Balletfanp

I was also there. Muntagirov was as delightful as ever but I agree they weren't an ideal partnership both with the height difference (although technically they both made little of it) or chemistry-wise. They weren't bad together, just that they didn't have the spark I saw on opening night between Muntagirov and Morera. I enjoyed Marquez very much though and thought she was a lovely Lise. She did give Muntagirov a big spontaneous kiss at the curtain call so she must have been happy enough with how it went! And there were moments where they were really lovely together, such as when he comforted her after her embarrassment over the "When we are married" mime.

In all fairness, as well, he was only announced as her replacement Colas a couple of weeks ago, and he has been doing galas elsewhere during that time. They must have had very limited time to rehearse together, and it's not even as if they have danced together before. All things considered, a really good performance.

He said in an interview only a couple of days ago that he found that solo challenging because his long legs didn't allow him much room!. I must admit when I saw it last week I was holding my breath a bit.

Yes, it puzzled me a bit too. But great to know that they were impressed.

Well, Vadim proved last night that he can play comedy as well as tragic and princely roles. One word for him in this - adorable! What he has is charm (sadly lacking in most male dancers) - as a man behind me said, "He lights up the stage every time he appears." I couldn't put it better myself.

It goes without saying that his dancing was superb. However, I had never seen Laura Morera dance before and I really liked her. And I thought her and Vadim were lovely together, with some real rapport and chemistry. I would love too see them partnering each other in some other ballets as I think there is great potential for a strong partnership there. Their comic timing worked so well - kudos to both.

I was there by myself this time so found myself overhearing conversations around me a lot. It seems that Vadim won himself a lot of new fans last night from people who had never seen him before.

I really enjoyed Paul Kay and Will Tuckett as well. It's far too easy to allow Widow Simone to turn into a sort of caricature of a pantomime dame if not played well, but Tuckett didn't over-egg it and played the part to perfection.

I started smiling from the moment the ballet started and then didn't stop! I think I woke up still smiling - just such a delight of a ballet made even better by the main performances.

Me too, big stupid grin hasn't yet gone away since the performance began! Will report fully later.

And no Sleeping Beauty. Phew.

I thought I was the only one who finds Sleeping Beauty a really boring ballet? With apologies to those who love it!

Thanks LinMM!

As a relative novice in all this, please can someone tell me a bit more about Two Pigeons and what to expect? It's a ballet I know nothing about beyond the fact that it's an Ashton one (I think?)

Good advice Aileen. Let the police decide what ought to be done.

Well, I would imagine that both Vadim and Royal Ballet management will be hoping for him to make his debut next week. It may be, if the injury isn't too severe, that they thought it was worthwhile sacrificing his last Swan Lake performance in order to rest and maximise his chances of performing next week.

He's due to perform in the Four Temperaments on Tuesday, so whether or not he performs in that could be revealing - although even if he doesn't, again it could possibly be that they want to save him for the Fille debut.

All conjecture, of course....

Well, let's hope it's something relatively minor like a muscle strain that just requires a few days rest - fingers crossed for him and us!

Really Muntagirov has been pretty lucky so far on the injury front so I guess it was inevitable at some point.

Of course, we don't know that ballet caused the injury; he might have fallen off a bike or something!

Agreed, and the dancers can't help injuries - comes with the territory - but I reserve the right to feel disappointed!

As I live in Devon I can't make it up very often - it's an expensive trip and I have to plan a long time ahead. I was so looking forward to seeing Vadim in Fille next week, so hoping against hope that it's not too serious and he might still be dancing. But whatever, a speedy recovery to him, not only for selfish reasons!

Yes, really hoping Muntagirov has recovered in time for Fille on the 16th - long and expensive trip for me!

Definitely don't take a photo - as someone else has said, it could put you in the wrong.

Could you use this thread as evidence? If everyone agrees, that is? I think everyone is pretty much anonymous on here - or names could be blanked out? Only the police would see it anyway.

Well, speaking as someone whose nephew is in the CID (with a lot of involvement in similar cases), and whose husband and sister both work in Probation (ditto), I know that is what they would all advise.

Possibly he takes your non-action so far as tacit acceptance/encouragement (obviously we know that isn't the case, but he doesn't). How long before he takes it a step further? I'm sure, given what you have described, that the police wouldn't think you were overreacting.

No, you shouldn't have to live like this. Report him now. The police will weigh up what you have told them and decide if they need to pursue it - and I'm sure they will. This is not normal behaviour and it is clearly aimed at you.

Wonderful - really enjoyed it!

The ROH have provided this link on Twitter:-

http://www.roh.org.uk/news/holborn-fire-update-rise-and-fall-of-the-city-of-mahagonny-to-go-ahead-on-1-april-2015

Despite the reference to Mahagonny, they suggest checking the page for updates on upcoming performances, and I assume that means all - I wonder if tomorrow's Swan Lake will go ahead?

You can sign up to the FT for a limited number of free articles per month, I think - it's not many, although I forget exactly - maybe five? But it's enough to access the odd review and I find I can access what I need via username and password.

Well said, ToThePointe. Personally, some of the very contemporary stuff isn't to my taste (depends what it is), but I totally agree that it should be in the repertoire. And I have been pleasantly surprised sometimes by some contemporary dance that I thought I would hate but ended up really enjoying.

I believe he is cast in Afternoon of a Faun soon, which should be interesting - hoping to see him in that.

One definitely wouldn't want to see him overburdened, or a repeat of the Polunin scenario. However, Muntagirov seems to be a completely different personality and in a recent interview (Dancing Times, I think?) appeared to be relishing the busier schedule and more challenging work pattern at the RB - sounded like he had become rather bored at ENB.

There do seem to be certain principals at the RB who are constantly in the limelight, though, and I, for one, would like to see Muntagirov in the odd cinema broadcast or on DVD, and exposed to more people. He deserves it.

Although you're right - my bank balance has already suffered since he joined the RB, so perhaps I should be careful what I wish for!

And the number of partners and last minute changes of partner at the RB which have been referred to on another thread.

 

He seems to have an absolutely winning mix of talent and temperament.

Totally agree. I find him enthralling to watch, both because of his beautiful dancing and his acting. I don't think the RB are making nearly enough of such a talent in their midst.

I'm not sure I agree with the comments about the lack of chemistry between Muntagirov and Takada. To be fair, I've only seen them "live" once - in Don Quixote (plus I'm no expert), but to me they seemed a pretty good match dancing wise. And seeing them in the Don Q rehearsal clip with Acosta, I felt that they did have a chemistry - they certainly seemed to have a connection there. For me, the issue might be that she can't, at this stage, match the power of his acting. He is really beginning to develop what promises to be an incredible talent for acting (as well as his wonderful dancing), where from what I have seen of him, he really seems to live the part he is playing. I don't think Takada can yet reach those heights (although that may well change with experience and time), and possibly - I don't know - that is why she isn't always the best match for him. Someone mentioned that they were a better match in Sleeping Beauty; a part where possibly the acting is of less importance than good dancing (which is definitely her strength).

I didn't see them in Onegin (more's the pity) but I imagine from what I have heard of Muntagirov's strongly acted performance, she could have come across as being a bit colourless in that role? But then, as I said, I didn't see them....