Naomi M

I might have written about this before, but the worst part of the La Scala DVD is that the screen is split into two at the 3rd act variation for Novikova and half of the screen shows the piano's keyboards. Horrible. (and I am not a fan of the production either, it is indeed dull)

As written in the thread above, the Mariinsky historical theatre's stall seats are very flat with no rake so I would recommend to avoid if you are not tall. I sat in several places in the historical theatre, and one was in the side seat of the 4th ring. I would say the position was not too high (I think it is maybe lower than that of the amphitheatre of ROH) and it was at the very side but quite close to the stage. But there is one higher ring above that. I saw Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Festival and the price was 1500 roubles so that was not a bad deal. (it was the last ticket in the house for that performance) Also I saw a mixed bill of Fokine works from the 1st ring side but close to the center 1st row and that view was great. Other performances were in the 5th row of the stalls and the view was blocked by people in front and difficult to see the dancer's feet so not recommended. I don't think you will visit this time but Mariinsky 2 Theatre is raked well so you can have a good view from everywhere and the acoustics are magnificent.

My personal recommendation is the Bolshoi Semenyaka/Mukhamedov/Taranda Raymonda (1980). https://www.amazon.com/Glazunov-Raymonda-Bolshoi-Semenyaka-Moukhamedov/dp/B0006A9HUS Semenyaka's Raymonda is sparkling here, and both Mukhamedov and Taranda has shown such strength and character. There is one more Bolshoi Raymonda with Bessmertnova, Vasyuchenko and Taranda which is a little newer(1989) and the filming quality better but I prefer Semenyaka. Also the Kirov Kolpakova /Berezhnoi/Selyutsky one is fabulous, she is 47 years old at the point of filming but nevertheless she is brilliant. Although the production seems a little dated it is a gem. The recent La Scala Vikharev one is not my cup of tea, the costumes are very heavy and the whole production looks awkward. And the most terrible thing is the filming of Raymonda's 3rd act variation when half of the screen shows the piano instead of the stage... And there is the "Dancer's Dream" documentary of Nureyev's Raymonda at Paris Opera Ballet but this is a documentary and although very interesting, I wish they had filmed the whole performance available for DVD.

I am not sure this will be view-able in UK but Arte will stream the July 16th performance The streaming will be July 16 or 17th 20:00 (Paris time) but I think it will be online for a while. http://concert.arte.tv/fr/balanchine-new-york-paris-au-theatre-du-chatelet The producer is Bel Air media so likely to make on DVD?

Note that Joseph Aumeer The Royal Ballet – Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme has competed in the Paris Opera Ballet entrance audition and was ranked third place. He did not get a contract (the top 2 dancers did) but it is highly possible that he could get a temporary contract at POB. We will see which he will choose.

And the report of the outreach workshop in Kumamoto. http://www.roh.org.uk/news/the-royal-ballet-run-workshops-to-inspire-children-in-japanese-earthquake-zones it is wonderful that the Royal Ballet does this kind of good will for children. Yuhui Choe is from Kita-Kyushu, which is not so far from the place of this workshop.

The Royal Ballet tour has finished their performances in Tokyo and now on tour outside Tokyo for a week. I saw 5 performances and enjoyed them very much, I hope I can share views on the performances here. Meanwhile, the company is doing several outreach performances for children with handicaps and also to schools affected with the earthquake in Kumamoto happening in April. Here is a clip of local news with Yuhui Choe and Nehemiah Kish performing snippets from Giselle. I hope she gets opportunity to dance the role in the not far future.

One of the most glorious Raymondas was Miyako Yoshida dancing in the Covent Garden reopening gala with Johan Kobborg. It was just the coda but even though, her commanding musicality and brilliance shone. National Ballet of Japan has a full Raymonda in their repertoire, and a DVD is retailed in Japan with Svetlana Zakharova (and Denis Matvienko). Although I admit there are some dull moments in this ballet, Glaznov's music is so beautiful and I just enjoy listening to the CD of it. National Ballet of Japan's production has beautiful costumes and stage design by Luisa Spinatelli, and overall an enjoyable one. National Ballet of Japan has a video archive in their library and we can also watch the full performance by Yoshida and Ethan Stiefel. I also love the Nureyev version and have seen it in Paris. It is a shame that it is out of their repertoire now as the Georgiadis costumes and sets became old and I believe they have been destroyed.

Alastair Macaulay has said on his instagram (a private account) that he will write about Ferri and other Romeo and Juliets on NYT tomorrow morning.

Today there is also a school matinee for Romeo and Juliet. The casts are, Juliet Natalia Osipova Romeo Matthew Golding Mercutio Marcelino Sambe Benvolio Nicol Edmonds Tybalt Ryoichi Hirano It seems to be the same cast as on June 18th evening performance.

Francesca is dancing on 17th (a replacement to Salenko). Marianela will be doing Juliet on 19th as previously announced. I went to the first night of Romeo and Juliet tonight and overall it was a brilliant performance, Lauren's sensitive and innocent but also intelligent Juliet was very convincing and touching. Federico a great partner and good chemistry between them, and of course Gary Avis stole the show in act 2 with his menacing, powerful portrayal of Tybalt.

