patsomerset

I had misgivings when I first heard that she was to join the panel but I have completelty changed my mind in the last two weeks. I did find the 'yeahs' irritating but she seems to have stopped those and she gives good sympathetic feedback, if a trifle wordy sometimes. She also has a lovely warm smile which goes a long way to soften any criticisms she might make. I also think she is having a good effect on Craig and Len. She sits between them which offsets the tensions there were last year and she does seem to have a rapport with them both. I have always liked Craig, after all he is there to judge, and he knows what he is talking about, although he can go too far on occasions. All in all I think the panel are great this year and are acting as judges in a way they did not last year. This is a dancing competition and think they are quite right to comment on the lack of 'dance' content in some of the routines

Thank you everyone for responding to my thoughts/comments on the triple bill at Plymouth First of all, yes, the third piece was The Grand Tour. I am not sure why I didn't mention it Alison. You are not being thick. It was the first piece to be performed and perhaps rather overshadowed by Faster and The Dream. It was still enjoyable with very clearly defined character roles particularly by Elisha Willis as Gertrude Lawrence and Rory Mackay as Noel Coward Thank you for the infomation about the stage Janet. My comment was in no way a reflection on the BRB dancers by the way but the noise was a shame and not suited to a ballet about fairies! Yes, the safety curtain is something really special and unique I believe. I don't know what it is made of but it seems to roll down rather like a garage door and is shiny silvery and mirror like. I think 'glamorous' might be an appropriate description, not normally associated with a safety curtain. I must remember to ask about it next time I go to Plymouth I do hope that some of you will also have the pleasure of seeing Momoko in The Dream. I have been a fan ever since I saw her Aurora, also in Plymouth, two. maybe three years ago, and was delighted to see her back with BRB. I am only sorry that I shall not be able to see her in Swan Lake this time

I am not sure that this is the correct place to post this but it does tie up with the above casting information. I was in Plymouth last evening for the first night of the Autumn Celebration programme. I don't know if any other Balletcoers were there I am not a great fan of triple bills but this one really appealed to me and I happily agreed to go with a friend. It was not a full house but it was the most awful day/evening weatherwise, heavy rain on the way there and dense patches of fog on the way back, which may have put some people off. Good appreciative audience, well turned out and, to my knowledge, no bad behaviour. I thought I would mention that in view of the recent posts about this on the forum I thought the programme very well balanced. Three completely different styles, music and costumes. I think it must have been very tiring for the cast. Some of them were in all three items and 'Faster' in particular was very energetic. This was actually my favourite although I did not expect this to be so. What a clever man David Bintley is! This was an Olympic Games inspired piece, bursting with energy, wonderful ideas and humour I have never seen The Dream before and was looking forward to it very much particularly when I learnt that Momoko was dancing Titania and Cesar Oberon. They were delighful together. Momoko is just like a piece of thistledown with neat very precise feet and is a joy to watch, as was the whole cast. The only downside was that the stage was very noisy, way beyond the usual pitter patter of the pointe shoes and there some very heavy, noisy landings from a few of the men I have no techinical knowledge so I can only say that I enjoy watching ballet and this was a most watchable evening I look forward to hearing the views of those with more knowledge of ballet and who may have seen The Dream, in particular, before Edit: thanks, Pat. I've just realised that this is in fact the same bill as the "Summer Celebration" which BRB were touring earlier in the year, so have broken into your post to add the link to that one: http://www.balletcof...hl__celebration I

Very excited by the Clement Crisp review of the new Bolshoi star. Roll on next summer and hope to get a ticket

Well said Sim. Ballet Co has always been different from other internet sites where personal remarks, insults and attacks seem to be commonplace. Long may it remain so. If we want people to ask questions or for advice, they should expect to be treated with courtesy and patience, not called 'naive' or made to feel stupid

me too. It a timeless story in so many ways

I rather agree. West Side Story is my all time favourite. I saw the show when it first came to London and was completely blown away by the music, the dancing and the sheer energy of the whole production. Never seen anything like it before, or probably since, although I do have a weakness for Phantom of the Opera which I have seen several times. I did not care for the film but the anniversary production from the Royal Albert Hall which was shown in cinemas was wonderful. I feel it might be my age but I cannot hear the words of a lot of the songs these days and it's nothing to do with my hearing and a lot to do with the way they are delivered and quite often over amplified

I echo that! They were not the only two punching the air I guess

I agree with several things you said, particularly about the Team GB tracksuits. Far too much bling! I also wondered why they felt the need to make faces at the camera. Until we got to the USA & GB, most of the athletes had managed to parade with a certain amount of dignity, while apparently enjoying themselves. My favourite moment, apart from The Queen and James Bond was the lighting of the cauldron. What a stunning bit of design. This was certainly something which could compete with both Sydney and Bejiing and I did think that was a 'wow' moment

Thank you for drawing our attention to this. I didn't pick upon it until Act3 sadly but it was an entirely unexpected pleasure to watch. I too saw them in London and they do look and dance so well together. Don Q is a great ballet for their style. I still cannot get to like the Russian habit of taking curtain calls at every verse end, but there again I suppose it's OK in Don Q Why is the Russian ensemble dancing so wonderful? I am afraid I can never help comparing the togetherness and style of their corps with our own RB much as I love the latter. I suppose it must be the training

Yes, they are aren't they? I was too busy looking at the costume but as you say, the shoes are 'interesting' too

Oh Dear! That is what I was afraid of. Tamara must have worn some beautiful and elegant costumes during her time with RB. What a shame the last costume should be so unflattering. The same goes for those for the rest of the cast and they all form the background to both farewells I am very sad to see them both go but I wish them both luck and happiness in the future

Yes, again, lovely pictures. Shame about the costumes though. They are all, without exception, unflattering and ugly. Can someone assure me that they were better in real life?

