capybara

6 minutes ago, Roberta said:

So are we now into the catching 'em younger and younger for the major roles?

 

If so, what happens to all the more mature and experienced principals? There are only so many performances available. 

 

There are always prodigies, I wonder how many of the latest batch will end up burnt out by thirty! 

 

 

I have advocated earlier for Principals to have more performances. 

My most recent post was on a different issue .

9 hours ago, Roberta said:

 

Would you pay ROH prices to see the latest claimed wunderkind in their late teens with hardly any stage experience dance Siegfried? 

 

Well, many paid RAH prices for Vadim Muntagirov as Siegfried in ENB’s Swan Lake in the Round in 2010 when he was only just 20 and still not a full year out of ballet school.

I caught Sergei Polunin as Solor in La Bayadere, The Prince in The Nutcracker, and more when he was in his teens.

As to ‘value for money’ with the ROH prices as they are now ……there is usually added interest (for me) to be derived from experiencing new casts.

13 minutes ago, Mary said:

Lamb for Cuthbertson. 

Now that’s a real pity for Lauren and us. I felt that she was gorgeous in Requiem.

29 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

I hope it's alright to ask this - if it's not I'm sure someone will tell me quickly enough. Is there really much incentive at the moment for Prix de Lausanne competition winners to choose the Royal Ballet? The likelihood of anyone getting to dance even featured solos within not only their Prix de Lausanne dancer year but, were they to continue with the company, their first 2-3 years seems to be pretty low (I can't recall this season's RB Prix de Lausanne dancer even having any featured moments in the corps let alone any sort of proper solo role). Whereas at other companies there seem to be far more opportunities to dance major roles not that long after joining.

Marco Masciari seems to be 'doing OK' at the RB but Stanislav W perhaps not so much; and hasn't this year's apprentice (Julie Joyner) already left....

It does appear that the really outstanding winners of the Prix (e.g. Antonio Casalinho) are electing to 'shop around' rather than join the RB on the bottom rung.

4 minutes ago, FionaM said:

Darrion Sellman is debuting as Siegfried tomorrow in Nureyev’s Swan Lake at Royal Swedish Ballet

 

https://www.instagram.com/stories/darrion.sellman/3341723141446623600?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=d2pqYTZsOGQybDBw

 

This is great news, not at all surprising and a huge uplift from being the Prix Apprentice with the The Royal Ballet.

Somewhat hesitant to mention this but, at a recent RB performance, my enjoyment was somewhat diminished by strong smells of BO.

Case 1 - a waft as someone passed to take their seat;

Case 2 - a lingering whiff as the man behind me removed his coat;

Case 3 - a ‘best jacket’ two seats along which needed to go to the cleaners;

Case 4 - a bright white T-shirt across the gangway which hadn’t been washed.

In fairness I haven’t experienced this for a long time and I do have a sample of scent to sniff if things get desperate……..But it’s only April……..

4 hours ago, FionaM said:

In addition to the many world class swans of the RB mentioned above  … I think Akane Takada will also be a special Odette/Odile in the later block, partnered by Joe Sissens.  I am really hoping she returns from injury fully fit to do it.  
 

There are excerpts to be found online of Akane and Federico Bonelli, from recordings made in early March 2020 (before lockdown thank goodness) for the Japanese audience …. in 8K-HDR !!!

https://media.imz.at/avant-premiere/catalogues/2021/film/8k-swan-lake-by-the-royal-ballet-12769055/

 

 
In the original run of this production one of the pairings was Takada/Bracewell and I loved them together.

2 hours ago, Nina99 said:

 

 When I did a backstage tour at the ROH, we went past one of the rehearsal studios where Fumi and Vadim were rehearsing for their PDD in Mayerling.  Our tour Guide made a point of saying that Miss Kaneko, as she called her, was considered to be one of the nicest people in the company.  

I have no doubt about this judgement but should a tour guide be making such a personal remark?

Hannah is now an RB Soloist.

26 minutes ago, Mora said:

I also prefer more reserved personalities.

That's the reason why, apart from their astistry and charisma, William's and Fumi's instgram accounts are my favourites. In my opinion, they are sensitive and very kind persons but reserve (mostly Fumi) and private as well. I love them for that too.

That’s interesting as William is one of the RB Principals who posts quite a lot of his modelling shots. (Not criticising that 😊 - their IGs are a matter for each individual dancer.)

