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JennyTaylor

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  1. JennyTaylor
    I've been reading this for a long time (26 pages) and was never quite sure of my reaction because I have now been to the ROH on many occasions since open up and my views tend to change with the context of my visits. Firstly, if the new downstairs area is low key or airport lounge - then it's still very expensive if you buy food or drink there. That being said, you don't have to - you can take your own. I like the fact that there are more seats available, so I can get there earlier than the 6pm opening time for an evening performance and have somewhere to sit, plus if I go to 2 performances on a Saturday, I don't need to wander the streets in between, I can just stay where I am. Much more comfortable and relaxed. I don't think downstairs (airport lounge) has any ambience at all, so doesn't represent ROH at all. The question is - does that matter. Personally, I could not see how it could attract anyone to actually buy tickets - if you can find the booking office. If I want ambience and how I always used to feel when I visit the ROH, then I go upstairs to the Paul Hamlyn Bar and enjoy it here, as I have always done. I accept the high prices (my choice) here although of course, you can still bring your own. For me, it's part of going to the ROH but I do take my own crisps/ chocolate instead of buying everything. In the new world, it's still a question of what time you need to get there to get a seat: 6pm is the latest time I leave it for safety. I haven't made it upstairs and outside yet although this used to be a favourite place of mine whatever the weather. So, I think the specialness is still there for me, but you have to get there early to enjoy it.
  2. JennyTaylor
    1. Vadim Muntagirov in everything he has done this year - utterly stunning and on a different level 2. Alexander Campbell as Des Grieux 3. Will Bracewell as Siegfried (Madrid) 4. Matthew Ball as Rudolf in Mayerling 5. Marianela Nunez in Swan Lake in particular, although stunning in everything else too
  3. JennyTaylor
    I can also tell you that the Von Rothbart double was Will Bracewell. I only found this out when I was in Madrid where we were given the full cast list (every dancer and actor) but I noticed when I watched it last night that you can recognise it's him right at the start of the ballet. He's also in the short excerpt right at the start of the programme where they are trying out costumes.
  4. JennyTaylor
    I took a 6 and 4 year old (my step grandchildren) It was the 4 year old's first ever ballet and we were worried she was too young, but no, she behaved perfectly, as did her sister. We did do a lot of prep beforehand explaining the story, the tree, the Sugar Plum fairy, Clara, Gary Avis's cloak and glitter etc etc. and they had taken it all in. The only wriggling in the seat was done because 4 year old wanted to see absolutely EVERYTHING on the stage. It was a totally magical experience. I cried 3 times through the sheer beauty and emotion - couldn't believe it...…..and this was a ballet I gave up on for some years because I thought it was boring. As an aside, this ballet has a lot of very well known music, but my favourites are the tree transformation scene and the pdd between Clara and Hans- Peter. I've downloaded on my phone and have been playing ever since. The dancing was sublime by all concerned. What better Christmas present could one have. .
  5. JennyTaylor
    I saw Anthony Dowell in the role, first time round
  6. JennyTaylor
    A glorious triple bill. Would that they were all like this! Certainly not tempted to sit out any ballet in the programme tonight. Les Patineurs a total delight with Marcelino Sambe nailing those quick turns right at the end as the curtain comes down. It's just so pretty and aesthetically pleasing. Then Winter Dreams where we had the delight of Marianela, Thiago and Gary Avis. I think some of the audience found this ballet a little hard going to start and you definitely need to know the story beforehand. The dancing was impeccable and apart from the aforesaid 3, I particularly enjoyed Will Bracewell as Lt Baron Tusenbach (in love with Yasmin Naghdi) who brought a lot of pathos to the role - a stark contrast to his smiling, happy skating in Les Patineurs, half an hour previously. He is one of my favourites since I was blown away by his Siegfreid. Roll on the 2 Pigeons and Romeo. The Concert was a delight from start to finish. Every member of the cast played their part superbly with Lauren a delight, Laura Morera nearly stealing the show, and the ballerina dance where they all go wrong absolutely priceless. A joy. Go see if you can
  7. JennyTaylor
    I also saw it on Twitter first. There was no mention when I bought my programme at 6:30ish. I went back and out of devilment asked for a cast change slip (7:15). I was told they didn't do them and there was a display board - well you really had to look carefully to find it. I was astonished they didn't announce it in the theatre at curtain up. These were 2 major cast changes. Really bad
  8. JennyTaylor
    You haven't offended me at all. Both these names are well known on social media - Marianela Nunez publicly calls Vadim (Vadream) - so it's in the public domain, and, as someone else has commented, her film featured during the interval was titled Nela. If you go to any RB events/ conversations, the forename is always used to introduce the dancers. For me, calling them just by their surnames is also a little "harsh", so are we expected to call them by their full names every time we want to write about them. So, perhaps, we could all loosen up a little?? Fiz - continue with your affection and pleasure
  9. JennyTaylor
    I went for the first time this evening and came away just so relieved that Symphony in C was as sublime as I thought it would be. Unknown Soldier was OK - good idea, but would benefit from different music. I wasn't moved at all, even though I thought I should be. Nothing wrong with the dancing, it just didn't strike any emotional chord. Infra did strike emotional chords, but in the wrong way. Sorry, I hated it and even having read the synopsis, find the constant background of walking people supremely irritating. Actually, the whole thing was supremely irritating and I wish I had stayed in the bar and done some work. The evening was redeemed by the marvellous, glorious SIC with the most sumptuous cast, all on form. It's a thing of sheer beauty and I wish I could bottle it. I'm going next week to see the other casts: I'm wondering whether just to turn up for Act 3. I know that's wrong but ...…….
