Swan66

I will miss him, he is a fabulous dancer. I remember that he was the first dancer principal dancer I saw live when I went to see Sleeping Beauty . I remember it was with Francesca Hayward it was a great performance as all their performances , what a couple¡¡¡

hello A Frog, thanks for your comments about Roberta Marquez's performance. I totally agree. I was lucky in march 2004, when I went to London, and I saw 4 auroras in just 3 days. so lucky¡¡¡ thursday night, Nuñez, I think it was her debut as Aurora, maybe I'm wrong, but I think it was her debut that night. anyway, she was superb, as always. Friday, day off... Saturday, matinée ( Darcey Bussell...injured or ill,I dont know, so Cojocaru came to that matinée, very nice she was of course, but I wanted sooo much to see Darcey. Saturday evening, Rojo, ok, but no smiles...maybe she was not very good that evening. who knows. And then sunday 3pm. Roberta Marquez, the star¡¡¡ Really, she was the BEST of the serie. and as I had seen the other 3 stars, so recently, just a few hours before, I could compare them, and definitely, Marquez was first class¡¡¡ what an ideal aurora, IDEAL

Darcey was a great dancer ( I loved her pas de deux of Tchaikovsky that she danced in a gala ) so perfect¡¡¡ Sylvia in 2005, was perfect. Prince of Pagodas in 1990, was perfect. no wonder that Mcmillan chose her for that DIFFICULT role. I mean, she was really a good dancer, whatever she danced. even Deborah Bull said in an interview: I could see when a dancer was really beyond good, extraordinary, and Darcey was a megastar. Deborah said that, and I agree with her, Darcey was something really unique. when she said in 2007 that was leaving ballet, I was shocked¡¡¡ I had just seen her in Sylvia in 2005 and I loved her, and I would have loved to see her more years ¡¡¡ Of course, she had also, a tremendous beauty and that helps too. :-) I mean, Darcey was the ideal ballerina. but I repeat, she became so famous not only for all the media, famous, shows, photos, beauty, etc. all that helps, of course, BUT, the important is that she danced really well and that it was a pleasure to see her on stage.

that's right janet, actually, it does not matter the orchestra, the thing is that everybody enjoys the Bolshoi Don Quixote, and a good reason for that, and that is my impression, is because the orchestration is wonderful, vivid, full of live. I'm not saying the last don Q of the operahouse was not full of life, of course, not, BUT, I simply say that the orchestration could have been a Little bit more beefed-up as Wulff would say :-) And actually, I wonder myself, if a score already exists, why is there the need to have the same score returned to the original one when the " beefed-up" is well and willingly enough accepeted. For example Vincenzo Bellini wrote Norma for a Mezzo soprano voice, (Giuditta Pasta) , but that role end up to be sung by sopranos, and audiences seems to love that, they , I think , would not the other way around back, myself included. so, I wonder why return to original scores when the beefed-up scores are good enough?

Thank you very much for your interesting explanation, and I agree with you, I am also quite sure that some original orchestrations of some famous ballets have been beefed-up. Yes, I am totally sure of that. I have a question : when the Bolshoi came to the Covent Garden to dance Don Quixote the orchestra was the one of the Royal Opera House or it was the Bolshoi Orchestra? Which score did they use ?

I enjoy very much Swan Lake with Makarova and Dowell, they're a great partnership. Also, I think Darcey Bussell is great with Jonathan Cope , perfect match¡¡¡

Yes, that's right. thanks. I've just google to see her and yes, it was her. what a lovely ballerina¡¡¡ Thanks for your fast reply¡¡

hello LinMM, yes ¡¡¡ the 6th december , FINALLY, my dream came true and I saw Lauren Cuthbertson ¡¡¡ and I have no words to express my impressions. She offered a SPECTACULAR dancing. she's first of all a fantastic dancer, that's for sure, everybody knows that, of course, she's pure excellent technique ( graceful port des bras¡¡¡ so beautiful ¡¡¡, but the special thing about her, at least is my impression , is that she is kind of listening the music while dancing or following it or dancing with it,I'm sorry if I can't express myself better, but maybe you know what I mean, she gave me the impression as if she were dancing for and with the music ¡¡¡, enjoying it, following it ,I mean, I was sooo amazed by that, and of course, her variation was WORTH the trip to London....SHE WAS something really magic , special and unique, I saw then ,while she was on stage, why she is a principal star of the company, she's a real star that shine for a lot of things not only for her great dancing, she has something unique that only the true stars are distinguished from good dancers, so I enjoyed a lot that night at the ballet. The sad thing about the performance was that I was really really wishful to see Iohna Loots, as I enjoy a lot her DVD performance that I was kind of happy to see her on stage live, but she was replaced by another dancer, I dont remember the name, I got the cast information in that paper with all the cast names that I took at the tables at the entrace hall but I don't know where that paper is now, so I don't remember the name of the dancer, but the truth is that she was GREAT, and actually, I loved her a lot, and I hope to see her again in the future ( actually I'm planning to travel again to London to see Sleeping Beauty )so even if I missed this time the beautiful smile of Iohna, I've discovered a new dancer that I did not know and that she got a tremendous success and lots of applauses¡¡¡, she was perfect for the role.really. so good for her. by the way, can you or anybody find out the name of that dancer, she danced Clara the evening of 6th december , the night that Lauren danced.. Thank you,Merci¡¡¡¡

