SPD444

5 hours ago, sanj2000 said:

Thank you Don Q Fan for the photos, and for every one else above for all the comments and insights.

 

We were there on Friday, too, and I got "a bit emotional" during the performance (although my girlfriend told me off for being so!), but then some ballet and opera just do that to me...

 

I don't think I can add anything else that hasn't been said already, apart from thank you so much to all involved in putting on such a spectacular ballet. We saw a fantastic Giselle in Jan 2017 at ENO by ENB (I think it was Alina Cojocaru), and I just cannot separate the 2 performances - they were both amazing to watch.

I agree with you sanj2000, Alina has been my top Giselle for some time now but two ballerinas have come very, very close in this run. Francesca’s Act1 reminded me so much of Alina’s interpretation and Natalia’s total performance was so wonderful, my heart was bleeding.

Rhapsody and Two Pigeons on at 7.00am tomorrow (Monday). Does not say who is dancing.

stuart dixon

Who is Stanislaw Wegrzyn please, listed as being Royal Ballet?

5 hours ago, Sim said:

It is with deep disappointment and anger, therefore, to report that we received some very nasty messages and reports over the weekend, impugning us and our ability to run the forum to the standards certain people think aren’t being met.  We are always very happy to receive constructive suggestions about how to improve things because, like every other human being, we don’t always get things right, despite our best efforts.

However, I can tell you all now, that anyone who writes to us and swears at us, or is excessively nasty, will be immediately suspended or banned from this site.  We put up with a lot of things running the forum, but we are NOT prepared to put up with that.  If you are angry or unhappy about something, fair enough, but please just put your points to us in a civilised manner and we will respond in kind. 

Nobody likes a good difference of opinion more than me, I will stand and defend my point of view with anybody but when this becomes a personal attack then its time to call it a day. Thank you Sim and your fellow mods for doing a really rotten job really well. You have, as far as I can see, kept away all the "trolls" whose purpose in life seems to be in  ruining other peoples pleasures from the safety of a keyboard.  I hope those who did swear and the other things Sim mentions did get a permanent ban. we don't need that.

Stuart Dixon

Forgive me if I gush, but I thought tonight was just sublime. I saw so much Alina in Frankie’s interpretation, when she was flirting with Albrecht in Act one, leaving her hand trailing so he could catch her was just Alina and her tenderness towards Alexander was heartbreaking. Wonderful partnering by Alexander, fabulous Myrtha by Mayara Magri and a brilliant corps of Wilis topped, of course, by Frankie. Words fail me so I hope some our more lucid forum members will help me out. Thought her interpretation of the “mad” scene was perfect and Alexander’s walk down the stage at the end was heartbreaking........ and it’s Yasmine at lunchtime tomorrow, I need to lie down.

Don’t know, his comment at the Prix was he had signed a contract. You know more than me.

19 minutes ago, bridiem said:

 

But aren't dancers always in the position of rehearsing one or more roles during the day whilst performing another in the evening? (I don't mean to be heartless! Just not sure why it should mean having to not dance a Giselle, which seems a huge sacrifice since there are not that many opportunities to dance these great roles.)

Could it be that given the short time available they are rehearsing in the evening?

Thanks Janet,  Eli and the Giants will never be the same again. Go Cowboys

Be that as it may - for me the one to watch is Harrison Lee. Prodigious talent signed contract with the RB. At the school tomorrow hope I see him there.

Don’t get the chance to see much Opera but went to the rehearsal out of curiosity. No review from me but looking forward to both them and the cinema broadcast.

4 minutes ago, mimi'smom said:

It was yesterday after the final in the break between the finals and the announcements. It isn't on YouTube yet. He was there as part of the choreography project but obviously of interest as a previous winner. 

Thanks, I’ll look out for it.

1 hour ago, mimi'smom said:

Harrison Lee was interviewed yesterday during the Prix live stream and announced that he will be joining the Royal Ballet company I'm assuming at the end of the season. 

Looking at the recording on YouTube do you recall what day of the live stream Harrison is on please.

Spot on JohnS, great review. Vadim was sensational and he shut the coughers up at the end, total silence. First time I have seen the lead man leave the stage to get his own flowers for his partner, very touching. The quality of the dancing was wonderful, the corps especially. Like you, got a late ticket. Frankie next Friday and Yasmine on Saturday, my cup overflows.

