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bridiem

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  1. bridiem
    I enjoyed Mayara Magri's Firebird this afternoon - strong and expansive whilst also evincing a degree of softness and vulnerability. Less wild/fierce than Naghdi, and less sense of 'otherness'. But impressive nonetheless. Ryoichi Hirano was a likeable Tsarevich - a simple soul, only acquiring authority in the finale when he suddenly became a tsar in the making. I thought Osipova was a terrific Natalia Petrovna - every gesture, every moment expressive and involving. And David Hallberg was an elegant, creamily beautiful Beliaev; perhaps a little too mature, but nevertheless very effective and very moving in his sudden, bewildering attraction to Natalia Petrovna. I also found Nehemiah Kish intensely moving as Rakitin - a handsome, sad, loving suitor. And Jonathan Howells was a more sprightly and sympathetic Yslaev than usual (the only disadvantage being that he was shorter than Luca Acri as their supposedly very young son). A lovely performance of this beautiful ballet. And finishing with the glory that is Symphony in C. Not a perfect performance, but much to admire and much to enjoy.
  2. bridiem
    That's awful. I mean you can drift down into the Paul Hamlyn bar (or whatever it's called) and generally wander round with your drink if you want. Evidently the terrace has suddenly become an elite zone. Very Open Up.
  3. bridiem
    Delighted; but how could it be made public like this? If The Times were given an immediate interview with him, surely it was with an embargo?
  4. bridiem
    And I was fortunate enough to buy a pair of Sarah Lamb's pointe shoes! (From Monica Mason!!).
  5. bridiem
    Personally I think it's rather disrespectful. I prefer to call it showmanship.
  6. bridiem
    It was always going to be a long bill, and of course it started a few minutes late because of Kevin O'Hare's speech. At least one of the intervals overran too.
  7. bridiem
    I'd forgotten about Mayerling! 😲
  8. bridiem
    I have no idea how the company can perform a bill like this, three long complicated works involving a large number of dancers (and sets, costumes, lighting etc too), with many debuts involved, having been in the thick of R&J for weeks (and still a performance of that to come) whilst also preparing for the Fonteyn gala, the Japan tour including Don Q, Los Angeles including the new McGregor, etc. Literally unbelievable.
  9. bridiem
    Now that's what I call a triple bill! Three brilliant works, contrasting but complementary. And all quite long, so a real evening of riches. The Firebird: a thrilling production, and a stunning début from Yasmine Naghdi. She was strong, fierce, both frightened and frightening, and powerful, with a real sense of 'otherness'. The story is so strange, and not of this world; but the Firebird represents even deeper magic, and her power triumphs. Naghdi's jumps were so high and fast that even near the back of the Amphi I felt a moment of real fear as she leapt towards me. And Edward Watson was a superb Tsarevich; that can be a slightly pallid role, but he made it as strange and dramatic as the Firebird herself. At the end, you really believed this was a Russian prince in his blazingly colourful realm. Gary Avis was a terrifically vivid Kostchei - like an evil, stooped, bright-winged moth who finally disintegrates in the face of the Firebird's greater power. A Month in the Country - a perfect gem, and a perfect vehicle for Marianela Nunez. She was subtle and moving, as was Gary Avis (again) as Rakitin, and Matthew Ball was an excellent Beliaev (even if not quite as poetic in his dancing as was Anthony Dowell). Symphony in C: a magnificent closing ballet. I particularly loved Fumi Kaneko's glamour, Vadim Muntagirov's lightness and speed, Sarah Lamb's dreamy beauty, and Alexander Campbell's brio and pizazz.
  10. bridiem
    Thrilling!!
  11. bridiem
    Thank you for this magnificent review, MRR. And in particular for capturing so vividly the phenomenon that is Osipova's Juliet.
  12. bridiem
    Strange how she doesn't mention the negative brand perception shifts among regulars (i.e. presumably non-target consumers).
  13. bridiem
    I sort of assumed that, though I wasn't sure!
  14. bridiem
    'Data-led pricing' seeks to imply that the data dictates the decisions. Of course all pricing for all products is informed by data; but it's still people who make the decisions.
  15. bridiem
    As did I!
  16. bridiem
    I could list some of her other achievements, but not in terms it would be polite to record.
  17. bridiem
    Bull did become a principal, though. Whereas I don't think that will happen for Choe now.
  18. bridiem
    Spot on, JNC! If I could have 'Liked' this twice, I would have!
  19. bridiem
    Me too! Anything from 'Wow' to a long erudite review is welcome! The more the better.
  20. bridiem
    Thanks for posting the superb clips above, Jan! I must stop watching them now - my Spurs-supporting brother is due any minute and we're going to a family lunch, so no more tears!!! (My brother has been a model of magnanimity.) And as for Jurgen Klopp - may God bless him, and all who sail in him.
  21. bridiem
    Bryony Brind was in the corps de ballet when she danced Swan Lake in 1981. (It was the day after my 21st birthday!). She was promoted to soloist later that year (and to principal in 1984). Can you imagine if someone in the corps was cast for SL now? Mind you, it created a lot of excitement even then.
  22. bridiem
    I'm so sorry, Yorkshire Pud! That's awful and must have been so disappointing.
  23. bridiem
    CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
  24. bridiem
    Oh for goodness sake. If it came to the absolute worst, it would be better for the evening performance to start a few minutes late rather than to curtail deserved curtain calls.
  25. bridiem
    I think your possibilities i/ or ii/ above do apply, Geoff. I booked a Friday Rush ticket OK the previous week, because the available seats (though already dwindling by the time I got there) appeared immediately, which is clearly what is supposed to happen... Perhaps you could ask the ROH about your experience so they can explain what happened?
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