maybe I'm wrong, but I had the feeling that when Kitri did enter the stage , the orchestra did not sounded too spectacular. I mean, when I see the DVD with Aurélie Dupont , I see her entrance and she jumps just in the moment that there is a drumroll, and loud, I mean, quite spectacular. So the whole audience get ready for something, and yes, she appears doing that jump precisely at the moment of the drumroll. But, and that is why I write that maybe I'm wrong, that I did not hear any spectacular drumroll when Nuñez did her entrance. Of course, it was fine and very nice, and I think she did the jump just when she entered BUT the music did not accompanied her. it's not her fault, of course, it is I think the fault of the one who decaffeinated the score.... I had the feeling that Minku's score can sound more spectacular.... I have a Sofia orchestra DVD with the whole ballet, and the sound is wonderful the orchestra is wonderful, you can listen cymbals, beating of drums, etc. but I think, ( maybe I'm wrong, as it'sbeen a lot of time since I Heard it , but my impression is that the orchestra could have sounded more lively. Someone agree with me....or maybe I'm wrong.... a few days ago I listened to two swan lakes, one by Lanchbery and the other by prévin, or dutoit, now I do not remember, but for sure, one was by Lanchbery, and they sounded quite different....and I do not mean the sound, both were quite well sound recording, what I mean is that some moments are more spectaculars with drums and cymbals, where in the other versión you can listen them but not so loud or maybe played in a different way....it's curious how a score can sound slightly different dedpending who conducts, and I say it's curious, because, if the score is the same for any orchestra in the world, how on earth can sound so different being the same score....?

Thanks LinMM. Yes, I will do my best to get a ticket for that performance. it is such an ideal cast that I wouldn't miss it for the world¡¡¡ Of course, Cuthbertson is the main interest going . I've seen The nutcracker a few times, but I also have great interest in another cast member : Iohna Loots as I've seen her many times on videos ( Sylvia, Sleeping Beauty ) and of course, her SUPERB performance, I'd say, the ideal one of Clara at the Nutcracker DVD that I enjoy so much everytime I watch it. So that cast is fantastic.Another Cast that I would have loved to see is the one with Sarah Lamb¡¡¡ but well, unfortunately I will only be 2 days in London. Best regards¡¡

Dont' worry using me as an example, it's ok ¡¡ I'm sure that morning will be lots of people to manage to get a ticket to see that special CAST which in my opinion is the ideal one. by the way, you wrote: a nice lady... but Iam a boy¡¡¡ :-) dont' worry¡¡¡ hehehe best regards¡¡

Hello Everyone. I am overwhelmed by so many answers to my questions.You are all VERY kind. A friend told me that the British people are very helpful, and yes, I do can attest to that. Really ¡¡¡ I did not expect so many answers and so perfectly clear with such detailed information. So, many thanks to everyone, you're all super friendly. That makes me remember the 4th nov 2004, when I asked my parents to go to the première of Sylvia , as I really wanted to see live the famous star Darcey Bussell, and well,finally I got the permission and went to London that same evening I landed the same 4th november and enjoyed that big success première with Jonathan Cope (Fantastic dancer¡¡¡) and the great Darcey Bussell, and if that was not enough , the 5th I saw Zenaida's performance as Sylvia, so great too¡¡ and I still remember when she took the curtain calls, she smiled so beautifully, that I still have the photo¡¡ as I was seated just near the orchestra and just 2 meters from her¡¡ so, well...as you can read, I have wonderful memories of that première of Sylvia, by the way, a wonderful version¡¡¡ It was a real complete trip 3 big dance stars in just one trip¡¡¡ COPE,BUSSELL and YANOWSKY So, I do hope to return home with the same good memories as that trip. First for Lauren which,I think ( it's my humble opinion) She has something so unique, so distinctive; an intangible quality that seems to surround this beautiful dancer whenever she is on stage that makes her so unique and captivating the looks of everybody. Well, that's my feelings when I see her dancing. of course, there are wonderful dancers in the company, but as Darcey was unique, I think Lauren is that kind of dancers, that one important and experienced friend told me: that's the kind of dancers that appears one every 10 years. Also I am very happy to see live the same cast I have at home on the DVD Loots and Cervera, which is PERFECT. I simply love those two fantastic dancers. so that 6th december performance will be a night at the ballet to remember, that's for sure¡¡¡ Thank you¡¡ John Mallinson, Ailin, Bluebird : thanks a lot for your detailed information, now I have it all more clear, you're very kind¡¡¡

