JennyTaylor

Last night was my first viewing of Marianela and Carlos and it was SO well worth waiting for. What a joy Marianela is - can there be a ballerina who radiates so much happiness on stage and her chemistry with Carlos was electric

The whole cast performance was definitely a notch up from anything I have seen so far and particular mention for Ryoichi Hirano and Laura Morera - absolutely superb.

I also much preferred the Christopher Saunders DonQ and Gary Avis Father casting rather than the other way round. 

Glorious evening.

Did someone mention a "flop" somewhere earlier in the thread?  Um no, quite the opposite.

Fascinating thread. I am an ordinary ballet fan,who in later life is now able to indulge my love for the ballet and buy tickets for the ballets I wish to see, wherever that may be. My personal choice happens to be the RB as I love going to the ROH but I will pick performances very carefully both for cast and specific ballets. I've seen most of the new works, but apart from Alice have never been tempted to repeat the experience. That's my personal preference and I'm sure some would call me a philistine. I don't care, because for me, I just like classical ballet.

I've been to see Sylvie Guillem in her post RB days at Sadlers' Wells and appreciate what she does, but it never wows me like her Manon did. I've also been to the ENB and one off performances such as Carlos Acosta specials (thank goodness I went to see Spartacus). I'd like to try to see more ENB now and would also say that Thomas Edur and Agnes Oakes were totally sublime. . 

All that being said, I have a home and a husband to go to, so there are limits!

I think MM did a good job with the RB. It's a very difficult balance - and she tried to encourage new works, They haven't been to my taste, apart from Alice,but they have been approved of by others. Basically, "modern" dance does nothing for me. I like a story and I like emotion - oh, and I hated Raven Girl, although I could admire the performances of Sarah Lamb and Melissa Hamilton. Once seen is quite sufficient, thank you. Bring on anything related to Mayerling, Manon, Giselle, La Fille, Onegin. DonQ, Romeo and Juliet etc. I'm bored with the Nutcracker, most RB Swan Lakes and SBeauties, but realise they are box office. I would like to see some Petit, Nureyev, other classical interpretations though.    

As for the clique around ballet dancers. I joined the Ballet Association as few years ago which gave me unprecedented and in my view unbelievable access to RB dancers, both through the monthly interviews and the annual dinner.  Yes, you need to live near London to make the most of this but it is v cheap to join and membership is completely open to all.

Some people go to every performance at the ROH, so there is inevitably an inner circle of people who all know each other and also hang out by the stage door. They are easy to spot at the ROH during the intervals. I often go on my own so tried to become friendly. but struggled. Yes, they do know the dancers by name and the dancers know them and are grateful for genuine fans. That being said, at the BA dinner I have sat next to Nehemiah Kish, Philip Moseley, Roberta Marquez (twice), Yuhui Choe and Laura Morera.  All were totally delightful. I've seen many interviews including Marianela Nunez, Thiago Soares, Tamara Rojo, Brian Maloney, Jonathan Cope (twice), Monica Mason, Darcey Bussell, Rupert Pennefather, Steven McRae (twice) and many others. Again, all came across as delightful, self effacing and very interesting people and were all very happy to pose for photos and chat afterwards.  One would never of course, share those conversations on line.

So, yes you can feel an outsider and I do quite often. But you can join in via the Ballet Association and gain some incredible access. 

I think it is also easy to feel an outsider in this forum too. I read some postings and know I can never compete with the in depth knowledge of some of the people who post here. I wish I could, but I can't, so I don't try.  I say what I feel and hope others respect that, which I think they all do. 

Another way to connect is via Twitter. Bennet Gartside, Olivia Cowley, Gary Avis and others tweet, and during performances. There is nothing like tweeting a comment during a performance and getting an answer back from them during the interval. That is connection!   

A bit of a ramble, but hopefully, I have addressed some points on the thread. 

Oops, I might be going to see Steven McRae for a 3rd time - thank you for the tip.  Still haven't got tickets for Thiago Soares ,which is occupying my mind . 