Cast changes, Francesca Hayward replaces Iana Salenko in Romeo and Juliet, due to schedule conflict of Salenko in Berlin. http://www.nbs.or.jp/blog/news/contents/topmenu/2016-12.html Unfortunately I don't have tickets for this performance

Yes but of course this is controversial. Salenko is a fabulous and lovely ballerina but we would prefer to see RB's own ballerina, who knows MacMillan well.

And the casts outside Tokyo Giselle 6/29 6:30p.m.　Fukuoka Giselle： Morera Albrecht： Kish Hilarion ： Stepanek Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Choe, Campbell Myrta： Crawford (Note: Yuhui Choe is from Fukuoka) 7/1 6:30p.m.　Hyogo Giselle： Nunez Albrecht： Muntagirov Hilarion ： Gartside Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Kobayashi, Zuchetti Myrta： Mendizabal Romeo and Juliet 7/3 1：30p.m.　Nagoya Juliet : Lamb Romeo : McRae Mercutio : Campbell Tybalt : Avis Benvolio : Dyer Giselle 7/6 6:30p.m.　Fukuyama (Hiroshima) Giselle： Morera Albrecht： Kish Hilarion ： Stepanek Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Takada, Hay Myrta： Calvert

I will be seeing that cast!

Detailed Casting for RB Japan Tour http://www.nbs.or.jp/blog/news/contents/topmenu/2016-11.html Romeo and Juliet 6/16 6：30p.m.　 Juliet : Cuthbertson, Romeo : Bonneli Mercutio : Campbell Tybalt : Avis Benvolio : Dyer 6/17 6：30p.m. Juliet : Salenko Romeo : McRae Mercutio : Campbell Tybalt : Avis Benvolio : Dyer 6/18 1：00p.m. Juliet : Lamb Romeo : Muntagirov Mercutio : Acri Tybalt : Whitehead Benvolio : Hay 6/18 6：00p.m.　 Juliet : Osipova Romeo : Golding Mercutio : Sambe Tybalt : Hirano Benvolio : Edmonds 6月19日(日)1：00p.m.　 Juliet : Nunez Romeo : Soares Mercutio : Zuchetti Tybalt : Gartside Benvolio : Hay Giselle 6/22 7：00p.m.　 Giselle：Nunez Albrecht： Muntagirov Hilarion ： Gartside Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Choe, Campbell Myrta： Mendizabal 6/24 7：00p.m.　 Giselle： Osipova Albrecht： Golding Hilarion ： Whitehead Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Takada, Hay Myrta： Calvert 6/25 2：00p.m.　 Giselle：Lamb Albrecht： McRae Hilarion ： Zuchetti Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Nagdhi, Sambe Myrta： Crawford 6/26 2：00p.m.　 Giselle：Cuthbertson Albrecht：Bonneli Hilarion ：Gartside Pas de Six （lead dancer）：Crawford, Zuchetti Myrta： Kobayashi

Here is the link to the Dansomanie thread. If you use automatic translation, that will be quite a help (and one of the moderators there Sophia understands English very well so she might help you ) http://www.forum-dansomanie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5004&sid=81dacf519c6274e6e7b6dc4440e2f41f

Oh thanks!

Did Tierney Heap did Lise in La Fille mal gardee? I don't think so.

But some very fine dancers have moved to Zurich following Spuck from Stuttgart, William Moore, Kadja Wunche and Alexander Jones and some more. Spuck is not a bad choreographer, and he had commissioned Ratmansky for Swan Lake (not Spuck's choreography) so his tastes are not bad at all. Although I agree that what's happening at the Scala is a mess and they should have had Laurent Hilaire who was the runner-up for the AD race.

This is the review of Alastair Macaulay on ‘Whelan/Watson: Other Stories’ Last July that seemed to upset him. But not so much mention about his appearances. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/13/arts/dance/review-whelan-watson-other-stories-pairs-stars-of-ballet.html Also today's Times which is mostly beyond paywall http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/dancer-sees-red-at-critics-ginger-jibes-6df9qt2z0

I think this thread should also be closed. Too much speculation is annoying.

Yes, she would be wonderful. Shame she is not scheduled to dance Giselle in Tokyo but it might be worth travelling.

By the way, nothing to do with the tour but there is a performance of Acri-Horimoto Ballet Academy in Saitama on July 17th, a school that Luca Acri's parents runs and has many alumni in companies all over. Several RB dancers are participating . Luca Acri, Fumi Kaneko, Matthew Ball, David Donnelly, Reece Clarke and Simon Acri(RBS student) Also Miki Mizutani and Mitsuru Itoh of BRB (those two are alumni)

At this point no cast changes. As for the performances outside Tokyo, Giselle in Fukuoka June 29th Morera, Kish Giselle in Hyogo July 1st Nunez, Muntagirov Romeo and Juliet in Nagoya July 3rd Lamb, McRae Giselle in Fukuyama (Hiroshima) July 6th Morera, Kish