I recall many years ago hearing a conversation among fans which implied that their perception of artists and their performances was quite significantly influenced by opinions about them as people off stage.

I am wondering whether the reaction of the two leads at the curtain calls last night (and the fact that the calls were extended) had anything to do with the probability that it will be another (2)/3 years before SL returns to the rep. ?

I agree that both Marianela and Vadim looked quite choked up - the reception was pretty overwhelming: they and the whole company deserved it so much. And all those flowers for each of them.

7 minutes ago, Buru said:

Today’s night was very memorable, always so happy to see Vadim and Marianela dancing together. Unfortunately, I was able to get just one ticket and need to take my special someone to see another Swan Lake this season. Is there another O-O worth seeing at ROH? Maybe our next Marianela or Sylvia) I am extremely biased and normally go to see Marianela and Vadim when I get a chance, but who would you say is strong 2nd?)

 

 One other question re tickets. Is there any other place to look for them except ROH website? I was monitoring tickets for today’s performance for a good couple of months but no luck to find more than one ticket. 

 
@Buru - ALL the Royal Ballet partnerships for Swan Lake are really strong so a ‘graded’ list simply doesn’t work 😊

However, Fumi Kaneko (who has already performed the role this season)  is absolutely outstanding as Odette/Odile and will, as @Balletfanpsays, dance opposite Vadim in early May. So those performances might be a good place to start your ticket search.

He simply says his “thank yous and goodbyes” on his own IG account.

A very talented artist who, sadly, seems to have spent a lot of his 7 years with ENB sidelined by injury. He will be much missed.

Alina’s SB is undoubtedly one of the great ballet treasures and many of us were hoping to catch her in the role as time is passing.
However, when this sort of cast change has happened previously, one of the outcomes has been to introduce ‘new’ dancers to an audience who would not otherwise have seen them.…… and, from what our trusty BCF reviewers are telling us, both Miki and Yu are super Auroras.

2 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

 

Delighted you enjoyed Josef’s singing 🙂

He’s wonderful - gave me goosebumps.

The comments on this thread which are focused on the performances of this stunning triple bill are what makes BCF special - thank you everyone.

Just to say that I wish we could have let the very timely message from the moderators stand on its own.

Rather a nice fashion/dance show here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5VTJSds5Bx/?img_index=1

Good news on Alexander’s first day in his new job.

I t makes one appreciate just how many aspects there are to the work of the RAD and, thus, his responsibilities.

2 hours ago, bangorballetboy said:

 

The announcement does not mention injury.

We might have ‘lost’ any reference on here but, when Hirano withdrew from other performances earlier in the season, he posted on social media something to the effect that he would be ‘getting by’ with injections/temporary treatment pending a more fundamental procedure during the summer break.

It looks as if that has needed to be brought forward so best wishes to him for any ‘operation’ and a subsequently solid recovery.

37 minutes ago, Amelia said:

I found the very first piece that Daniil Potaptsev danced in the 1st tour.

Variation of Tahor from "Pharaoh's Daughter"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYffGnCyT5w

He’s amazing.

I’m not sure about dancers taking curtain curtain calls in character; indeed, I find myself increasingly irritated by its vanity.

12 minutes ago, Linnzi5 said:

 Has Magri ever danced with Sambè before - not in SL, I don't think?

Weren’t Magri and Sambe cast together in 2020? They didn’t get on stage because of the pandemic but I recall Marci talking about that upcoming partnership implying a need to “up his game”.

1 hour ago, DVDfan said:

Hopefully not to derail the thread, but does anyone know if the solo danced by Siegfried between acts 1 and 2 (between the palace and the lakeside) is choreographed  by Ashton or by Scarlett?

Mainly Scarlett. It's beautiful.

14 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

That's potentially very good news, but "appears to be confirming" is a little vague...I wonder if you recall more details of his post @capybara, since this is no longer on his IG story feed? Many thanks...

Joe had simply screenshot the pages from the ROH websites where he and Akane are listed for Swan Lake, had juxtaposed them, and had drawn a red ring around their names.

11 minutes ago, LinMM said:

Just to clarify the double tours …is this the pirouette turn on demi pointe with the leg in second position ( 90 degrees horizontal to side) or a jumped tours en l’air where there are two turns in the air with leg held in second position? 

Neither 🤔 but someone with technical expertise needs to explain!