Naomi M

Angela, sorry it might have been mixed up because of the jet lag. Maybe like a little less than 3 hours. (I was at October 3rd)

For those interested in the Taming of the Shrew and Made in Germany, here are reviews on a new blog on Dance View Times. http://danceviewtimes.typepad.com/ilona_landgraf I saw the Made in Germany bill in Stuttgart with a different cast, and it was highly enjoyable although the program lasted 3 and half hours with 2 intermissions. But there would be a slightly different program at Sadler's Wells. I have unofficial info about the Taming cast so hope it will be released soon.

I have seen Lopatkina dance Giselle on a video and she is marvelous even in this role. Her partner was Igor Kolb.

Here's the official site for the Japan tour of La Scala Ballet in Japan. http://www.nbs.or.jp/english/contents/schedule/teatro-alla-scala-corps-de-ballet-romeo-and-juliet/ I am not going to this performance though. I'd rather see their own dancers than guests.

Unfortunately the DVD is not issued, but a recording starring Merle Park, Anthony Dowell and Wayne Sleep (as Puck) was recorded and broadcasted. it as also broadcasted in Japan so I have a recording.

afds, glad you could see the pic! So it is luck, if there isn't a tall man in front of you, you will get a good view. I have been on a seat close to the end and the view was good. Fingers crossed for you. It will be good if you were alright at Stuttgart Row 4. And for tickets, it is just as what Katherine says. My friend also said R&J was sold out for the Ballet Days. But there are return tickets. Stuttgart also have return tickets but Krabat this year was so popular it was so difficult to grab one. (but I managed 2 weeks before performance)

Sorry, that link is viewable on my computer but it didn't work for you afds. I tried to upload here, hope you can see this. https://twitter.com/naomip_86/status/369872873298464768/photo/1 I am quite smallish (160cm) so just a tall man obstructed by view, so if you are not so small, it would be okay I assume. Maybe the rake is about the same as that of Stuttgart. I just checked some curtain call photos my friend took at about Row 5 and it looked quite okay.

I have been to Hamburg State Theatre a few times but I only sat on the front of the orchestra seats so not maybe my opinions might not be reliable. The Orchestra level is raked but not so much, especially quite flat in the first few rows and my view from the 5th row was quite blocked by tall men in front. But i assume it would look better on the latter rows. But at least rakes are better than old opera house type venues (such as Garnier, Stuttgart, Bolshoi, ROH) I haven't been up in the balcony seats in Hamburg but the balconies here are mostly Lodges (small rooms) and they are quite close to the stage according to my friends who have been there. (if you see a photo of the theatre you can assume so) Here's a photo on how the seats look like. http://blog-imgs-51-origin.fc2.com/d/e/r/derhiroppie/48_20130616102217.jpg As afds has said, the Balcon at Garnier are very comfortable, and also Lodges in old type opera houses are also good seats to sit comfortably.

I forgot to mention that Liam Scarlett choreographed a new piece for Japan's K-Ballet Company, led by Tetsuya Kumakawa. The piece was premiered this June and called "Promenade Sentimentale" music by Debussy. Missed seeing the piece but here is a Japanese review and also some pictures. The costumes were also designed by Liam. It got very good reviews. http://www.chacott-jp.com/magazine/world-report/from-tokyo/tokyo1305a.html

Ashton Celebration has already being broadcasted on TV in Japan, and the broadcasted cast was, Yuhui Choe and Alexander Campbell in Voices of Spring, Leanne Benjamin and Valeri Hristov in Thais.

Here are a little more details of the Made in Germany Program http://www.stuttgart-ballet.de/schedule/made-in-germany/ I have seen about half works from this program and they are truly brilliant, representing the very best of their contemporary choreography. (Little Monsters, Fanfare LX, Kazmir Colors, Affi, Mono Lisa)

It's not Onegin but the Stuttgart Ballet will be performing Taming of the Shrew at Saddler's Wells in November, with a fabulous mixed program as well. Currently I have just watched Bolshoi perform Onegin, with the leading dancers Evan McKie, Alicia Amatriain, Freidemann Vogel and Anna Osadcenko. It was just wonderful, bringing Pushkin back to his country. I could say after seeing so many Onegins, Evan McKie is the best Current Onegin and I wish they would film the whole ballet with him, he is just Onegin himself, living the role. The other leads were fabulous too, especially Alicia's emotional Tatiana. And Bolshoi was doing beautifully. I will see one more performance tomorrow, David Hallberg and Evgenia Obraztsova.

