Balletfanp

Well, I was there tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had never seen Asphodel Meadows before, so went not knowing what to expect and with an open mind. I found it undemanding and enjoyable in a mild way. It reminded me of Viscera a bit, which I also found undemanding and enjoyable in a mild way... that sounds like damning it with faint praise, which I’m not - I wouldn’t book tickets specifically to see it again, but I would be perfectly happy to sit through it again in another bill. Ahh, Laura Morera - she is just so special. I’m not sure why, but I love it and I love her. She and William Bracewell were outstanding in Asphodel Meadows, even managing to eclipse Marianela (who was also excellent). Morera and Bracewell looked really good together and really seemed to connect with each other. I was also delighted to see Morera as the Gypsy Girl in the Two Pigeons. I was so looking forward to seeing her last time around - having been told that it was very much “her” role - but she was injured before I got to see her. I was so glad to finally see her tonight, and I agree wholeheartedly that it definitely is “her” role. She was fantastic - seductive, exciting, electrifying, with wonderful dancing. She and Muntagirov have a lot of chemistry together (loved them in Fille). Last time Fumi Kaneko took over and I really enjoyed her interpretation, but....there’s no one quite like Morera! And once again, Cuthbertson and Muntagirov were amazing - charming, funny and sad. It seemed to me that they had developed in the roles since last time. The last pas de deux was simply beautiful - heartwrenchingly moving. The corps were on great form too and danced with huge joie de vivre making it quite a spectacle. The only slightly weak link, I felt, was Tomas Mock as the Gypsy Chief - it wasn’t that he was bad but I just didn’t really feel anything from him. Others may well disagree. Of course, the Pigeon Factor lends a whole extra frisson to the last ten minutes or so - will they behave or won’t they! The walk down the stairs with the pigeon on the shoulder in particular has me on tenterhooks - it would be rather awkward for the storyline if it flew off into the flies, or started pecking around the stage (not unknown!) - to say nothing of being just a tad distracting! Well, I can report that the Pigeons behaved impeccably tonight, although the second Pigeon at the very end came in a bit late - just as I was starting to think there was a problem, it appeared! Phew! 😂 Excellent evening and an appreciative audience!

The main webpage has now been updated with the cast changes, and I also received an email today informing me of them.

I really enjoyed this production last time round.

Also reminds me of a manager at work who persistently kept using certain words and terminology that were - let’s say, inappropriate.... the meanings of which he was clearly ignorant, and it was provoking odd looks and/or stifled giggles in meetings. In the end a friend of mine emailed him links to the specific words in the Urban Dictionary. They have not been uttered since....😳

Takada did (with Muntagirov as Lensky). I have a feeling Meaghan Grace Hinkis also played Olga in that run?

Happy New Year to all of you - with thanks for everything you do, it can’t be an easy job at times!

Ditto aliceinwoolfland. Also did anyone see Benjamin Ella’s debut as the Prince?

Having seen both the cinema relay (several years running) and live performances, I have to say that the SPF and the Prince costumes come over so much better on the live stage - they sparkle and really add to the magic. I would prefer a more natural look with a bit of sparkle, but one can see the point when one sees them “in the flesh,” so to speak.

I can’t remember now what it was - try FREELAKE?

That did happen in the cinema broadcast but didn’t on TV tonight. Evidently sections from the other filmed performance were edited in. It was blissful to be able to watch it again.

Yes - I have said before, his acting is natural and sincere, not forced, and all the better for it imo. And after Winter Dreams....

Yes, I believe they were good together in that, but I somehow managed to miss them at the time. Of course, he partnered Takada quite a bit when he joined the RB but although they were well matched dancing-wise, I never felt there was much chemistry there. Having said that, they have both matured greatly as performers since then, so it may be a different story now.

I agree - Naghdi springs to mind in the purely classical ballets, and perhaps Hayward - they were lovely together in The Invitation.