I can testify to the Friday Rush Tickets sale. I was watching the clock tick down to 1.00pm for the Marianella Giselle performance to change from "Sold Out" to a red "Buy" I immediately clicked. The next page then displayed the tickets available in each area but, no matter which area I went to, all of the tickets had been grabbed. Given the you can only buy 2 tickets and 49 are made available that means that at least 25 people were quicker than me. I do not believe it. I suspect there were no tickets there at all.

22 hours ago, FLOSS said:

Yes.Nothing by McGregor. I think that he is a vastly overrated choreographer of limited range with a great propensity for repeating himself. Do you leave the theatre after a performance of one of his ballets with clear images of what you have just seen ? Because I rarely do. I tend to remember more about the design than the actual movement which he has devised. For me the best of his works don't really bear repeated viewings as his dance vocabulary is not sufficiently varied or interesting. He will survive. The company has given him a big enough shop window to display his wares. I am far more interested in choreographers with real imagination such as Crystal Pite .

 

 

 

 

Completely agree with you on this. I thought Flight Pattern by Ms Pite was terrific which I cannot say about anything Mr McGregor has created. Other than woolf works, I find his work awful and hope his last piece; which I cannot remember the name of, was really dreadful.

Nothing by McGregor, Floss?  Surely not.

Just announced that its being shown at cinemas at the end of April.   Great News.   DVD Next?? ??

On the basis that they quite often film insight events from the Clore and stream live on their You Tube site at no cost to us then I assume it is not that expensive for them to do it. I am only talking about the curtain call, flower throw and speeches/presentations which, in this day and age, will be one person using hand held camera attached to the internet.

No longer available.

Sorry old boy, I am a bit deaf so I do tend to shout.

COVENT GARDEN NOW REGULARLY STREAM EVENTS AT THE ROH, EITHER LIVE BROADCASTS TO THE CINEMA OR FROM THE CLORE ON THEIR INSIGHT PROGRAMS OR FROM CLASS IN THE STUDIOS.  HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE FLOWER THROW AND PRESENTATION TO MARIANELA IN RECOGNITION OF HER 20 YEARS SERVICE. TICKETS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET SO IT WOULD NOT SPOIL THE EVENT BY SHOWING IT. THOSE WHO LIKE THE IDEA PLEASE CONTACT THE ROH AND ASK THEM. WE MAY GET LUCKY.

HAVING RECENTLY PURCHASED THESE  I NOW FIND THAT I HAVE DOUBLE BOOKED MYSELF WITH A PERFORMANCE AT THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL SO------

2 BENCH SEATS NUMBERS B21 AND B22 IN THE CLORE STUDIO UPSTAIRS AT 7.30 TO  WATCH CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON AND ARTISTS OF THE ROYAL BALLET IN PREPARATION FOR THE

REVIVAL. THE TICKETS COST IS £17 EACH SO £34 IN TOTAL.

Absolutely spot on bridiem, you conveyed my thoughts/feelings perfectly. I think the solo you refer to was when Giselle does a series of two footed hops and normally to achieve a hop requires you to bend your knees. Nela seemed to do these hops, and there are a lot of them, without bending the knee which was extraordinary. She was stupendous and, in fairness, so was the whole cast. The corps in Act 2 were so together it was really chilling. Fantastic.

30 minutes ago, bridiem said:

 

Given how wonderful she was as Sugar Plum Fairy, I find it difficult to understand why there should be any doubts about Hayward's suitability for 'tutu' roles.

I absolutely agree with you bridiem she was perfect as SPF.  I thought she played a pretty "tortured" Juliet too alongside Matthew Golding. Never mind. I suppose its part of being a team player that she could not get all the "plum" roles all the time.

Still no sign of the casting being put back. I am really disappointed that Frankie is not being given a go at Odette/Odile. No disrespect to the other ballerinas but I was looking forward to that. Thrilled for Yasmine of course. I must admit I am not too pleased with the price increases, particularly for the "cheaper" seats some of which have very poor sight lines. Might give the whole thing a miss, be satisfied with my four Giselle's and a good few Manon's. SL might just be the cinema broadcast.