Having never seen this live before, but seen many videos of clips,  I went back to the full ABT Mikhail Baryshnikov DVD today, which is even more interesting now I have something to which to compare. He of course is amazing and it's possibly the only ballet DVD for me which brings goose bumps, as it's never possible to capture the immediacy of a live performance on film. This comes pretty close. How I wish I'd seen him live.

So, yes I can see the differences in the production, but am still slightly mystified at the criticisms.  Much is personal taste.  I loved the moving houses rather than a flat set,and I also liked the RB sets for Act 2, but also agree that Act 2  is probably the least interesting - why we might ask.  Quality of dancing or overall plot  / choreography.  I sometimes felt I was watching La Fille or La Bayadere and at one point Giselle, but I have no problem with this as that is RB heritage and I feel familiar with it.

The success of toreadors depend on the quality of the male dancing, rather than anything else. I've only seen one cast so far, so will be interested to see others. This is such a great opportunity for top RB male dancers to shine.

Overall, I still love it to bits, because it's joyous, happy and after a long, hard day at work, is just what I need.

It seems like the moral of the story is ..........if it makes you happy, then go and see it multiple times.  If it doesn't, then leave it for those who do enjoy.  Highly interesting thread with such diverse and extreme views. 

Personally, I'm off to see Steven McRae and Iana Salenko tomorrow........and I can't wait. I'm also taking 2 friends, who I know will be completely wowed. It's a happy ballet - be happy.

Went to the performance this evening and was blown away. Steven McRae and Iana Solenka absolutely amazing. The energy was electric and the dancing even better. I think new heights were achieved this evening, and Steven has tweeted to say it was a career highlight for him.

I have no heritage of DonQ apart from old films, and this is the first time I have ever seen it live.  I loved it from start to finish. Joyous, fun and a complete tonic in this sometimes dismal world. The RB were at their best, all feeding off each other to provide a performance of great energy, happiness and joy. It must be great fun to do, but also really hard work!

Where to start:  Steven and Iana were fantastic, and applause broke out on several occasions during the wedding dance sequence. Iana's balances were amazing, not the mention everything else.  Steven was everything we know he can do, and then better. It's a part made for him.  Thank goodness I have another ticket for Tuesday when they dance again   For me, Elizabeth Harrod stood out amongst the ballerinas.

I've read some of the reviews and am non plussed by their criticism of the set. I liked the colours and the design. In fact, as you have probably realised by now. I liked everything and especially lf course, Gary Avis as DonQ, sublime as ever in the main character part. 

It was brilliant. First, Carlos presented her to the audience in the curtain calls and stood back and applauded. Then more flowers and applause in the cast curtain calls. Then the male principals came on one by one to present Leanne with bouquets. Ed Watson, Nehemiah Kish, Frederico Bonelli,  Steven McRae and Thiago Soares. It was wonderful. In one of the red curtain calls, her son came on and presented her with flowers too. Not a dry eye in the house.

Lovely also that Brian Maloney has a spot to himself and a flower throw both from the slips but also from behind the red curtain as the dancers also threw flowers at him. Very nice as it must be difficult to leave at the same time as such a prominent star.

My favourite Larischs' were Marianela, closely followed by Sarah Lamb and Laura Morera. What an emotional roller coaster this run of Mayerling has given to us. Just amazing performances and fabulous farewells for Mara and Leanne. I feel privileged and fortunate to have been present at so many performances.   

This is for Jenny Taylor. I am so jeaulous you have been again and again to Mayerling.

Count yourself very luck, but is that part of your job?

Sorry don't mean to be nosy. Enjoy it.

Hello Blackqueen. No it's not part of my job - I'm just a fan and this week has been super indulgent, but absolutely unbelievable in terms of level and emotion of performances. I don't usually go this often, and don't get the same level of satisfaction from other ballets. Over the years I have developed my favourites and Mayerling is right up there at the top (with Manon).  I wanted to see every cast as the principals' interpretation is so different and all performances bring such contrasts. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be present.