At least there used to be a video once distributed of Onegin, by National Ballet of Canada, starring Frank Augustyn. (which was of very good quality) Unfortunately this is out of issue but I don't have the impression that the Cranko estate is denying of any Onegin DVDs, they might record one in the not so far future.

American Ballet Theatre at the MET season charges different prices according to casting, Don Quixote staring Osipova and Vasiliev was the most expensive ticket of this season. They didn't have that pricing strategy before, only recently they began to do this.

Just come back from the Gala and it was fabulous. I don't have the time to report right now but will write later. The best part of the gala was Benjamin and Acosta's Manon (Bedroom scene) Leanne was so amazing, lovely, musical, expressive. Her Qualia with Watson was magnificent too. Can't believe she's retiring...She could dance a few more years. And Maylering final scene, Cojocaru, Kobborg and Cervera was also great, Alina and Johan danced this scene with so much drama and passion, although Johan seemed to have some difficulty with the lifts. Shame there was no ceremony or flowers for the departing artists. Yesterday, it was announced that Alina and Johan will withdraw from the Swan Lake performance on Friday, (replaced by Marquez and McRae) so today was their last stage as a member of Royal Ballet.

Yes, I am going Janet! Hope I can report something. I will also go to the opening of Alice.

Hi Janet, Yes I think this is the Ashton one, it says so on the Japanese website. Very much looking forward for this, and this gala is the last stage for Leanne Benjamin so there might be some ceremony for her. The program looks very good!

The cast of Royal Ballet's gala has been announced at last http://www.nbs.or.jp/blog/news/contents/1307-royal/post-456.html#001750 La Valse Kobayashi, Crawford, McCulloch, Hirano, Maloney, Stepanek From the Hothouse Lamb, McRae Concerto Second Movement Hamilton, Pennefather Mayerling act 3 Cojocaru, Kobborg, Cervera Jubilee Pas de Deux Morera, Bonneli After the Rain Nunez, Soares Don Quixote act 3 pas de deux Marquez, McRae Pas de Quatre from Swan Lake Takada, Macguire, Zucchetti, Trzensimiech Agon Yanowsky, Acosta Qualia Benjamin, Watson Sleeping Beauty Awakening Pas de Deux Kaneko, Kish Voices of Spring Choe, Campbell Symphony in C Last Movement Lamb, Nunez, Choe, Mendizabal Hristov, Soares, Campbell, Cervera Manon 1st act pas de deux Benjamin, Acosta

Stanislavsky came to Japan in 2009, that time Sergei Filin was the AD. Their Esmeralda was very dramatic and stunning, above all Ledovskaya was such an actress and also brilliant in her technique. Semyon Chudin was also good but now he is with the Bolshoi. Also saw Georgi Smilevsky and Natalia Somova in Swan Lake and they too were wonderful, I thought the quality of the company is very high. I haven't seen Stanislavsky dancing Petit's Coppelia, but this Coppelia is also in the repertoire of National Ballet of Japan and I was lucky to see brilliant dancers such as Leonid Sarafanov, Tamara Rojo, Jose Carreno and Lucia Lacarra guest in this. A very sophisticated and charming, lovely version and I am sure the London audience will like it. But no soloists other than the leading couple and Coppelius.

Well it might not be fair from judging on YouTube videos, but Obraztsova's Odette/Odile was not my cup of tea. I do think there are some not so long limbed and shortish but good swans, but she was not and I found that's why Mariinsky did not cast her so. She simply did not look like a swan and her Black Swan was sloppy.

I think odette/Odile is not Obraztsova's role, she did not dance it when she was in the Mariinsky. She is more of a romantic ballet type as she is short and doesn't have long limbs. I saw Smirnova as Odile in a gala and she does have the Swan lines, although she has only danced the full length a couple of times she did look wonderful.

So the change of cast on Alice Tokyo performance was announced, Sarah and Yuhui replacing Lauren. http://www.nbs.or.jp/blog/news/contents/renew/post-454.html (Japanese)

As someone in Japan, would like to inform that at least the impresario hasn't announced any changes of cast yet. Will write here if there are any.

William Moore is currently a Principal at Zurich Ballet.

Very happy to know that UK ballet fans have interest in Ayako, yes she is so lovely and it would be nice if she could split her time between UK and Japan, as there are not enough performances at the National Ballet here. Yes, actually I came to London this April-May to see Mayerling and La Bayadere in Covent Garden and enjoyed them a lot. And much looking forward to see the Royal Ballet on their tour next month