  10. JennyTaylor
    I think it was just really bad camera work. The snake was there but the camera didn't catch it. You could just see Luca with it as he ran off the stage, but even that wasn't clearly captured and the snake is small. I went to see the same performance I had seen on stage at the cinema and it is SO different. Loads of close ups and I loved seeing their faces so clearly, which is the reason I try to sit so close to the stage when I go. But you get a different perspective at the cinema from the theatre and both are good for different reasons. I do get really frustrated at the cinema because I want to applaud and no one does where I go (Staines). I took my husband to show him why I spend so much time watching the Royal Ballet and he didn't fall asleep once! This is a major achievement.
  11. JennyTaylor
    Don't worry about what it says about being shown in Portuguese. I'd say it was more than 50% in English. .
  12. JennyTaylor
    Well, what an interesting evening, and I suggest a film viewing is a must for any Royal Ballet fan. It's 90 minutes long and features extensive footage of rehearsals of RB Romeo and Juliet (Thiago and Marianela), Raven Girl with Sarah Lamb and then also Thiago back in Brazil where he is featured producing and performing in a special gala performance. Again Marianela and Lauren feature extensively. Also Brazilian Deborah Colker with whom Thiago created an amazing duet - called Passion. The film gives a real insight into the pain which dancers go through as part of their daily performing life and a realistic view of their working life. Thiago was interviewed after the film and having seen him interviewed at least twice by the Ballet Association, this was again very insightful. I seem to recall that Laura Morera accompanied him to his first interview in case he needed interpretation and in another interview he inferred that he was frustrated as he could not express in English exactly what he wanted to say. No such problems now. In the Q&A at the end, there was a very difficult question asked by a Brazilian lady which covered the state of politics in Brazil and wide ranging complaints against the ruling politicians and state of the arts, education - and anything else. Thiago dealt with it beautifully and would have topped any politician's answer. Another telling comment in the film was something like - I know there are better dancers than me, but it's what I bring to the role that's special/ different that the RB are looking for. Not a direct quote but I think you get the gist. ………...and I think if we consider his Lescaut, Onegin, Romeo, Rudolf - that is so true. Finally - his favourite role is Onegin.
  13. JennyTaylor
    I really enjoyed this evening's performance. If it didn't quite hit the heights of last Thursday for me (v difficult), I was thrilled with Act 1 and then the Kingdom of the Shades was just sublime. I was very impressed with Corrales - he's definitely one to watch and his act 2 solo was greeted with well deserved roars of applause. Interesting to see that all 3 Solor's I have seen do slightly different variations of this solo. Both ballerinas played their parts to the full and it was just fascinating to watch. The Corps were superb once more. Also loved Gary Avis as the Rajah and it was good to see Bennet Gartside back on stage too. BTW - all 3 principals were applauded when they went on stage. Some odd comments on the Twitter feed this evening - made me wonder if I was watching the same performance.
  14. JennyTaylor
    I agree, but I'm sure some must have booked specifically for Steven McRae, but perhaps they were confused by his moustache and beard.
  15. JennyTaylor
    No applause at all for the entrance of all 3 principals on Saturday evening.
  16. JennyTaylor
    Just to make it clear - I don't leave before the curtain calls, but many people do - very irritating if you want to enjoy the curtain calls. But, having a train to catch myself I do understand especially if a performance finishes at 10:30. Last night I ran to Waterloo - I'm sure it's good for me really.
