pianolady

Absolutely beautiful and moving performances in Dame aux Camellias- perfect use of the music- the Chopin solos created such a sense of intimacy that drew you in, and I've long imagined a ballet to the concertos. I agree that the use of lighting and props was extremely effective. As always, Novikova did a sterling job with her introductions. The only little quibble was that for one brief moment, black tights against a very dark background made some very impressive male dancing difficult to see clearly. But other than that I loved it.

Checkmate- I've never seen this live- Bliss's music is so eerie and evocative and the theme of power and control is so eternally relevant. Thanks for posting the link, have replied to that too.

I saw this last night at High Wycombe and loved this production. It's so interesting seeing the variety of responses to different versions as well. Personally I really loved the framing story with the older Albrecht, and I found the ending very menacing with the advance of the Wilis on Albrecht to silence apart from the toll of the church bells. It also made good use of the loud closing music in the score- if my memory serves me correctly, I don't think the recent Bolshoi production used that but ended quietly and for some reason I really missed those final bars. We saw Mayu Tanigaito's Giselle, which radiated innocence. I liked the way the production felt more modern with the dress looking Victorian- it made Giselle seem like a symbol of an innocence associated with a past world that would disappear over the next few decades with the developments and the next century and the First World War. I also loved the flower symbolism and the tree and roots on the backcloth. Everything seemed made to work together and no moment was wasted. I liked Carlo Di Lanno's Albrecht which showed his bred nobility that he couldn't disguise, and Paul Mathews Hilarion made me really care about his character. Only bit I wasnt' sure I liked was the village idiot figure pulling the wedding cart. Loved the portrayal of the nobility- they seemed really nasty and abrupt, and the crooked dwellings of the peasants emphasised the class aspect. It was interesting that Abigail Boyle played both Bathilde and Myrtha-a bit of doubling that really made me think. After the Bolshoi's hammy trapdoors and moving tree branch, it was lovely to see a simple and effective second act with sufficient but not overpowering mists and lightening. Overall a lovely production I thought- much as I really enjoy re-workings of the classics like Matthew Bourne's, for me, the traditional version with some individual twists like this really wins.

I agree, definitely Giselle and Odette Swanhilda in Coppelia-cheeky, defiant, not willing to stand any nonsense from her silly love-struck suitor who's fallen for a doll Juliet- strong willed, passionate and fiery- esp in the Nureyev version I saw on Saturday where she is the one who arranges the marriage- I can't remember if that is the case in other productions or in Shakespeare's play I agree about Paulina in The WInter's Tale- she seemed in the end to have almost mystical powers -I loved her character I think so much depends on the choreography and interpretation especially in the nineteenth-century ballets

Yes, I agree about Prokofiev- and a couple of bits of his piano suite Visions Fugitives sound like Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky Neopolitan Song for the Album for the Young for piano is the same as the Neopolitan Dance in Swan Lake.

I loved the dancing in both acts- Act 1 was only marred for us by technical problems in Aylesbury which sadly meant we missed the first 15 minutes. Also first experience seeing a ballet screening in a multiplex rather than a theatre and I could hear other, louder films from other screens at some really quiet moments. I really enjoyed the gentle autumnal feel of the first act but had mixed feelings about the production in Act 2. I didn't like the trapdoor thing Giselle entered on which for me felt a bit hammy and panto- ditto the tree was a distraction and I agree that the twinkly fairy lights didn't really add a lot. And whilst too much bathing in mist can be over the top, a bit more of a ghostly feel to the set would have been welcome. I loved Giselle, both on the dancing and acting front, and the superbly cold Queen of the Willi. Totally agree, the audience was a distraction (had they borrowed them from Strictly?) especially in Act 2 with endless applause which really breaks the mood-you could hardly hear the music at times. Just a shame it wasn't better attended. I'd estimate an audience of about 30 people- I'd be interested to know how this compares to other areas. The only Bolshoi screening I've been to round here that was nearly full was Nutcracker last year. I see none of my local outlets are showing Jewels which is annoying.

Thanks so much for posting this- we went to see this at Watford having got the email about the cancellation. Only shame it wasn't better attended at Watford.