lot longer than a couple of years for me to forget what the experience was like. I agree that Cirio was brilliant, as in everything. I just wish he was guesting in something - anything - else!

I am also looking for a single ticket for the Sleeping Beauty Friends Rehearsal. Would be grateful if anyone who can help could DM me.

Wanted RB Sleeping Beauty Friends rehearsal 14/1 11.30 I am also looking for a single ticket for the Sleeping Beauty Friends Rehearsal. Would be grateful if anyone who can help could DM me.

Amongst the carols and other classical music in ‘Christmas:The Classical Collection’ on BBC4 at 8.00 pm on Christmas Eve, Nureyev can be seen ain an extract from the Nutcracker.

Better still!

Sky Arts is showing ENO’s excellent Benvenuto Cellini (the Terry Gilliam production with Michael Spyres) from 6.00 - 8.40 am on Saturday 17 December.

I had no idea. This is good to know!

I was in the amphi and the non- stop cougher was sitting right behind me. And, yes, she made no attempt to muffle the cough or, indeed, to cover her mouth. It got so bad that my daughter had to move to an unoccupied seat with a more restricted view as the woman responsible was coughing right into her hair. At one point, someone nearby turned, glared and pointedly put on a mask. As I didn’t have a mask, I had to make do with covering my nose and mouth with my hands as what sounded remarkably like a Covid cough carried on relentlessly. Why anyone in that state of health would even want to go out is beyond me, leaving aside the utter selfishness of exposing everyone in the vicinity to their germs. And to add insult to injury, she returned after the interval to take up exactly where she had left off. Just staggering!

Dawnstar and Emmarose have completely summed up last night’s magical performance. I can only reiterate everything that they have said. I was there with my daughter and neither of us could believe that it was Madison Bailey’s debut. Ably supported by Leo Dixon’s Hans Peter, she was natural, sparkling and utterly delightful, engaging the audience from start to finish. Definitely one to watch, methinks! And as an aside, we both found ourselves wondering which of the children we might see onstage as fully fledged adult performers at some point in the future. But back to the present and, more specifically, to last night. A shame about the tree, but Gary Avis, the consummate professional, handled the mishap with such aplomb that anyone unfamiliar with the production wouldn’t have known that anything was amiss: curtain comes down; a short pause; curtain rises and, hey presto, a giant tree surrounded by presents. Magic indeed! That abundance of glitter surely works miracles! I loved all the soloists in Act 2: a great Rose Fairy from Claire Calvert and the Arabian dance in particular (Mendizabal at her sultry best with an attentive Mock to support her) went down a storm in my part of the house. Which leaves the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. Marianela and Vadim - I have run out of superlatives. Touching perfection in every respect: technique, timing, chemistry … And all with such ease, and a demonstrable, irresistible joy in everything they do And, yes, that longed-for reunion in the closing seconds between Drosselmeyer and Hans Peter did bring a lump to my throat. It really does now feel that Christmas is on its way.

Goodness, what depressing reading! Heaven help the arts!

I'm pretty sure they did L'Apres Midi d'un Faune and they were very good together.

I’m part there with Sim and part with jmhopton in that I find Hayward an absolute natural for Ashton and MacMillan but I also loved her Giselle and Aurora. As per Swan Lake, when I saw her she did run out of stamina and fell out of the fouettés, and I think that she was or had been ill and may have had a stamina problem when she opened the last run of Coppelia. I don’t have a problem with her Sugar Plum Fairy but would choose others in preference as I find her a more natural fit for Clara.

Me too. That’s another work I’d like to see revived.

I agree with everything you say, Jan, Sim and Art_enthusiast. I love this company and never miss them but Cira Robinson will be much missed.