  17. JennyTaylor
    It runs over - 3 hours is more accurate, but depends if you leave before the curtain calls
  18. JennyTaylor
    I went to this evening's performance and the highlight for me was Yasmine as Gamzatti. I felt she really pulled it off in terms of the characterisation and her dancing was superb. I couldn't see any chemistry between Steven McRae and Akane, and I felt a bit flat after the electric performance I witnessed on Thursday. Steven McRae certainly gave us some spectacular leaps (as one would expect from him) but his Act 2 solo did not compare with Vadim's in my opinion. I also need to say, that if you hadn't seen Vadim, you would have thought it marvellous. So, on Thursday, there was a thrill and an excitement in the audience almost right from the start. We were watching something incredibly special. I didn't feel that today though the audience were very appreciative. Akane gave it her best and she is a lovely dancer but I couldn't find any emotional depth there. I know this is a very subjective review so am perfectly happy if others think differently. The Corps were excellent again in the Kingdom of the Shades and overall very enjoyable indeed: it just didn't reach the heights for me. PS. Irek surely wins on charisma.
  19. JennyTaylor
    This was just a stunning performance: the quality of dancing from everyone was sublime - go see it at the cinema if you can't get a live ticket!! Sometimes Marianela just seems to float through the air into Vadim's arms and his solos were utterly sublime. I had the joy of meeting him afterwards and he is just so unassuming and totally delightful. It will also be very interesting to see what happens when the 2 ballerinas switch roles with Cesar Corrales as Solor. How will the dynamics change. I loved them both in their current roles - what a challenge to switch.
  20. JennyTaylor
    This reminds me when I went to a football match in Nice (very low key) and they confiscated a bottle of Sun cream. What did they think I was going to do with it?? I managed to retrieve it at half time
  21. JennyTaylor
    I've been 4 times now since Open Out started. I've got mixed feelings. First of all, it's nice that there is more seating available, but until last Monday night when it was totally deserted, it was always packed when I got there (early or late) so not much help even so. I always feel vaguely guilty if I take all my own food, so I tend to do a mixture. Took Pret sandwiches and crisps last Saturday, but did buy wine on site. In the new open up area - we were given plastic glasses. Hardly in keeping with the price of the wine! I was amazed there were no bag checks, even though you could argue that these were cursory at most when they were implemented in the old world and that any terrorist wanting to do serious damage could still have done so easily. Ticket checks appear to be random. Why remove left and right from the tickets - crazy! That's the basic information you need to know in order to enter on the correct side of the auditorium. I know the opera house well, so always go to the Ladies, via the right hand side downstairs entrance to avoid queues. Last week (out of performance hours - in between afternoon and evening performances), I entered via the Linbury entrance and came out via the right hand exit. At that point, I could have gone anywhere in the auditorium. Very Open Up.
  22. JennyTaylor
    Well, I shall go and see 1 Frankenstein with Alexander Campbell and thankfully Nehemiah Kish as the Creature, who I liked very much last time round. Otherwise not. Multiple interesting R&J's but like everyone else, really disappointed that Campbell has not been cast as Romeo. Really wanted to see him with Francesca Hayward. Is Kevin O'Hare really in tune with what "the fans" want" or doesn't he care. I know I've told him. It seems such a shame to throw away ballet perfection. Now I know the comment will come back that 90% of people who attend performances, don't care what cast it is either. Sorry, cross tonight.
  23. JennyTaylor
    They were Cesar Corrales, Reece Clarke, William Bracewell, Luca Acri - I've seen the latter 3 every time I've been to a performance with Marcelino Sambe and Corrales alternating as 1st Officer. They were really into it last night - they get more and more swashbuckling in Act 2.
  24. JennyTaylor
    I've seen Thiago dance this role on many occasions now and he's always been the one who makes me feel sorry for Rudolf. Last night was no exception and I felt it even more in his interpretation right from the start. Perhaps this is a result of seeing different Rudolf's very recently so there was a very definite contrast. That's what so marvellous about this ballet of course, each Rudolf gives us something completely different. So, little things like - more emphasis on his need / love for his mother even in their first interactions and not so horrid to Stephanie in the brothel scenes. Lauren Cuthbertson was superb as Mary and together they produced great theatre. They certainly had chemistry! I felt Mary was much more in charge than Rudolf at the end and that felt right with the interpretation he had given. Itziar also shone as Larisch - and how I wished we could see even more of those 4 Hungarian officers. They really went for it last night!
  25. JennyTaylor
    For anyone who is interested, Thiago Soares has posted on his Facebook page Dear friends, I'd love to see you all on the 7th of November at 7pm @regentstreetcinema for the special screening of ‘Primeiro Bailarino’ a film by @brgfel @losbragas @hbolatam @reetamoreeyes @alicebraga_oficial and I will be chatting to @gwdancewriter afterwards and would love you all to join.
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