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Fonty

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  1. Fonty
    Unless you are very tall indeed, the head of the person in front at the ROH always seems to be blocking your view slightly. Hence the bobbing and weaving, as we all keep moving to get a better view. Like everyone else has said, I think it is better at the Coli, and this is the one theatre where I actually prefer the stalls to anywhere else. I always feel as though I am miles away if I sit in the circle. Can't comment on SW - this is the one theatre where I usually get the cheaper seats, as the views are so splendid from the higher seats. I was right up in the gods for Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, and it was spectacular, and I could still see the expressions on their faces.
  2. Fonty
    Goodness, has she? That didn't register, I just had the choice of two dates - tomorrow and Sunday.
  3. Fonty
    Great! Thanks Capybara. I deliberately steered clear of the two starry casts - Rojo and Cojacaru - as I have seen both dance many times before, whereas I don't get the chance to see Takahashi very often. Likewise Klimentova, although I couldn't manage any of the dates for her performances.
  4. Fonty
    I am seeing this on Saturday afternoon. I have got a bit confused as to who is dancing what. Originally it was Takahashi as Medora and Acosta as Conrad. Has anybody seen Takahashi? I don't think I've seen any reviews of her performance, and she is one of my favourites. Where do I get up to date info, as the website doesn't seem to correspond to the information people are giving here. Thanks, and am REALLY looking forward to it. And afterwards, I might trot along to Patisserie Valerie (as mentioned elsewhere) :drool:
  5. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    My very best wishes to all the sick people mentioned on here. I hope they all get the treatment they need, and have a successful outcome.
  6. Fonty
  7. Fonty
    Bother. Why do these promotions come out just after I have bought my tickets?
  8. Fonty
    But that is what all young dancers train for, dream about, yearn to do. It is a bit like saying that playing in a Grand Slam is a daunting prospect for a young, up and coming tennis player, therefore they should not try before they think they will win. I agree that a youngster plucked straight out of ballet school and thrown into a leading role, with no previous experience of dancing on the stage, would probably be very nervous. But it is no more daunting for a talented young dancer with soloist experience at the ROH to appear in a Principal role at the ROH than it is at the Paris Opera House, the Mariinsky or the Bolshoi. I agree that there have been some wonderful Principals over the years drafted in from other companies. But if there is a gap in the Principal ranks, and it is felt that none of the current crop of younger dancers are quite ready, I think they should come as Guest Artists on a shortish, fixed term contract.
  9. Fonty
    That is certainly true for tennis. There was an interesting article in the Independant at the weekend about Jamie Baker, the British tennis player, who retired last year at the age of 26. He earned next to nothing in his career, in spite of getting to about 150 in the world. I dislike the current system, which seems to be that if they want a new Principal, they take an established dancer from another comapny, rather than promoting from within. The occasional guest star is fine, but it seems to be the norm now to invite people from elsewhere to take the top positions at the RB. Often this can be wonderful, but sometimes I have scratched my head and wondered why on earth they are there. After lots of performances in leading roles, they eventually seem to be worthy of the position. But surely, a Soloist or First Soloist in the Company, given the same opportunities, would achieve the same thing. I really feel that they should try to encourage and nurture the talent coming through the school. I know this is an old, old argument, but I still feel it is very important.
  10. Fonty
    Yes, I remember there were a couple of photos of her doing barre work on the boat. She really was so photogenic, and she also seemed to radiate this air of serenity when she was practising. I am trying to think of current dancers who have had similar photos taken while they were practising, but nothing springs to mind.
  11. Fonty
    Fonteyn was such a beautiful woman, she had some lovely photos taken. I have a book with some wonderful pictures of her. Among my favourites are one taken of her as the Firebird, just leaping on the stage. It is full of movement, but unfortunately I can't find the exact photo on the web. You know the costume, of course: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/11/19/article-1229174-0741C6B8000005DC-693_468x314.jpg There are also some super ones of her in Symphonic Variations, with Pamela May and Moira Shearer. Again, I can't find anything of good quality on the web, only these: http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/06/07/z_p34-Engigma2.jpg
  12. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    Preferably a beginner....
  13. Fonty
    Precisely my point, Alison. I think people are more likely to agree with a critic's criticism if they are not a particular fan, but if a favourite is described in such a cutting way, it is more likely to annoy them (even if it is true). Personally, I am quite capable of that level of detachment, but some fans are so besotted, they take any negative comments as insults. Anyway, back to Jewels.....
