patsomerset

I still think it is a work in progress. I think it looks less cluttered and I did at last manage to find casting information for the mixed bill. Whether I shall be able to do it again. I don't know While I was on the site I did look at the comments from the Premium Friends who are now booking for next season and are unable to choose their favourite seats unless the book by telephone. To put it mildly, they are not at all happy! Let us hope it gets better. I am a great fan of the ROH. I find the staff lovely when you are there, and on the phone to the box office, but they do not seem to be able to 'do' technology at least as far as booking is concerned office. I am willing them to get it right when they eventually inveil the new site

I got in without any trouble but like Lynette I am totally bemused by the casting information, or lack of it in some cases. It does look like a work in progress at the moment for instance there is full casting info for Prince of the Pagodas but none for the Ballo/Sylphide mixed bill

I was spellbound by this video. I missed this part on "the day".. Thank you to whoever embedded it. I shall be watching it again for sure. My ballet class days were over almost before they started so I am not familiar with many of the steps. It makes fascinating viewing

Tamara is on Front Row on BBC4 as we speak

I totally agree with Lindsay. A wonderful interview with Tamara which reinforced my opinion of her as being an intelligent, educated, thoughtful, capable person, as well as the most wonderful dancer. I do hope she succeeds at ENB although I think she is a great loss to the RB

Thanks Bluebird. The site certainly looked the same!

I am shocked too. I admire her very much and love watching her dance. I am so looking forward to seeing her in "La Sylphide" at the end of the month, but I did think that she would be dancing with the Royal Ballet for a few years yet especially as she had been scheduled to dance next season, at least in Period 1. She comes across as a very intelligent thoughtful person so I imagine she has given this move a great deal of thought and maybe "seized the day" as they say. I too wish her the very best of luck and hope to see her dance again with the ENB

On a more positive note, I tried logging in this morning and got straight in. Ended up wishing I hadn't messed around late last evening. Is what we have now the new website? Does anyone know for certain?

I finally got out of the waiting room just before midnight last night. Fearing that the site (or me) might turn into a pumpkin at 12 o'clock, I booked a much more expensive seat than I intended as I didn't want to mess around and be thrown out, or start again today when it may not be any better

Ever the optimist I logged in again at 10.37 this evening. There are still 741 people ahead of me so I think I am going to give up for the time being at least

No, me too. I only want ballet tickets

I never seem to have dropped below 1,000 in the queue so I have decided to give up and try again later, or tomorrow. I only want one ticket but I want it for what seems to be one and only matinee this booking period. My choice has been severely limited as I wish to avoid the expense of an overnight stay so it's the matinee or nothing! I am still living in hopes. I am pleased to see there are more matinees next season

I R&J does seem to be being repeated elsewhere on other dates in other countries. I don't know where you live but if you go the the ROH website, there is a list of where and when I think the ROH do make a great effort to make the cinema audiences feel welcome and valued. I love the extras particularly the backstage views and input from the dancers and coaches. Some broadcasts just show the ballet, that's all, no introduction, no synopsis, nothing and it does seem soulless

Yes, I agree that it helps to fill the coffers which must be a good thing, and brings children into the ROH. Also a good thing. But it is a show and however entertaining I personally don't think it fits well into the RB repertoire. Still I don't have to see it again do I?

Thanks to both Amber & Alison for reporting no sound 'glitches' at their cinemas. I shall attempt to contact my local cinema about this as something that might be fixed before "Fille" in May as it would not seem to be general Agree about the close ups sometimes being misplaced. You need to see what is being reacted to as well as the reaction I am pretty sure mention was made to the ROH live transmission somewhere at the end of the trailers for "Fille" and "Rigoletto". You may have missed it in your search for a cast list. Yes, it was after the swordfighting feature that Cuthbertson told her story about Romeo appearing on the bed with a slashed face ...

I totally agree with amber21. If I lived nearer to London I would opt to go to the actual venue and see several different casts in the same production over a short period of time. You can't beat going to the 'real' theatre for atmosphere. I like to get there early and watch the audience arriving. It's all part of the performance. Nor can you really compare a live transmission with being there; it's just different. The cinema transmissions are a wonderful example of how technology can be used to show high quality performances to more people and hopefully introduce ballet, opera and drama to a new audience. The extras you get as part of the live transmissions do help to show the hard work and dedication that go into the performances as did the excellent 'live' day from ROH today

I did not expect to see them eating lunch Alison but I imagine they do not all go to lunch at the same time! Having said that I have enjoyed everything from then onwards. Good interview with Monica Mason and riveting 'Pagodas' rehearsal with Marianella Nunez. I must tear myself away now

