nycitybird

Good to see that Sarah Lamb's injury wasn't too serious.

57 minutes ago, Fonty said:

The only thing I would change is the long blonde wig that poor Titania is forced to wear.  Fine if you happen to be fair to start with, for someone of Takada's colouring it was deeply unflattering, I thought.  By all means give the Fairy Queen a tumble of lustrous locks, but in a colour somewhere nearer the dancer's natural colouring, please.   

Agree about Titania's wig. All three Titanias this run had darker features and didn't suit the wig. I also thought Princess Stephanie's wig in Mayerling didn't look good on anyone, even Hinkis, who is already blond. Yellow hair is not easy to pull off!

I don't get the Ore Oduba hate. He's professional, natural and enthusiastic and actually pronounces all the names correctly! What's the problem? 

Matthew Ball gets the award for best comedic acting tonight! His reactions were hilarious. 

On the other hand, now I know what people meant by Roberto Bolle's gurning. 

Wonderful farewell for Zenaida. I think I'm dehydrated now. The only other farewell I've seen was Roberta Marquez's and she got a flower through but that's all. This was epic! Do they usually have all the principal men etc bring flowers? It was so touching. 

I've done my knee in but I'm literally limping to London for the matinée today when i should be at home icing it. I couldn't bear missing it as I've so been looking forward to this bill and have never seen these ballets live before.  I think it's safe to say that I'm ballet mad.

From what I've seen on dancers' Instagrams, Naghdi, Choe, Katsura and Dyer are cast in Symphonic Variations. 

Brill, I just got one! All performances except Wednesday have tickets available. 

I went on opening night and was disappointed to feel a bit underwhelmed. I enjoyed the performance in an objective way but I wasn't emotionally involed. 

My experience last night was completely different. Based on the reviews by forum members I decided to go for the Bonelli cast and found it entirely gripping and emotional. I agree with previous posters that Bonelli's vulnerability made the character more sympathetic, and it made me more invested in the story. In particular, the scene with the mother made more sense to me. 

I also totally agree with others on the chemistry between Bonelli and Morera. The first pdd was so sexy and the final one felt reckless, desperate and inevitable. It literally gave me an adrenaline rush. Bonelli was so broken at the end and had been on such a journey that when Morera gave him a nod to do the deed I was in tears. I do still think the ending is a bit anticlimactic after that amazing scene and it feels like a long time for the scene  to change.

However, after being left a bit cold by the first performance I LOVE this ballet and haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I only wish this blistering performance was recorded for DVD. 

I was so excited about seeing Mayerling for the first time and despite the stellar cast it didn't move me and I'm trying to think of why. Although the characters are interesting I didn't really care what happened to them. Also the music wasn't memorable to me and I only noticed it being beautiful in a soaring moment of the final pdd. 

One of the highlights was Watson and Hayward's pdd and it made me hope they're paired for Manon again as I didn't see it last time. They were never just dancing, they were acting at every moment. Campbells solos were another highlight. Such assured technique and so much character. 

I'm pleased to read a couple of comments on twitter from people who were also unmoved amongst the rapturous ones, otherwise I'd worry that I'm dead inside!

Sarah Lamb's expression in that photo tells a whole story and is so intriguing I wish I was seeing her cast as well now. I agree that the Creature showed another side of McRae and wonder how he will be. 

I'd like to see multiple casts for some of the female dancers (especially Cuthbertson) but can't justify the cost. Unless I read some amazing reviews here, which is quite likely! 

Just noticed this stalls and amphi offer for Wednesday and Thursday next week!

https://www.timeout.com/london/shop/entertainment-jewels-royal-opera-house-2017 

I saw on Madison Keesler's Instagram that they rehearsed in a warehouse in Kent with the soil.

Orchestra Stalls Right, M-17 £100.00

Wasn't there an interview recently in which he said they're not together?

Oh! My mistake. I guess I'd assumed that it was since it had been shown on Sky Arts.

I have Sky, and they used to have a Royal Opera House section with many recent ballets, including that SB. It was recently abruptly taken away ???? I wish I'd downloaded them when I had the chance!

I wanted to buy the Cuthbertson Beauty dvd and I can't find it anywhere! I've seen the Cojocaru and Durante but the Cuthbertson seems to have disappeared from online shops, including the ROH. Anyone know why this might be?

No news of a Woolf Works dvd yet though? ????

Sergei has turned up in 2 recent photos with RB dancers on Chisato Katsura's Instagram account.

Has Yuhui Choe ever danced the lilac fairy? I think she'd be perfect for it.

Beatriz Stix-Brunell posted an Instagram story in which Lamb/Mcrae are dancing in front of Twyla Tharp.

I'd only seen the bluebirds on YouTube before with Alexander Campbell and Yuhui Choe, so I was a bit disappointed with the two couples I saw this week. Both danced well separately but neither had the unison in that difficult footwork section that made the video so special. Campbell and Choe are such a great partnership, I do hope they still get to dance together sometimes, much as I like Campbell and Hayward together.

Yes I remember evanescence. They were big in the early to mid 2000s. I live in Brighton too by the way.

Thanks for the tip, I'm listening on Spotify now. I think the phrase painfully beautiful was invented for this music. It's making me want a DVD so I can sob to this ballet in the privacy of my home without fear of ugly crying face in public.

Before I'd ever seen a live ballet but was looking to book one Manon was on, and I watched a youtube clip and the scissor movement actually made me decide NOT to see it! Different strokes indeed. It seems ridiculous now, especially as Manon has become one of the ballets I most want to see.

I almost always end up getting emotional at the curtain call, no matter what the ballet is.

Other things that have choked me up:

Woolf Works - the duet with Septumis and his friend

Within the Golden Hour - I loved the image of the ensemble still dancing as the curtain went down and love the music of that ballet.

Two Pigeons - saw it at the cinema and Vadim's sheepish face when he returned with the pigeon on his shoulder made me cry.

Swan Lake - the last few uplifting bars of music.

Giselle - the last scene when the prince is walking foreward holding Giselle's flowers as the curtain goes down (I think I have a thing about the curtain going down while the action is still happening!)

Is it me or did the ending seem different? The first time round i remember the dancers enveloping her like waves and she lied down then it ended. Today the dancers retreated and she was left on her own and lied down. It seemed abrupt and I remembered it being really powerful 2 years ago.