I think that Muntagirov is fantastic with Nunez in the purely classical ballets - Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty etc. - but so much better with Lamb in the more romantic/passionate roles such as Winter Dreams, Manon etc. One wonders what his Armand would have been like with Lamb rather than Nunez. Anyway, in the spirit of this thread - like jmhopton, I have to travel a fair distance, can’t see many performances and therefore tend to pick my favourites to watch, so I’ll try not to make this too one-sided! 1. Muntagirov in pretty much everything. He gets better every time I see him and still manages to astonish me with every performance, culminating in that devastating Winter Dreams the other night. 2. Sarah Lamb as Mary Vetsera - seen at the cinema. 3. Seeing Matthew Ball in my home town Plymouth in Bourne’s Swan Lake - his first performance in the role. Some understandable first night nerves but he will get over those as he matures as a Principal, and he was fantastic. I feel even more privileged to have seen it hearing that he is now injured - so disappointing for him and for his fans. 4. Am liking what I see of Joseph Sissens very much. 5. Tierney Heap’s Myrthe. Another dancer I like very much and I hope she is back from injury very soon.

I can’t really add much except to say that Muntagirov in that solo - and throughout Winter Dreams - was deeply moving and just incredible to watch. An astounding performance.

I certainly did! A very special performance where everyone shone. So many children there enthralled by it - not a peep out of any of them, but then it is like walking into a fairytale. I found myself filling up on a few occasions - the combination of the music, the wonderful dancing and the sparkling sets. On the way back to Plymouth now feeling shattered, but buoyed up by this afternoon’s performance!

I wish I’d known, I’d have said hello!

Were you in the front row, Mary? I think you may have been sat in front of me!

No bag check (I came in via the Covent Garden entrance), and not a single ticket check at any point.

Merry Christmas to everyone too!

I know I described Les Patineurs as lightweight, with “sweet choreography” but that wasn’t in any way meant to put it down, and was perhaps the wrong word to use. I love Ashton ballets, I adore the way his deceptively simple steps are a perfect reflection of the music and the situation, and Les Patineurs was no exception to that. I think I meant it say that it was lighter in tone than the other two ballets. i still feel that Winter Dreams feels a bit disjointed. When the farewell pas de deux between Masha and Vershinin began, it took me by surprise because I was expecting a bit more of a lead up - but there was nothing to indicate that the soldiers were leaving. However, with performances like last night’s, who cares? 🙂

Apologies in advance - I may ramble on a bit...! It’s unusual for me to enjoy all the ballets in a triple bill, but that was the case tonight, for different reasons. Les Patineurs felt quite lightweight compared with the other two, but it is what it is - a fun and whimsical ballet, with sweet choreography and very pretty to look at. Meaghan Grace Hinkis’s fouettes were indeed wonderful, as mentioned by a couple of other posters, and Acri really shone as the Blue Boy. With Winter Dreams, I took the precaution of having a good read of the synopsis first, although I more or less knew the story, and managed to follow it fairly easily. It’s a peculiarly disjointed piece, but the central performances were really its saving grace. Gary Avis touchingly awkward as Kulygin - the black humour of the red nose after Vershinin has left Masha nearly finished me off - and Lamb and Muntagirov were simply magnificent, just blew me away. I think Muntagirov’s performance in particular will stay with me all my life. Such beautiful and passionate dancing, with incredible leaps that expressed that perfectly - that sequence of leaps leading up to him rushing despairingly off the stage at the end of their final pas de deux almost made my heart stop - that whole pas de deux, indeed, was danced and acted with such intensity. Lamb was no slouch either, plus she looks so lovely, like a little doll - they had amazing chemistry in this. Naghdi also wonderful as Irina. I also loved the balalaikas. And The Concert...a child somewhere behind me was laughing fit to burst - I think I was more discreet but I knew how he felt! So many good performances I don’t know who to pick out, but Kish was a real surprise - who knew he had that in him? Of course, I can’t stop without a word about Robert Clark, not only a wonderful pianist but an actor too! He certainly earned his pay tonight!

I can’t wait until Thursday now!

I would say it seems a bit rough on Campbell to let him go all the way to Australia just for a few shows and then to expect him to come rushing back the moment they are over. I would imagine he has been given leave of absence to stay and spend some well-earned time with his family, whom he can’t get to see very often, before returning 🙂

Or me!!