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toursenlair

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  1. toursenlair
    Thanks so much for the extra info, Angela and SBF. I started planning this trip back in the fall and had to take a few deep breaths when I started looking at Swiss prices! in fact I took two days off the Zurich portion of the trip because otherwise it was going to be prohibitively expensive. But actually those drinks prices are what we pay at the opera house in Toronto too (if we choose to drink!) We're sitting in the most expensive seats, so I will advise against jeans (not that my groups are the jeans-wearing type anyway).
  2. toursenlair
    Thanks for all the info, SBF. I've already contacted the ballet administration as I know Christian Spuck personally, and they have been very helpful indeed. I have my fingers crossed for Alex Jones!
  3. toursenlair
    Thanks, SBF, I'm going to Swan Lake. I have another question, about the house program. I'm presuming it has to be bought, as in Europe generally. But can one get just a cast list? Is the program entirely, or mostly, in German, or is there enough English for it to be worth a unilingual English speaker's while? I'd love to hear any other tips you have.
  4. toursenlair
    What's the custom re attire at the Opera House in Zurich for a mid-week ballet performance? Is it like other opera houses where people wear whatever they like (within reason), or is it more formal?
  5. toursenlair
    I think it is unfair to say that the NBOC "prefers senior dancers past 40". There are in fact 2 female principals past 40, Sonia Rodriguez and Greta Hodgkinson, out of 8. "Ms. Dronina’s repertoire with the National Ballet includes principal roles in The Winter’s Tale, The Nutcracker, Giselle, La Sylphide and Le Petit Prince." plus Olga in Onegin and Cinderella. And she's only been in the company a little over a year (joined September 2015). Also, what do you mean by "much better audience"?
  6. toursenlair
    Hands off Jurgita Dronina! we want her to stay here in Toronto and perform as much as she possibly can!
  7. toursenlair
    Kish tore his anterior cruciate ligament last summer. it usually takes a year for recovery.
  8. toursenlair
    they did a Swan Lake a couple of years ago.
  9. toursenlair
    I have read this book, The Chosen Maiden by Eva Stachniak, a historical novel based on the life of Bronislava Nijinska. Eva is a friend of mine, so I won't give a review, but it is definitely very readable and plunges you into the world of the Imperial Theatre, the Ballets Russes, Russia during the Revolution, etc. The review to which Sim links calls Stachniak a "Polish" author, which she is but she has lived in Toronto for decades. The book was written in English. You may be familiar with Eva's bestselling novels about Catherine the Great, The Winter Palace and Empress of the Night.
  10. toursenlair
    From the website of the distributor, Dogwoof: the live film premiere of acclaimed documentary film DANCER will take place at the iconic London Palladium on Thursday 2nd March and will be broadcast into over 200 cinemas across the UK on the night. Audience members will be treated to a screening of the film followed by a breathtaking live performance of ‘Take Me To Church’ by ballet sensation and star of the film, Sergei Polunin. This will be the first time Polunin has performed the routine - which generated over 10 million YouTube views within two months of its release - live in front of a UK audience. Following the performance, Polunin will also take part in a Q&A about the film and his career. Tickets for London Palladium and over 200 cinemas go on sale on Friday 20 January!
  11. toursenlair
    well that's odd even if it were Giselle music, because in most productions Giselle wears BLUE (although I know she wears brown in RB's).
  12. toursenlair
    it is the end of civilization as we know it if you can't get a decent cup of tea in England! https://youtu.be/rG-rMpQT-GQ?t=1m8s
  13. toursenlair
    intriguing but I would say definitely not Giselle. I have a recording of the complete score with all the bits that often get left out and it's not in there.
  14. toursenlair
    Cafe Pistou has closed, but apparently something else is moving into the same spot.
  15. toursenlair
    will be announced Jan 28
  16. toursenlair
    also, the chocolate museum is well worth a visit! if you go during the warmer months, the boat tour on the canals and river is fun.
  17. toursenlair
    There is a Scandic hotel about 2 minutes walk from the opera house. Also I found a lovely B&B a bit further away but still walkable and easy by bus. More travel tips about Hamburg for ballet lovers here: http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2012/07/travel-tips-for-ballet-lovers-hamburg.html
  18. toursenlair
    I actually like Seagull, but I don't think DQF would, based on her previous postings. In addition to being sad, Little Mermaid has truly awful music, in my opinion. Nijinsky. It is truly fabulous, and if you can see Alexandre Riabko, it's a mind-blowing experience. Maybe it would be one of those occasions where you might go in thinking "Hmm, I'm really more of a Bayadere kinda person" and then be surprised by absolutely adoring it. Since your way to Hamburg is paid, DQF, maybe this is an opportunity for you to take a risk repertoire wise.
  19. toursenlair
    Ha, it would seem that this method still applies. An interview with Germain Louvet's brother: "Mercredi soir, toute la famille du jeune homme était présente pour la représentation du "Lac des Cygnes" à l'issue de laquelle Germain a été nommé danseur étoile. "Il y avait des indices sur cette nomination", explique Marius Louvet, le frère de Germain, "la direction de l'Opéra avait demandé à Germain si nous étions bien présents le 28 décembre. Et puis Aurélie Dupont, la directrice du Ballet et Stéphane Lissner, le directeur de l'Opéra de Paris, étaient dans la salle pour la représentation. Cela n'arrive pas tous les jours". "Wednesday night, the young man's entire family was at the performance of Swan Lake at the end of which Germain's promotion to etoile was announced "There were some clues about the promotion," explains Marius Louvet, Germain's brother, "the Opera management had asked Germain if we would be there on December 28. And then Aurelie Dupont, the director of the ballet, and Stephane Lissner, the director of the Paris Opera, were in the audience for the performance. That doesn't happen every day".
  20. toursenlair
    If you don't have to go this season you might think of waiting till they announce next year's rep in case they have more ballets that would suit your tastes. I love Neumeier's Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake and Lady of the Camellias (which is very sad, but not "heavy" if I understand what you mean by "heavy"). Also his R&J.
  21. toursenlair
    Oh yes Shakespeare Stories was fab. I saw them on tour with it in Vienna.
  22. toursenlair
    Jurgita Dronina is BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL in anything classical.
  23. toursenlair
    Actually I highly recommend their Nutcracker. Nijinsky is fabulous but probably not for you if you like classical and "not too heavy".! I love Mahler 3 but you might not. You won't be able to get tix for the Nijinsky Gala. It sells out a year in advance.
  24. toursenlair
    I have a question about seating at the Dominion Theatre. Row E is the front row for AIP. "premium seats" start in Row J. Say I was buying tix for someone who's a big fan of Robbie Fairchild (asking for a friend, you understand) and wanted to be as close as possible... What are rows E-J like at the Dominion? Are they sunk below the stage at all? Thank you!
  25. toursenlair
    There is a DVD of the Baryshnikov Carmen, but apparently now only avaialable in N American version.
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