Hello everybody. I dont know if this is the right place to ask my question, but well, I've thought it was here, if not, please excuse me. Well, the thing is this: I have my plane ticket, my hotel booked, everything arranged. and I go to the website and is says SOLD OUT :-( Really¡¡¡ I only stay in London the 4th 5th and 6th. so, that was perfect, specially for me, as I am a great fan of Lauren Cuthbertson, and also of Iohna Loots, that her Clara is IDEAL in the DVD I've seen a few times. sooo, it was the ideal cast for me, I mean, Ideal¡¡¡ and I read, SOLD OUT. I've read of the website that the day of the perfomance there are 64 seats sold from 10 am. ok. I will definitely go and try to get one for me, of course¡¡¡ but my question is anybody here knows at what time start to be people stading in queues to get the ticket? I have booked a hotel near St.Pancrass Station, so well, I suposse that I will have to wake up early, to go till the opera house , but I would not want to be too early or too late....:-( and I've been told that is quite cold in december in England. so....:-) I prefer to stay in the hotel a little bit longer before I go to the convent garden to stand in the cold. By the way, if I finally manage to get a ticket for that performance , those 64 seats that they sold, where are located? and what is the cost of each ticket, as I've been looking that information in the website but I can't find it anywhere. thank you very much for your answers. :-)

Yes, I certainly would give me a Christhmas treat ¡¡¡ Thanks for the info. ;-)

Don Q and Sonik I can't wait to read your reviews¡¡¡¡ Specially Don Q Fan, as I'm REALLY interested about Sarah Lamb's performance. I can't wait¡¡¡¡ Have fun¡¡¡

Thanks¡¡¡ great news¡¡¡ :-) I can't wait to buy it. Marianela is ideal in that role, it seems made for her. it's great that we will be able to keep a wonderful memory of these performances. Great¡¡¡ Thanks for the information :-)

Thank you very much for your message and information about Lauren, you are lucky having been able to say hello in person to her,lucky you¡¡ It would be great to see her in the Nutcracker and of course in Aurora, her great role, in my opinion, it seems made specially for her. Regarding my English, thank you very much.:-) you're very kind I study English for years ,I have also been lucky enough to travel for work even live in different cities ( Hong Kong and Washington ) so I used it then, now not so much. That's why I enjoy a lot reading in english and this forum, for example, is a great way for me to improve my vocabulary and in a natural way, because I can read expressions and comments in real english , and I like that. So I think that now I've discovered this forum I will read it as often as possible to improve my English and to be updated about the ballet. I wish you good luck with your spanish course, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, I will be happy to help . :-)

Hello Alison and Alieen, Yes, Alison, actually I'm Spanish, I'm in Spain but I go to London from time to time , I have friends and also....the Royal Ballet, my two main excuses to take a plane and go to London :-) So, yes,You got it :-) I'm in Spain , I wish I lived in London, I'd go to alllllll performances of the Royal Ballet, but well, a couple of performances from time to time is ok . I remember in one of my trips I was so lucky that I managed to see in just 4 days: Alina, Marianela, Tamara and Roberta in Aurora¡¡¡ :-) I was so lucky¡¡ by the way I think it was the debut of Marianela in Aurora, I'm not sure. Anyway, she was sublime as always¡¡¡ Thank you very much Aileen for your quick response. I did not know Lauren Cuthbertson was injured. I had no idea¡¡¡ What a year for my Favourite dancers.....last month Maria Alexandrova, and now I read about Lauren :-( I hope she recovers quickly and well, as for sure, I plan to see her in Aurora next march.

yes, In many productions the final GPDD is a white tutu instead of black and read. I like both , so the white is fine. I saw Sylvie Guillem at Palais Garnier in 1999 and it was a white tutu, all white, with white lace sleeves. very pretty. I could not go on opening day, so I rely on the pictures I've seen, and the costumes are really beautiful. the queen of dryads tutu is beautiful. the most beautiful I've ever seen. Marianela is beautiful in all the photos, all dresses and tutus are great. She must have captured all eyes that night, really beautiful. Melissa Hamilton is divine in the photo I've seen, exquisite¡¡¡ We must congratulate the team that has designed these dresses as they are fabulous, they have managed to be brilliant. bravo¡¡¡. by the way, I'm new to this forum, so maybe it has been said before, but I have not read. Would someone kindly tell me why Lauren Cuthbertson is not distributed in this series of Don Quixote? She's my favorite dancer of the Royal Ballet with Sarah Lamb ( both are my fav :-) ), and I would love to see her in Kitri. Is she injured? or what reason why she can not dance? thank you very much