Scheherezade

I totally agree, Janet, and would love to see a number of these brought to London.

Yes, very clever, Dawnstar. I've been faced with that problem in the past but thought that the spare ticket would have to have been booked to free up the remaining two. One to remember!

That should, of course, have read Rose, not arise. Darned autocorrect!

For me, Ashley Dean’s breakout role/performance was in Crystal Pite’s The Statement this summer, where she showed she could hold her own dramatically alongside experienced colleagues. I didn’t see her in The Statement, Emeralds, but last night she showed that she can act as well as she can dance, with an engaging characterisation and little touches that I hadn’t seen with other Claras that put her own stamp on the role.

I agree that Rose’s performances over the series as a whole had the edge but John and Johannes were on fire last night. John certainly stepped up to the occasion and then some. But the audience choice of winning finalist is, of course, as much an emotional decision as anything else. I think that Rose’s win was pretty much a foregone conclusion and John’s comments before the result was revealed seemed to indicate that he had taken that on board. It is such a pity that AJ was not able to take part since her best dances would definitely been up there with John and Rose - her Quickstep (which for me was better than Rose’s) and Charleston to name but two. I don’t think, however, that she would have had any more chance of unseating Rose than John did and in all the circumstances, and over the entire run, arise could not be said to be anything less than a worthy winner.

And this one is worth watching, too.

Perhaps, in this instance, so that they can stream casts that may not be dancing on the same night for one or more parts of the triple bill.

It was indeed. It really felt as though Christmas was here at last, with that extra little touch of magic from start to finish. A glorious Clara, one of those 'can't take your eyes off her' performances from Ashley Dean in a shimmering, sparkling, joyous confection of feelgood Yuletide cheer.

Thank you, Naomi.

I'm hoping for an upturn long before April.

Well what a lovely interview. Fumi/Kaneko - whichever is correct - is absolutely delightful, with a conspicuous absence of ego and a wonderful work ethic. Long may her star continue to shine.

Can Naomi perhaps advise whether we should be saying Fumi Kaneko as per this forum and the UK press or Kaneko Fumi as in the documentary, given that the translator informed us that we would now speak to Kaneko?

LinnMM, I think that the ENB Arabian dance with the cracking whip will have made many people feel uncomfortable. I haven't seen the production for years since I do not particularly like it either but I was under the impression that it had been modified some time ago, largely because of the potentially offensive overtones. Interestingly, the criticisms levelled against the ENB production seemed to centre around the suggestion that their Arabian dance might be seen to condone violence against women in general rather than the depiction of cultural mores more commonly manifest in an 'Arabian Nights' context. I do not feel that the content of the RB version can be said to be comparable and, as I mentioned above, my friends from Saudi, the UAE and the Middle East generally (all of whom are well educated with European values) have never felt uncomfortable with the RB depiction but do feel uncomfortable when others who do not share their heritage take it upon themselves to complain.

I couldn't agree more, Annabel, that any assumption, practice or portrayal should be open to question and examination, and everyone is entitled to hold their own views, as much upon this matter as any other. It is only by examination of conflicting views and practices and open debate as to their merits and demerits that we are able to learn from past mistakes and, with the benefit of hindsight, to reach informed decisions as to what is acceptable and what is not. Cultural sensitivity is, quite rightly, something of which we are all increasingly aware, but I cannot see how the RB Arabian dance, which to my mind was no more than a valid interpretation of the music, crossed the line of what was and was not acceptable, nor can my female friends of Arabian or Middle Eastern nationality and heritage. Rather the contrary. They have uniformly expressed the view that it is hardly the place of those who do not share their heritage to swell the ranks of the naysayers and call for change. For what it's worth, and purely in answer to your comment, I would suggest that the wholly unacceptable levels of trolling, abuse, death threats and threats to the personal safety of the families of those brave enough to challenge the prophets of 'woke' is evidence enough of the fact that freedom of speech is seriously under threat, but I do not wish to turn this topic into a political commentary and will leave it at that.

There are a lot of very easily offended people out there, Rosie'sDream, and many of them offended on other people's behalf. The age of just getting on with things and not taking things personally has been consigned to history, which, right now, means 'cancelled'.

And, if I recall correctly, lots of input from Alex Campbell (for Jan McNulty, especially).

And I'm sure that many will have heard Joelle Harvey at the ROH and other venues. But is anyone familar with Anna Clyne's work?

Having heard his Cassio in the ROH pre-Covid Otello, I am looking forward to seeing him at the Saturday matinee. With the wonderful Anna Pirozzi, fresh from her Macbeth triumph.

Thanks for the update, Alison. I’ve set my TV to record the early morning repeat, although I don’t hold out any great hopes for an improvement. And totally agree with your sentiment.

Perhaps they had received so much adverse criticism that they felt they had no choice.

Ooh, how I'd love to be a rich Russian (or rich anything) with more money than sense! On second thoughts, keep the money bit but not sure that sense for money is such a good trade. Or is it?????

Whaaaaat!!!

I thought it was an absolutely fabulous performance - and, by and large, the production held up well - and would advise anyone who didn't get to see the live performances to watch the stream.

I think it's the Berlioz: Gergiev with Olga Borodina. Presumably the same as the Gergiev/Borodina R&J on Marquee TV.

I so agree, Jenny. That Siegfried performance was what hooked me, too. I wasn’t expecting to be wowed but, my goodness, was I impressed! And have never failed to be impressed since. There is a poetry to his dancing and I just love it.