nycitybird

The music of the first few pieces made them unwatchable for me. Loved Runaway and the Times Are Racing and wish they'd shown them in their entirety!

I was quite surprised at Valentino Zucchetti's frankness in discussing his disappointment about his rank/not being given more opportunities he thinks he deserves.

I'm sad too. His music is so beautiful and emotional. I also discovered him through Within the Golden Hour.

Just watched Your Flesh Shall Be a Great Poem by Trey McIntyre and really enjoyed it. Great music and witty choreography. I've hardly ever seen ballet to modern music with lyrics and it was a nice change.

I saw on YouTube that the full performance [Broken Wings] starring Tamara Rojo will be streamed on 22nd April at 7pm. Excited to see this ballet again!

1 minute ago, Sim said:

And Federico Bonelli blew me away.  He was simply outstanding tonight and his utter despair with life, then his brief glimmer of hope, then his rejection...he made me feel all of it right along with him. 

Totally agree. And lots of nuance in the first two acts rather than just 'haughty' or 'cad.' He's one of my favourite dance actors and I never want him to retire!

Wow! I think that was my favourite ballet performance I've ever attended. I saw the last run and it didn't blow me away, possibly because it was only the second ballet I'd ever seen or due to the dancer playing Onegin not being much of an actor. No such problem tonight! Naghdi and Bonelli had great chemistry and their storytelling and characterisation were crystal clear, especially in the last pas de deux where she played Tatiana's conflicting emotions so convincingly. 

There's nothing extraneous in the choreography and the music and costumes are gorgeous. Are these the most beautiful costumes in ballet?! I think so. 

I nearly didn't come as I have a cold and feared the dreaded tickly cough (funnily that happened in the last run during Lensky's very quiet solo). I nearly got away with it until the last act. Had a few panic-inducing coughs but thankfully got it under control for the last scene. So glad I came!

Can't believe he wasn't a first soloist already as he does so many principal roles! 

2 hours ago, Fiona said:

Did Francesca Hayward not dance on Saturday evening?  No-one has mentioned her!

 

Yes she did and she was wonderful! Her dancing is so fluid and spontaneous looking and her characterisation was great. I do think it's a shame that Franz barely gets to dance until Act 3 though. Having said that I loved this ballet and hope it's revived more regularly.

I saw an interview where Francesca Hayward said there was no wind machine, that was the actual wind!

I only made it to 4 performances this year unfortunately, but my highlight was The Two Pigeons with Choe and Campbell. I miss their partnership and find this ballet so whimsical and moving. And of course I burst into tears when the pigeons were reunited!

I agree with previous posters in that the Liang felt monotonous and dragged a bit for me, although I did like the ending. I wanted to love Snowblind but it didn't blow me away. I read a quick synopsis in the interval before it started but I was still confused about the 'accident.' I thought Mathilde Froustey was excellent and danced with total abandon and the ending was very effective. Bjork Ballet was my favourite of the evening. I love Bjork so that helped, and I also thought it was reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil, but I didn't mind that. I loved the Hyperballed section. I didn't get any deeper meaning from the piece but just enjoyed the spectacle. Looking forward to Shostakovich this afternoon.

So jealous of everyone at the matinee. Every role seems like dream casting. So gutted I'm away for both performances. How was Corrales?

Thanks Alison 😊

I'm looking at booking for one of the events in the Hamlyn Hall but I'm unsure which way the 'stage' is facing. Is the front literally in front of the word Stage on the diagram? If so it seems strange that they would have so many seats that would have a view of the dancers' backs! Can anyone advise?

My tears were definitely jerked! So lovely so see Choe and Campbell dancing together again.

They haven't said anything about James Hay, so I'm hoping he'll still be dancing Two Pigeons.

9 hours ago, bangorballetboy said:

Choe & Sambé the stars of Symphony in C tonight.

I'd have loved to see them tonight, as they were originally scheduled 😣

I wish they would sell them on iTunes, Google Play, etc. as a lot of people don't have dvd players anymore.

Me too! And if it is nerves it's quite endearing that he still gets them after all these years.

2 minutes ago, Blossom said:

I always seem to find Bonelli a bit shaky at the start but wonderful post the first 5 mins or so on stage. Does anyone know if he has ever spoken of stage fright? 

I've seen his hands visibly shaking for the first few minutes in the last runs of Manon and Mayerling but then he seems to relax after he's done his first solo.

The other difficult thing is where there is casting for mixed bills it's all listed randomly rather than separated into different ballets, which is confusing: 

·Conductor   Koen Kessels

·Masha   Marianela Nuñez

·Conductor   Barry Wordsworth

·Blue Boy   Marcelino Sambé

·Principal   Sarah Lamb

·Lt. Coronel Vershinin   Thiago Soares

·Les Patineurs   TBC

·Irina   Francesca Hayward

·Olga   Itziar Mendizabal

It's crazy, some dates seem to have no casting and others have double or triple. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/arts/dance/in-city-ballet-shake-up-one-dancer-out-and-two-suspended.html

The Bonelli cast was electric, and I'm gutted they didn't give them the cinema relay. Who knows if Bonelli and Morera will still be dancing next time it comes round. I wonder if Morera is well now.