  14. Fonty
    Nothing at all. But I am prepared to speculate that as it is called The Winter's Tale, then the costumes are probably unlikely to be vests and pants in dreary colours. Which is promising....
  15. Fonty
    Having read the Crisp review, it seems to me the only thing that anyone could object to is the phrase used to describe Marquez. And that really depends on whether or not you are a fan of hers. Apart from that, it is the usual Crisp review, written in his own very unique style. Other critics can be equally dismissive of a production or performer, but they don't have his ability to express their dislike so succinctly. You may gather from this that I love his reviews. Even though I disagree with him quite often, I always find them very entertaining.
  16. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    MAB, that is terrible. Do these people actually go out to work? Are they shift workers, who sleep by day and party by night? The only thing i can suggest is when you suspect they might be asleep, to put your speakers somewhere suitable, and play something with carrying power. Opera usually works, especially Wagner. Either that, or remove your carpet and take up tap dancing.
  17. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    I have had the weirdest email from the woman in the flat downstairs, accusing me of sharing the same acrimony and resentment towards her as the two tenants in the flat upstairs, and that she is writing a letter to her solicitors asking them to inform everyone that "negative attitudes produce unexpected consequences." I never even seen the tenants (I don't live there during the week), let alone shared any sentiments with them of any sort. When I sent her an email saying I was completely baffled, and could she tell me what on earth she was talking about, I included my phone number in case she would prefer to speak to me. She has sent another email saying she "had no wish to comment on my reply in any form", and saying she was no trouble maker and just wanted a quiet life. Well, she is not exactly going about it in the right way, is she?
  18. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    Poor Spanner. Get well soon. Have a virtual bouquet of flowers to make you feel better :floralarrangement:
  19. Fonty
    I didn't buy tickets for Jewels this time around. But I think I can still discuss it in general terms, can't I? After all, this is what the forum is all about? Discussion and expression of opinion? Or am I missing something?
  20. Fonty
    On a general level, it did surprise me when I went away to uni that so many of my fellow students did not know how to cook a thing. My mother gave me a few basic recipes, but the one that remains with me to this day is the one pot casserole. If you can peel and soften an onion, and open and add a tin of tomatoes, you can thow in just about anything you like and have a low cost, easy and healthy meal in no time. And I have to say that Delia Smith's Basic Cookery book is the single most useful book in my collection. She really does teach the basics - including how long to boil an egg for the various degrees of softness.
  21. Fonty
    Me neither. I thought it was just a case of the inefficient Italian post. I have not been able to answer many questions on here. I am amazed at the depth of knowledge people are showing.
  22. Fonty
    I haven't seen any of the current performances, but I love Emeralds. Done properly it has a wonderful dreamy quality to it. Unfortunately, because the idea is not to show emotion (presumably) the result is often a blankness of expression from the dancers that can leave the viewer completely cold. If the idea is to express the music, then sure a little bit of emotion suitable to the music would not be inappropriate? And I must be one of the very few who dislike Rubies. Yes, it is full of crowd pleasing technical steps, but it seems to be a case of milking the audience as much as possible. It reminds me of the time when I was young, and watching visiting Russian companies. I used to hate it when they would string together about 20 seconds of fantastic leaps or turns, and then spend 5 minutes expecting to be loudly applauded. Just plain, straightforward showing off. It has its place in galas, but otherwise not really my sort of thing. And I don't like the music.
  23. Fonty
    I don't think you have quite got the hang of these resolutions yet. Hand me over all your chocolate, and then you can start Actually, one resolution I might make (if I was to make a resolution) is to check my favourite theatres more often to see when the booking periods start. I have just spotted something I would really like to see, but I can't get tickets until September.
  24. Fonty
    I assume that if you take the attitude higher, it tends throws your weight further forward? This means a greater adjustment has to be made to get your balance. I've not noticed any of the modern dancers going for longer balances, at least not when I've been watching. Aurora usually takes ages to get to the stage where she can throw her arm up to join its companion for a brief moment, before grabbing the next suitor's arm with visible relief!
  25. Fonty
    There is a clip of Durante on Youtube, doing a terrific RA. I think it is the one where the whole ballet was filmed by the ROH. And of course, as I mentioned on another thread, there are several clips of Margot Fonteyn :sigh: How I wish I could have seen her in it.
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