Isn't it fascinating that this topic runs to 10 pages now!  This is clearly something that hits people's nerves and personal values.  Potters'pastilles might be trending on Twitter if we were so inclined, but yes, they really do work as they are so strong.

I'm going 4 times next week (please don't tell!) I'm really excited about seeing Rupert again and Thiago is my dream Rudolf. I've seen Ed Watson many times in the role so am really looking forward to seeing if he transcends previous performances. All the feedback says that he will. 

Following on from a previous comment, I received an audience survey today and it was notably changed. from the usual format. So, very specific questions about each ballet and particularly Raven Girl. I was impressed with this as they are clearly trying to source more feedback - and I gave it.  Full marks for adapting to the very obvious feedback from the initial performances.

Johan and Alina are the most amazing dancers and will be very sorely missed.

I'm now going to commit heresy - so apologies in advance.

It would be very interesting to know how many of their joint and singular performances have been "cancelled" in recent years, leading to disappointment for their particular fans.

They've never done it for me - and I've made many attempts. I know others feel very differently and I completely respect that - technically they are brilliant and it is very clear that they are respected / admired/ revered. Last time I saw them, which was in Swan Lake, Alina fell off her points in Act 3.  I decided that I must be the Jonah so forbore to book any further performances. 

I did see Alina make her "debut" as Giselle in an ROH rehearsal with Johan. It was one of the most brilliant things I have ever seen. I also once did a tour of the ROH and they were rehearsing Act 3 Swan Lake - they did the full works for us.  Utterly superb.  Those are the memories which I will carry with me. 

I'm not a great fan of Carlos's Rudolf. I've never thought acting was his strong point and I find his interpretation too negative and one dimensional. He just looks cross, miserable and overall, not a nice person (which Rudolf wasn't of course), but I can't empathise, although I want to.  There is not enough individual dancing content to balance this, in terms of admiring it for it's own sake. So, do you ever feel for his Rudolf?  I don't - but with others I do - Thiago, Ed Watson, for example.

Last night I felt Leanne Benjamin transcended all of this, I was totally gripped and their 2 pdd were emotionally and artistically superb. But I found I was concentrating on Leanne rather than Carlos - which for me, when he is on the stage, is not the usual focus. I could not believe the scale of her performance. 

Everyone else was on top form too - so Zenaida, Laura, Brian Maloney and of course the debonair Gary Avis.  

The most amazing performance from Leanne Benjamin last night with Carlos. She was phenomenal.

I went to the performance last night.  I had a mixed reaction to Raven Girl. I liked some of the dancing and the visual depictions but was constantly irritated by the dark lighting and the action which lacked dancing content. I felt it was a waste of Edward Watson -  so much more could have been created for him and was thankful I had read various reviews and synopses before hand, otherwise it would have been difficult to follow. Still not sure what happens to the Boy - and again, felt that role could have been given a lot more dancing content.

I felt Melissa Hamilton gave it her all and deserves great praise whatever I thought of anything else. The part of the Doctor seems particularly thankless.

I was really pleased when the lights came up for final curtain and I could actually see the dancers faces and identify them, but I've seen it once, and once is enough. 

Please could someone tell me what is the point of creating a ballet that everyone struggles to see (I was in Row K stalls).

In contrast Symphony in C was unalloyed joy for me. Technically difficult and briliiant, foaming over with principals and soloists,  Sarah Lamb, Marianela and Thiago (unexpected bonus). Yuhui Choe and Steven McRae - it doesn't get much better.  Add the increasing crescendo of the music and this is pure bliss.

This is a huge OWN GOAL.  Do they want to promulgate the Royal Ballet or not, plus upset some of their biggest fans. All the photo galleries show the dancers in the best possible light and are a delight to follow.  We should continue to lobby to change this most negative policy.

