Naomi M

Not mine but a couple of tweets from a friend who attended the performance.

Yes it was not a major role and Polunin's acting was not impressive, but the role of Yuri Soloviev is not a minor role, he did appear in some important scenes such as the night cruising with Pierre Lacotte and Clara Saint on the night they met (he was there to watch over Nureyev), the scene that they went to a toy store to purchase some railway figures and playing together in the hotel room, and the defection scene. They shared the same hotel room in Paris.

Casting of Paris Opera Ballet’s Raymonda is announced and Vadim Muntagirov will be guesting on December 22th and 27th. https://www.operadeparis.fr/saison-19-20/ballet/raymonda#distribution

Vadim will be guesting in National Ballet of Japan's Manon in February, two performances. He is very hugely popular here as he used to be the season guest principal there as well as appearing in many galas and RB tour. He doesn't need aggressive marketing because that doesn't suit him and he is a well known and brilliant dancer, the very best of his generation and has lots of opportunities to dance all over the world. His art speaks for himself.

This is a gala produced by Hikaru Kobayashi. Here is an interview (in Japanese) with her, talking about her career and also about this gala. https://www.chacott-jp.com/news/worldreport/tokyo/detail014366.html

Robert Tewsley guested in Royal Ballet's Manon in 2005 in Japan (after he left the company), partnering Tamara Rojo. He replaced the injured or ill (I don't remember which) Jonathan Cope and it was a last minute replacement, coincidentally he was in Japan for another guest appearance and was available. I saw the performance and it was superb. He also guested in National Ballet of Japan's Manon in 2003, partnering Alessandra Ferri, and also danced Lescaut in another cast.

I first saw this documentary on Japanese TV, and then watched them with English subtitles. I do not understand Russian so I might not be accurate, but it does seem possible that the subtitles and narration were translated from the Japanese version. However, the Japanese language, especially when it is written down requires less letters than in English (more information in lesser words) so it does seem the Japanese subtitles can be more detailed than the English ones, the Japanese subtitles did mention how Tsiskaridze regarded his students in details. (but it did miss the point about the nickname of the students) Vaganova Academy toured in Japan this February, they brought Nutcracker and Paquita/Fairy Doll, and Mikhail starred in Paquita, while Arron and Marko were in lead roles of Nutcracker/Fairy Doll. (Kirill was not included in the tour) so they are fairy familiar with the Japanese audience.

Now you can watch the full documentary on demand here (until September 21th, 2020) Part 1 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/3004617/?fbclid=IwAR2io-wybLojjTbHJL_JYoDo26NE3Riw9ATWuLbDFxgSRO3Z_-se7JgcV8g Part 2 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/3004618/?fbclid=IwAR1Xg3jHgC1NttU75lE06Fc1qBQ2tcgSRdPFrH9m1aDzHLDlZ5fVBKLTD0Q

I am glad Anna and Amelia were able to watch it Hope it will get replayed on NHK World as here we had several repeat broadcasts because of the popularity of the program

Yes it is streamed online.　 Access the above URL and there is a button on the right "Watch Live" when it becomes time. 00.10, 06.10, 11.10, 18:10 on Sunday for Part 2, UK time . Arron Osawa Horowitz also write on his public facebook about how to watch it. https://www.facebook.com/aaronosawahorowitz99/

Yes. 5 of the works have been performed live in Japan and I have seen all 5 of them. (And of course Woolf Works was shown at the cinema)

And the actual event.

A Japanese documentary following 4 boys at Vaganova Academy, class of Nikolai Tsiskaridze will be viewable live at NHK world. Future Prince of Ballet! The Vaganova Ballet Academy Part 2 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/special/episode/201909220810/ Sorry I should have informed earlier, but the second half of this 2 hour documentary will be streamed in 4 hours with a couple of replays. I strongly recommend this documentary as it shows how Tsiskaridze coaches his students, and the 4 students are indeed very promising. One of the boys, Arron Osawa-Horowitz was brought up in London and was a student at Royal Ballet School. He has joined the Mariinsky.

I think it is a bootleg so I am not sure if it is ok to post the link here but there are a couple of videos on YouTube from last night's performance, the entrance scene and balcony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK36CDZpVSc&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dkg8NSHIfo

English National Ballet's Tiffany Hedman needs help. https://www.gofundme.com/f/tiffany-hedman-medical-emergency She is suffering from kidney stone while visiting her family in US and unable to receive medical treatment because of the US healthcare system (lack of insurance), and unable to return to UK because she is too much in pain. Many fellow dancers are joining the fundraising.

Unfortunately they don't. They did overseas performances twice in the past, once was their tour to Kennedy Center (USA) in 2008 and another to Bolshoi Theatre in 2009 and that's it. They do a few performances outside Tokyo annually but usually focused on their home theatre. But they do have released several DVDs (including Bintley's Aladdin and Eagling's Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker) and I am sure as Yoshida has close relations with Kevin O'Hare and Sir Peter Wright they might have more opportunities in the UK. The quality of the dancers in the company is very high and versatile (although most of the repertoire are classical) and I hope the do have more Ashton such as La Fille mal Gardee and Two Pigeons because they are suited to those works. This season they will do Manon and Romeo and Juliet (both MacMillan) and Wheeldon's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and DGV.

According to Julie Kavanagh's Nureyev: The Life, it does seem to be true that Nureyev slept with Pushkin's wife.