I haven't been able to watch all of it by any means but a lot of it is not 'live' or new material for instance the intervew which is on now and who is the man acting as interviewer? Or dear! Having seen more of 'Alice' I am sorry to say that I do not think this is a serious addition to the RB reprtore. Fun maybe, good for children maybe, but up there with Giselle, Swan Lake, R&J etc, not really

I too attended last evening's performance at my local Odeon in Taunton. The screen (their largest) was virtually full. We were supplied with an official ROH synopsis and full cast list this time which was a great improvement There was a wonderful cast and I thought the company as a whole were on cracking form. It wasn't just a Cuthbertson and Bonelli show. The rest of the cast had a chance to shine too, particlarly Mercutio and the harlots. I often think that had I the physique for ballet, I should have loved to have been a harlot in R&J. They have so much fun and where else in ballet do you get a chance to spit? Subject for another discussion perhaps ie you favourite role should YOU have had the chance, not the chance to spit As well as the 'extras', you get a lot of close ups in the cinema. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good but merciless in that errors or slips do not escape notice. What you do not always get is the big picture. I should have liked more full screen images for the ballroom scenes for instance, but we did get to see some of the wonderful costumes in close up I did not particularly take to Lauren Cuthbertson's Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty" which was the subject of the last live link. Too many wobbles and not a lot of personality I thought. But last evening her Juliet really worked for me. She and Federico seemed very self assured and confident and danced well together. The balcony and bedroom pas de deux were wonderfully uninhibited and full of emotion The orchestra were on good form last evening as well. We had a few glitches with the sound. I have no idea whether this was peculiar to our cinema or general. It would be good to know. There were several momentary breaks in the sound transmission and a few really horrible screeches which sounded like something hitting the microphone All in all a really wonderful evening, very well received in my local Odeon. There was total silence throughout the performance unbroken by the sound of sweets being unwrapped or popcorn being eaten! I realise that the excitement today will be the ROH Live link but it would be good to hear from others who went to the cinema performance last evening and from those who were actually there. Did those who were there enjoy it just as much? I know some of the regular balletcoers are weary of R&J but do bear in mind that there are always some to whom it new or those who never tire of it like me

As someone has said Balletco has been known for reasoned, intelligent, literate content, so please no blogs. Highly critical reviews should be allowed but not venemous or personal ie attacks on someones personal appearance etc should not be permitted. Please can we not turn it into another site where we get to know what people are eating while they write, whilst retaining the friendly exchange of views which I have always enjoyed

Yes, I noticed this last time I attended ROH. According to the programme they offer cough sweets to help you 'manage' your cough but obviously people do not avail themselves of this offer or the sweets are not effective!

Thank you for posting this Janet. I agree with every word! I once had the cheek to ask a girl on a train to turn her radio down which she was playing loudly to the whole carriage and was met with a torrent of abuse and told to learn to concentrate! After that rather galling experience I have assumed that rustling sweet papers, mobile screens lighting up etc were now part of modern life and was being unreasonable in complaining. Really cheering to know that one's feelings are shared and no I don't think it is a middle class/age thing. People of all ages and apparent class annoy and object in equal part. What can be done? Perhaps we could start by complaining loud and long to the management although to be honest I cannot see my local Odeon banning the sale of popcorn during ballet and opera transmissions

Thank you from me too. I do not 'lurk' on purpose but tend to forget that I am not signed in. I guess this applies to other people too. I hope the prospect of losing ballet.co will encourage us to mend our ways!

Sadly I do not have the technical knowledge to be able to offer help of that sort, nor am I based in London, but I would be happy to pay a sub in future. I am a bit of a lurker mainly because I do sometimes feel I have nothing to say that the many very experienced ballet.coers don't know already, but I would hate to lose ballet.co. I have not come across a social website yet which approaches the quality of ballet.co. The open rudeness and lack of respect on these sites, for both the performers and fellow posters, just amazes me. There is very little of what I would call discussion or debate. Trading insults and posting pointless comments such as 'I don't know who this guy is' seem to be everyday occurences. Why do they bother? I imagine that is why the many lurkers and guests look at ballet.co ie they want to hear measured views from people who know what they are talking about. I don't know the background of the regular ballet.coers but some I guess have ballet connections going back many years. We cannot lose this knowledge/input, so please lurkers and guests come forward, register and tell the committee how much you enjoy it, what you enjoy and whether you have anything to offer

Sorry got in a mess trying to do a quote! I should apologise in turn. I did not intend to sound offended. I wasn't on the least upset. I should have done my research before I posted! Thank you for including the link to the ROH Collections. It was very interesting to see who danced last time.