SusanR

Can anyone tell me how much the Mariinsky programmes are please? Thank you Susan

When I was at the Russian Icons Gala recently a 'gentleman' kept looking at his mobile & taking photos....I was so furious I complained to the manager & she, very kindly, offered me a free programmefor my next visit! My next trip was to see Kings of the Dance & the programme cost £10.00 so I was really pleased. It does pay to complain (nicely, of course), but I have to say that I am reluctant to go to the cinema these days because of audience behaviour. Susan

I was sitting in the stalls too, Aileen! Susan

Isn't it amazing how diverse our thoughts on Lest we Forget are? While I was at the Barbican yesterday, I thought to myself, lucky Londoners to have such a wonderful venue in the middle of the city! The theatre was really comfortable, with good sightlines. I had no trouble at all in finding the Barbican. I got off at Moorgate tube station & went up an escalator & after that it was well signposted plus there was the yellow line to follow! To the performance itself, I loved it. I especially liked Liam Scarlett's No Man's Land. In fact it moved me to tears. What a talented young man. Alina & Zdenek were fabulous in the final pas-de-deux. The Firebird was ok, danced beautifully by all concerned, but I don't really see the connection to the great war. The piece I liked the least was the Maliphant, but everyone else seems to rave about it, so perhaps I should see it again? Hated the music for that. Dust was amazing. It was the first time I had seen Akram Khan & I was really impressed! I could hardly breathe through the performance. My only criticism of the whole programme is the low lighting! I know it was to evoke a sombre atmosphere but I do really want to see the dancers too! Well done ENB. I hope I may be able to go see it again next week. For anyone who has read my posts in Audience Behaviour, I am happy to report that yesterday's audience were fantastic. There was even a couple there with a young baby, maybe 6 months old. The child was as good as gold. Didn't hear a peep out of him/her! Also I was sitting behind Michael Nunn & William Trevitt, aka The BalletBoyz. Susan

I saw Lunkina a few years ago in Spartacus,in Southampton! I can't remember the exact year. She danced the role of Phrygia. Susan

Reference my post number 635 on this thread, I am beginning to wonder if it is me, attracting rude audience members! I was at Kings of the Dance on Saturday evening, sitting in the front row of the dress circle.Two ladies came & sat beside me & started drinking wine & eating chorizo crisps!The wine I could tolerate but the crisps were so smelly........when I pointed out that you shouldn't eat in the auditorium, one woman said that it was OK as the show hadn't started!I am seriously thinking of curtailing my trips to the ballet as every performance I have been to recently has been spoilt. Perhaps theatre's should print a code of conduct & give one to each audience member as they enter the auditorium. Susan

Thanks ever so much, Mummykool. That is really helpful. Two 35 minute intervals seem a bit much though!I was hoping for an earlier train but that isn't going to happen...... Susan

Can anyone tell me the running time of Kings of the Dance? Thank you Susan

Thank you so much ajf. I will book a ticket! Susan

I was really confused too! Great dancing from Lucia & Marlon though. Susan

Can anyone advise me as to the best place to sit in the Barbican theatre? I am thinking of booking for ENB's Lest We Forget. Thank you. Susan

I did actually write to the house manager today, Amelia.I await her reply! Susan

I was at the Russian Ballet Icons gala on Sunday & my evening was ruined by an extremely arrogant Russian! I had a lovely seat at the end of a row in the dress circle.The people sitting next to me in the first half didn't return for the second part & as the lights dimmed this man barged past me without apology. He then proceeded to constantly look at his mobile phone & took pictures of all the dancers, at times holding the phone above his head. It must have been a nightmare for the people behind him. I was so furious it spoilt my evening completely. It was an expensive trip as I had to stay in London overnight due to no late trains.....I did speak to the house manager but, of course, there wasn't much she could do after the event! Some people's behaviour is making me wary of going to the theatre or cinema. Susan

I'm so sorry if I made a mistake regarding the Bolshoi's Sleeping Beauty on TV over Christmas! I am positive that is what I read but the magazine has been recycled so I can't check. Susan

I'm so sorry, just realised I posted this information in the wrong thread! Susan

Having received my Radio Times this morning I noticed that the BBC are showing RB Don Q and the Bolshoi Sleeping Beauty, although it doesn't say when! Happy days. Susan

Thank you for posting this Katherine. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the gala although I should have been doing my housework....... Susan

I think Matthew Golding is a fine dancer & I am pleased he is joining the Royal Ballet. Some of the comments on this site are rather spiteful. Hope Matthew doesn't read them! Constructive criticism is one thing, spite quite another..... Susan

Definitely Aileen!

In my opinion, Kish is a dish & not 'doltish' at all. Imagine how the poor man must have felt had he read that review! I have enjoyed several of his performances & feel he does not deserve such rudeness. Susan

I totally agree with you Don Q fan. There is no way I would have travelled to London during the Olympics to see Swan Lake, had I known I was not going to see my favourites! The same thing happened to me last week when Farouk Ruzimatov did not appear at the Leipa Gala. It is expensive & time consuming ,travelling from West Sussex. I know that casting changes sometimes & it can't be helped but it is happening too much recently. Also, I don't like it when ballet companies & theatre's don't update their websites. Surely, it's the easiest thing in the world to have up to date information? Also, no principals tomorrow afternoon. What a poor show at £67.00 per ticket.... I would have liked to have seen Konvalina if I couldn't have Vadim. I think in future I will wait until the last minute before I book. Ok, maybe I won't get what I want but at least I won't feel as frustrated as I do today. I almost feel like giving up on travelling to London for ballet, I've been disappointed so many times. Ballet companies please note..........you might end up with no patrons at all!

Oh, Meunier, I agree with everything you say. Loved all the dances, particularly Work in Progress. What wonderful choreography. Eat your heart out Wayne McGregor! I've always liked Mikhail Lobukhin ever since I saw him in Prodigal Son. It was a pleasure to see him again. I also thought it was a delighful end to the evening when Andris placed a bouquet in front of a photo of his father & all the dancers bowed to Maris. Very touching. Would love to see more programmes like this. Susan

Did anyone see this gala on Sunday? I was there & enjoyed it. My only disappointment was that my favourite dancer, Farouk Ruzimatov did not appear Susan

Did anyone see the Summer Concert from Vienna on BBC four last Friday? As it was a rainy afternoon[again] I watched it on iplayer. It is really worth watching & I think it is available for the next couple of days. There was a delightful ballet to Debussey's La Mer. The dancers were dancing in the lake! Fabulous. Also lovely views of the Schonbrunn Palace & gardens. Susan