Vanartus

A happy 2015 from me too!

Cast change: Natalia Osipova withdraws from Don Quixote on 5 January 2015 Natalia Osipova will not dance the role of Kitri due to injury. A replacement will be announced as soon as possible.

An interesting chain of opinions - and I completely understand the complexity of communicating cast changes in a way which allows for developments but doesn't result in a rush of ticket re-sales. And the Xmas shut down doesn't help. Re the possibilities of mass-mailings, I think a mail base communication to Friends would be possible, as could be one for all registered customers. Whether it's desirable or necessary is another matter. However I would welcome it. Re the question of star performers, well the Royal and "we" have been here before. Whereas it's true that Osipova is a member of the RB and not guest artist, and as such a team player which can of course be replaced by another team player, I think it's disingenuous to maintain that such a replacement is as easy as that. DQ is a ballet that is a lot about "the star vehicle" (I have to say it's not one of favourites so...) and I don't think people are being overly superficial to book around a specific performance in this case. And I think a sense of genuine disappointment in the case of Osipova is understandable owing to the particular qualities she brings to the role of Kitri.

I'm not going to rant and rave. Firstly thank you for those in the know to let us not in the know know. Much appreciated. Two visiting Austrian friends of mine are going to DQ tomorrow. I saw Marienela last time round - she's wonderful - but I booked for Osipova for me and a friend so, I'm going to let this one go. I doubt that January 5 is going to happen with original casting so I'll make my mind up later. Was there on the 20th so I'm aware of what happened and I have nothing but admiration for the way she managed till the end of act one, and am full of sympathy for the plight she's in. Nothing to be done. But I'm not so sure that it's fair of roh to still show both her an Golding as still dancing tomorrow when it's not the case. It's unfair on the probable minority who booked for a specific performer (...and yes I read the small print), whereas the majority is not so worried. It's not so much the money (I only do the less expensive seats in the amphi) it's the fact that so many have booked trains, arranged treats for friends etc etc. I could cope with tbc appearing instead of the injured person's name. And I'd welcome a TIMELY explanatory e-mail - it doesn't need to be apologetic. I've been a ROH regular since November 1976, but I'm starting to get very disappointed in the lack of communication when - ironically - communication has become so easy thanks to social media. Anyway, there are far more serious problems in the world, so I'll look forward to Osipova in Onegin, Swan, Temperaments, Fille...and I'm hoping the second run of Song of the Earth.

Thanks

See below re above: Approximate performance timings: Announcement 7.30pm - 7.31pm (1 minutes) Act I 7.31pm - 8.21pm (50 minutes) Interval (30 minutes) Act II 8.51pm - 9.23pm (32 minutes) Interval (30 minutes) Act III 9.53pm - 10.28pm (35 minutes) Curtain Call 10.28pm - 10.33pm (5 minutes) Approximate end time: 10.33pm

To all of us/you planning to go tomorrow night - is she or isn't she? Osipova is still listed as dancing. So far so good. However - and yes I'm paranoid - when I received the usual ROH reminder to tell me I'm coming (annoying in a way!), I noticed they've actually scheduled an announcement from 7.30-7.31. Is that usual?

Meant to say earlier: thanks for the warm welcome!

....verrrrrrry good! Anyway it was a one-actor by Nureyev ...think I'd merged it with Tetley's Dances of Albion...

Actually - perhaps it was Nureyev's Tempest...

Could only catch the last half hour - but it was so good. I really appreciated the detail of the gestures/mime. Sort of Martha Graham meets Wheeldon at times but added to the archive/retro feel of some of the choreography. I saw Choreatum (? am having a senior ballet title moment - forgive) in Munich came into my mind at times. I'm more of a Wayne McG than Wheeldon fan, but when I saw WT in its first run, I was stunned by its beauty, grace and depth of feeling so gently expressed. Seeing the last statue scene on tv made it even clearer. I'm sure it'll be back next season, but I might even buy the DVD. And they should repeat it on bbc4, but there is iplayer too. In fact I'd quite like a year dedicated to Shakespeare in ballet: the Royal have got The Dream, R&J, Shrew, WT...they could revive the Helpmann Hamlet, Tetley's Tempest...acquire the Limon Otello...and commission a Macbeth.

Here's the link: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/dec/23/don-quixote-review-osipova-fall-takeda-triumph-dangers-of-ballet

BTW rather good article by Luke Jennings in the Guardian re DQ and danger in ballets. Fascinating detail about a slide in Manon which seems to have brought down all of the Greats.

Still musing about the "fall" and the role the new orchestration played (cf Bruce Wall). I think you're right. It may well be me retro-interpreting but I felt something was off (ok don't ask me what) with some aspect of her performance from the very start. Not quality of course but something wasn't quite right. (Again don't ask me what) I can't work out whether she was ahead or behind the tempi. But you're right - if it were an Agatha Christie I'd say it was the tempi "wot did it!".

Bruce - many thanks for this explanation. I was really shocked by the fall. For a dancer so in control, and so in control of this role (albeit not in this iffy production), it really seemed all the more shocking. Must admit I'm disappointed about outlook re future appearances - managed to get the last amphi seat for Jan 5 last night! And yes Onegin tickets are on my book shelf.