National Ballet of Japan has Ashton's Cinderella in its repertoire for more than 10 years and this production is very popular here, performed every 2 years and tickets selling very well. And it would be possible that Yoshida will add more Ashton works. The Dream, Two Pigeons and La Fille mal Gardee are currently in the repertoire of other Japanese companies.

I think Ayako Ono and Yudai Fukuoka also guested in Prince of the Pagodas at BRB too. Bintley is hugely popular here but Japanese audiences were not used to modern works and ticket sales struggled at that time (and Pagodas have not been revived here) . But Aladdin is still greatly appreciated and has been revived several times as a family friendly piece. Hope Sylvia will be back too.

So lovely to hear the fond memories of Yoshida, especially of her SWRB/BRB days. Yes, Ayako Ono and Yudai Fukuoka guested in Aladdin at BRB. Especially Ono was in the creation, and she is an absolute gem. one of the very best ballerinas in our country and I hope her opportunities will expand in the coming years. So nice to hear from UK about her.

Miyako Yoshida's Farewell performance titled "Last Dance" was on August 7th and 8th. A huge demand for the tickets and it was sold out in 6 minutes, so many of her fans were unable to secure tickets but this will be broadcast later. Yoshida danced 4 works, first the gala opened with the opening solo of Ashton's Cinderella when she returns from the ball and dances with her memories of last night, In the end of the solo she puts out the glass slipper from last night, to remember that it was not a dream. Many of us must thought that the glass slipper represented ballet for Yoshida, a dream. Then there was Birthday Offering, Yoshida danced the Fonteyn part with Federico Bonneli, with 6 pairs of dancers who are the principals of various Japanese ballet companies, a feast of stars. Of course Yoshida's Ashton style is like no other, the clarity of the steps, the precise movements and elegance, and Bonneli also beautiful with gorgeous leaps. The opening of the latter half was a pas de deux from Peter Wright's Swan Lake, once again she was partnered with Bonneli. She still had the lovely Odette lines and fluidity, and the tragic dramatic expressions were heartbreaking. Wright's Swan Lake will replace the current Swan Lake when Yoshida takes over National Ballet of Japan in Autumn 2020. There were video messages from Kevin O'Hare, David Bintley and also a very beautiful touching message from Sir Peter Wright, telling Yoshida that she was the most wonderful ballerina with his fond memories of her in her youth. And the gala closed with Wright's Mirror Walkers, Yoshida was partnered with Irek MuKhamedov. Although Mukhamedov looked like a retired dancer, it was surprising that he danced so well, he even made some soaring leaps and cabrioles, and partnered and lifted Yoshida with such deep affection. Yoshida looked so young, like a teenage girl and everyone forgot she was 53 years old. She looked so fulfilled and happy in the arms of Mukhamedov. It was such a happy ending to a brilliant career. Also there were guests from RB and BRB, and they all danced works that were Yoshida's favorites. Yasmine Naghdi and Ryoichi Hirano danced the Sugar Plum fairy, Naghdi's fouette turns in the coda were amazing and a beautiful partnership between them. Megan Grace Hinkis and Valentino Zuchetti danced Tarantella and a pas de duex from La Fille mal Gardee which were delightful. Momoko Hirata and James Hay danced the Kshesinskaya pas de deux from Anastasia, very regal and classy. The program was curated by former BRB soloist Kosuke Yamamoto. I must not forget to mention that National Ballet of Japan which Yoshida will take leadership boasts two brilliant world class ballerinas, Yui Yonezawa and Ayako Ono. Yonezawa danced Don Quixote with Yasuomi Akimoto (of Tokyo Ballet) with polished secure technique, throwing in some triple turns in her fourettes while raising and lowering her fan. so gorgeous. Ayako Ono danced with colleague Yudai Fukuoka, Bintley's Sylvia (I think Yoshida was one of the first ballerinas in the premiere) with such delightfulness and airyness, so ethereal. (some of you might have seen them as guests at BRB) . They deserve to be known internationally. Also,dancers from Star Dancers Ballet danced Bintley's Flowers of the Forest which is also a lovely work. A short news clip from this performance I wish the recording of this gala would be broadcasted or issued as a DVD because I believe there are many fans of Yoshida in the UK. It was such a beautiful celebration to this beloved ballerina.

Recently there was a broadcast here of Rome Opera Ballet's double bill of Massine works, Parade and Pulcinella, filmed in 2017 so fairly recent one. https://www.operaroma.it/en/shows/parade-pulcinella/ https://www.medici.tv/en/ballets/parade-pulcinella-grand-theatre-romain-de-pompei/ It was reconstructed by Massine's sone Lorca

Actually I was working on supervising the Japanese translation of this book which will be published here in November. This book does name many 20th century works and the choice or works and choreographers are very interesting. (it is of course quite UK centered but nevertheless it does offer a comprehensive view) And it does also mention Bourne's Swan Lake as one of the modern classics.

More modern works should be included, such as Kurt Joss The Green Table Pina Baush (in addition to Rite of Spring) Cafe Muller, Nelken, Kontakthof & more Anthony Tudor The Leaves are Fading Jiri Kylian Petit Mort, Bella Figura William Forsythe Artifact Suite, Steptext Roland Petit Le Jeune Homme et La Mort, L'Arlesienne John Neumeier 3rd Symphony of Gustav Mahler (& more) Matthew Bourne Swan Lake (1995) Angelin Preljocaj Le Parc Uwe Scholz Beethoven 7th Symphony

In Japan, we just had the broadcast of Frankenstein (Hirano/Lamb/Dyer) and Romeo and Juliet (Takada/Hirano) but I am afraid this was only limited for broadcast here.