alison

"A success". I'd guess that ultimately means longevity: you could create a narrative ballet for, say, a 1-season tour, but what happens to it after that? Does it get revived, and if so, is it well-received (i.e. does it still sell) the next time around, or did it serve its purpose merely in filling in the dates for that one year? (The latter, of course, would also be a success in that it's done what it set out to do, but I don't think that's really what we're talking about here, is it?)

And having been sent via an Opera Forum thread to Empire Cinemas' website, I thought I might as well check availability at Bromley Empire, where I went to see The Nutcracker last year, firstly because it had availability where none of the others had, and secondly because it was cheap. Turns out it's changed hands, become a Cineworld, and if I want to go to Nutcracker there this year it'll cost me £3.80 more than last year

Did the TV programme have "Dreams to Reality" or something similar as part of the title?

There *was* a programme about White Lodge/RB, can't remember the name off-hand, must be best part of 10 years ago because I remember Steven McRae saying that if he didn't get made principal quickly he wasn't going to be staying around, or words to that effect. There was also some local London programme on WL and Richmond Park, which I don't think I saw.

Thanks, Bluebird. Does that mean we're not actually getting a "proper" Christmas ballet this year, then? (I did think Anastasia wasn't really terribly Christmassy )

Of course, it probably wasn't back in 1967, but has been overtaken by events Well, having sat (or stood) through two performances back-to-back today, I thought I'd add a few random thoughts which have struck me. First of all, and at the risk of starting the debate up again, the section which has excercised so many in this thread already comes immediately after the replay of Alexei's fall, so I would guess that it is indeed a distorted recalling of Rasputin's attempts to get the boy walking again. I registered for the first time today that the sets for Acts I and II are simply set *over* the Act III set, which breaks through into them at points, namely the doors through which some people enter and leave. A clever theatrical conceit which helps to emphasise the unreality of the first two acts (was it the same with the original Barry Kay designs?). Incidentally, this ballet must take the biscuit for being one of the most annoyingly centric ballets: if you are any less than centrally seated in the Opera House you are likely to miss happenings along the sides of the set, of which probably the most significant is Anastasia observing the interactions in Act II. I've now seen 3 performances, two evening ones from stalls circle standing, and one matinee from the amphitheatre. I appreciated the ballet far more from the amphitheatre, and I'm not sure whether that had anything to do with cast, although tiredness or lack thereof might have been a factor. I think that from the amphi you get a better overall view of proceedings and the set, and the feeling of a golden period/halcyon days or whatever you like to call it, whether real or not. Not to mention that you can see the film properly, and that the revolutionaries are rather more effective when you can see up to the top of the Winter Palace and so forth.

As am I.

Maybe if you started a separate thread for that, Janet? (Or install Malwarebytes)

No, Quintus, they're perfectly normal .jpg files, and I guess imgur does what it usually does with them when you upload them, whatever that may be. It produces a URL which you then C&P as necessary.

That reminds me, shouldn't we have had a press release for the spring/summer season as a whole by now? After all, Sadler's were making a big song and dance about Acosta Danza the other day, supposedly as a launch for the whole season.

Thank you Jane. I think the part Lindsay is referring to is in Act III, where Rasputin holds the child upside-down and scissors his legs open and shut. Possibly it's then an inversion of that part of Act I, distorted by the recollections/imaginings of a disturbed mind? I hadn't thought of that before.

I can't speak for the revivals prior to 1996, but Alexei has always been portrayed by a young boy in those.

It may be that you're not perceived as having used up your monthly limit, John. I must admit that I can't see any rhyme or reason to it either!

Having read Clement Crisp's review, I would be interested to read the one he refers to from the time, by Andrew Porter, which he implies really understood the ballet, but of course it's not online. While looking for quotes, courtesy of the MacMillan website, I came across this one by Alexander Bland: "He has provided an evening packed with classical dancing which is always distinguished in that quiet way which rewards repeated viewings:" So, I wonder, will repeated viewings be rewarded in this case? (I hope so, since I have several scheduled)

Ah, Bigonzetti (who is down as the conducter [sic]) Oh, so that'll be the MacMillan R&J, then? Thanks, Katherine.

Morera's new to the part, surely?

That strikes me as a bit of a warped way of saying "Fairy doll" in German I'm also a bit confused as to why it should be (courtesy of Wikipedia) one of the most-performed ballets in the German-speaking world. After all, ballet is a silent art (most of the time). It's not as if you'd say that Coppelia is one of the most-performed ballets in francophone countries, or something. Oh well, something for me to mull over next time I'm particularly bored.

I don't think anybody has mentioned discussing things with your tutor yet, have they? If you're not sure what you should best be doing with the rest of your time, some guidance at this still-early stage would be useful so you don't waste your resources. As others have said, university is very different from school, and the apparent shortage of tuition time is a difficult thing to get to grips with - I read that a lot of students complain about not actually having much in the way of formal lectures/seminars. Even back last century(!) when I did my degree, that was a problem: my English-Lit-major roommate only had 14 hours a week, whereas I had 21. But we were both told that we should be looking to triple or quadruple that with our own study/work. I guess something similar must still apply even if you're not doing an "academic" subject.

I don't think you can (or maybe only within the first 30 minutes, like you can the rest of the post). I think it may be a Moderator "privilege"

Thanks, Geoff. I mentioned the Coppelia in the "ballet in the cinema" thread. I'm guessing these are probably La Scala productions, although the Coppelia blurb didn't specify.

Oh, we've had far more ... tangential (?) ... tangents than that

I've edited the title to make it clearer.

*Before* his marriage

I'm sure it will be fine on the big screen - just think of the close-ups! Nunez is wearing a tutu because she's portraying Mathilde Kschessinska, and performing in front of the Imperial family.

Oh, that's not the park where the Titanic memorial is, is it? I was trying to think of somewhere nearer the theatre.