Potters are really, really strong, so they do the trick -any Boots will sell them!  I'm always petrified of ruining a performance by coughing,

I'm competely with the comments on dark lighting. I sit in the stalls and even then it can be challenging. I have no truck with "artistic" lighting.  We have all paid our money and we really do deserve to see what's happening on stage. Surely this should be the number one criteria for all productions. I was struggling to see some of La Bayadere last week and that was from Row L.  Light up the stage properly please

Final performance of the run - Carlos / Marianela  = sublime.  Lovely touch at the end for the corps de ballet ladies - a single flower presented to all of them.  For those of us following them on Twitter, they tell us what hard work La B is for them.  Lovely to see the principals applauding them. 

Coughing is something which annoys me - and why is it always in the most dramatic/ silent parts?  Suddenly there are coughs throughout the theatre. I've been to the ROH with a dismal cold/ cough and would recommend Potters cataargh pastiles as being the only thing that works, But if you know you are likely to cough - do something about it!  Written in the context of sitting though La Bayadere 2 nights ago with a constant cougher directly behind me... also the ROH actually provide free cough sweets!  I asked once for my mother and they produced.

I was at the dinner and was really sorry to hear the news. He's been one of my favourites since he danced Lescaut with Sylvie Guillem in Manon and I have looked out for him ever since.  That was reinforced when I saw him interviewed at a Ballet Association evening.  Really passionate about the Royal Ballet and proud to be one of their dancers.

I went to see Thiago Soares/ Sarah Lamb / Clare Calvert last night and really enjoyed it.  Sarah Lamb at the top of her form  and Thiago was a romantic and dramatic Solor. Very interesting to see Clare Calvert as Gamzatti. I thought she did really well.

Top marks to the corps de ballet who worked their socks off. Was it 4 costume changes for some of them? The Kingdom of the Shades was the best I have seen so far this season- and Act 2 as a whole was a complete joy.

Aged 4, I went to Covent Garden with my mother for a performance of Swan Lake. Beryl Grey was Odette / Odile and astonishly I can remember it very clearly, even down to what I wore and where we sat. I had already started ballet classes and I suspect my first ballet was the Nutcracker at the Fesitival Hall, but I don't remember that. Subsequently we went to the Nutcracker every year. 

Going to Covent Garden was a treat that was almost beyond unimaginable. My mother once got tickets over the phone for Fonteyn / Nureyev but they never arrived and I know she cursed herself for not going up to London to collect them, but that was a big consideration then, so she didn't go, and we never got to see them. 

I saw Giselle at the ROH (Merle Park) with my ballet school, and Coppelia at the Festival Hall (Lucette Aldous).  Then Monica Mason in Swan Lake at Leatherhead (school trip). I was really impressed.  Many many years later Monica mentioned that performance on a discussion on the Swan Lake DVD with Marianela. I could not believe it - I was there and I remember it. I think I was 11. The question is - will I ever rediscover the theatre programme which I know is secreted somewhere.

I had a long gap during which I grew up, bought a property, could not afford anything until a colleague at work asked me to apply for Paul Hamlyn tickets as she couldn't, being a Friend already. I did, we went to Giselle and I was lost forever.  She showed me how to buy the cheaper tickets so I started to go again in the early 1990s.  The first visit was Mayerling. I had no idea what I was viewing having lost touch, although never the love of ballet ,  but it was stunning and I was hooked again. 

Then I discovered Sylvie Guillem and she became a must see. By this time I was in a much better position to attend more often and so it has blossomed over the last 20 years. Now I have an avid interest in each RB cast and the different interpretations these bring.

I've stuck to the RB as I love visiting the ROH and I've got to learn about all the dancers. Thank goodness though I went to see Carlos at the ENB when he danced Spartacus. I've dabbled with others, but never quite to same for me.

I'm interested to know what everyone thought about Bennet Gartside and Mara. I saw the performance last night and thought it grew in intensity and the Bennet gave a very empathetic portrayal of Rudolf and absolutely gave it his all. Mara was exemplary as always.

I loved tonight's performance with many highlights to pick out.  Roberta Marquez and Steven McRae are always one of my favourite couples and tonight was no exception. A particular highlight was also the performance of Yuhui Choe as Gamzatti.  Superb dancing and great stage presence. Also a very impressive High Brahmin from Eric Underwood and no performance is ever complete without Gary Avis.