I saw Acosta guesting with ABT in New York in 2005 (I think). Unfortunately I cannot find the programme. What I do remember was the reaction of other members of the audience to Carlos. None of the people sitting round us seemed to have heard of him before which of course I found hard to believe, but he certainly added to the pleasure of the evening and was very well received As others have said ABT do seem to welcome guest artists not resent them

Thank you Bluebird. We will await developments!

Oh I do hope so. I too find the ROH cinema transmissions next season rather 'safe' and predictable

Yes, me too. I don't remember BRB doing three visits to Plymouth but certainly two full scale tours plus a mid-scale visit to Exeter, which was always enjoyable.

Thank you Janet. An educated guess is fine. I am hoping that it is a one-off, not a sign of things to come!

I heartily agree with the last remark about BRB coming to the South West. We have very much missed the Spring visit to the Theatre Royal in Plymouth this year although it is not a mid-scale tour. I gather there will be an Autumn tour to Plymouth but they used to come twice a year. I find the audiences in Plymouth very enthusiastic and people travel from Somerset, Cornwall and all over Devon to attend. The performances seem to be well attended and the Theatre Royal is an excellent venue, you can see very well from virtually every seat. I don't know the reason for the lack of a Plymouth visit this spring. It may well be a funding issue. Maybe someone knows? I do hope they continue these tours as well as the mid-scale tours in future

Thank you for the lovely photographs. I am going to the matinee on Saturday with the other cast, which has changed since I booked, but I am glad to say Tamara Rojo is still dancing. I am looking forward to it very much. I have never seen Ballo so it will be a new experience. I look forward to seeing the posts during the week and other people's views

I echo this. Almost any visit to any other theatre makes you realise that by and large the ROH audience members are considerate and how sensible are the rules about admitting late comers, not allowing food or drink into the auditorium etc I have also benefitted from the advice which many people have offered about binoculars and opera glasses. Thank you all Last but not least, yes I do remembeer the stone stairs. Ah those were the days!! I think not. They still exist at the Bristol Hippodrome if anyone is nostalic for them

I think that opera glasses can enhance the performance as I like to see the performers faces from time to time, and also the costumes, but for the most part a whole stage view is best. I have never found the use of them by others irritating and I hope I have never annoyed anyone else I agree that one of the most irritating things is people leaning forward. I once sat in the third row of the Balcony and should have had a great view except that several people in the front row lent forward the whole time. I took the cowards way out and asked one of the attendants to have a word in the interval. It does actually refer to this in the guidelines part of the ROH programme under ' Enjoying the performance' but I don't suppose everyone reads this The other most annoying thing is people who wait for a quiet part to unwrap their confectionary, cough sweet or whatever. Really breaks the spell Having said that most people are lovely, friendly and happy to chat in the interval if they are not making a bee line for the bar so I hope you have a wonderful time Marieve. Anticipation is part of the enjoyment too!

Yes, I too was expecting something along the lines of the ABT production which I first saw on video with Baryshnikov and Cynthia Harvey (I think). This was the standard by which I judged Don Q; until I saw Osipova and Vasiliev that is. They certainly set a new standard for many of us and will be a hard act to follow. By and large the RB dancers don't do "fireworks" (that is not a criticism) and are not given to showing off are they?

I last saw this performed by the RB in November 2001 during Ross Stretton's time as Director. I still have the programme and the cast list. Looking at it now it should have been a stellar performance with Tamara Rojo as Kitri, Johan Kobborg as Basilio and Alina Cojacaru, Marianela Nunez, and Zenaida Yanowsky amongst others in the cast. I had only ever seen it on DVD before from ABT, but I can still remember the sense of disappointment I felt as the RB's version failed 'take off' in a way I cannot put my finger on. It just seemed to lack excitement. I have seen it many times since mainly by the Russian companies and once by ABT with a Russian guest star (Diana Vishneva). It is one of my favourites and to my mind you should get the feeling of sheer enjoyment as soon as the curtain goes up. Dancing for joy and even showing off don't seem to spoil this ballet although I am normally not in favour of ballet becoming a series of gymnastic or athletic feats particularly if they give rise to inappropriate applause which interupt the story line. Perhaps Carlos who is able to convey his sunny, joyous personality into the auditorium will succeed or maybe this ballet just does not suit our own RB. It will certainly be hard to follow the Osipova/Vasiliev performance which I was lucky enough to see the summer before last. Dull would you be of heart to begrudge these two outstanding young people their applause and standing ovations Forgive the slightly muddled post. Too many thought lines going on perhaps?

I can't start a new topic in Balletco Forum so I have decided to say it here. I hope it's appropriate. I should just like to say a big thank you to all those who undertook to keep the show on the road and build on the achievements of the former website. I personally think it has gone from strength to strength. We seem to have new members and former members returning. I am delighted. I need my daily fix! Thank you also to those who post with knowledgeable and/or enthusiatic reviews, devoid of personal attcks either on the ballet companies, dancers or other posters Just over two months later I felt a little thanks might not go amiss Bravo balletco. There is not another site like it. I shall raise a glass of red wine to you all shortly