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fashionista

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    Marianela Nunez - The Times article - 20 January 2018

    in Ballet / Dance news & information

    Posted

    I notice on Dance Links that an article on Marianela Nunez was published in The Times on 20 January 2018.  However, if one does not subscribe on line to The Times it is impossible to read the full article.  I have tried to subscribe a number of times, but for some reason, my attempts have failed.  Please, if anyone, does have the full article, can you kindly share on the Forum.

     

    With many thanks.

    Amanda

    • Like 1

    Principals workload vs. everyone else

    in Performances seen & general discussions

    Posted

    8 hours ago, betterankles said:

    The idea that principal dancers can’t ‘make mistakes’ is a fallacy...   Everyone makes mistakes.   Principals generally have the talent, presence of mind and brain, whether through experience or just instinct, not only to know how to cover up ‘mistakes’, but often to turn them into something more interesting then so called ‘perfection’

    This is one of the important qualities needed for a true principal dancer....

    Although the emphasis may be on the principal dancers, I think it is the whole company that "carry" the show.  A principal may be able to mask an error, but the corps cannot and must be homogeneous - can you imagine a dancer putting a foot wrong  in , for example, the entrance of the Shades in Bayadere? - catastrophe!!!  Everyone is important and contributes to every show, from the newest member of the corps to the most senior principal.  Even if a principals's performance was superlative, it the rest of the cast danced below par, this would mar the show.  If anything, the corps have a pretty rough ride in that they are on for all shows which is not reflected in their remuneration.  I think it is invidious to make comparisons - all are important.

    • Like 5

    The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake, anticipating the new production, Summer 2018

    in Ballet / Dance news & information

    Posted

    On 12/28/2017 at 10:46, Sim said:

    Thanks for taking the time to sum up the article, Capybara.  Hmmm some interesting concepts.  I hope that the ending stays the same, i.e. the two lovers throwing themselves in the lake.  I really dislike the happy ending version!

    Hi Sim, having read the article in the House magazine, I think it will be the sad tragic ending as Scarlett is quoted as saying that the music dictates this - phew!!!  I think we can also be sure that it is the one dancer who will perform both Odette and Odile - another phew!!!!

    • Like 2

    Royal Ballet - 2018/19 new season wish list

    in Performances seen & general discussions

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Ianlond said:

    So obviously I’ve been greedy but this is a wish list right?!

    Full lengths:

    Cinderella

    Frankenstein 

    Onegin/ Mayerling (personally I would rather an extra evening of new work but realise this is not necessarily realistic) 

    Sleeping Beauty 

    La Bayadere 

     

    Tripples:

    Scene de Ballet/ Polyphonia/ Daphnis and Chloe

    Dances at a Gathering/ Illuminations/ Firebird 

    Tombeaux/ New work/ Fearful Symmetries

    Les Rendezvous/ Flight Pattern/ Symphony in C (or Ballet Imperial)

    Monotones (or Apollo)/ Infra/ The Concert

    The Rake’s Progress/ New work/ Requiem

    Les Patineurs/ Pultchinella/ Raymonda Act 3

     

    I'll come to those triples!!!!

    • Like 1

    The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake, anticipating the new production, Summer 2018

    in Ballet / Dance news & information

    Posted

    Reading everyone's thoughts and conjectures most interesting and also worrying. Re "worrying factor", I refer to the conjecture that Odette/Odile may be taken by two dancers - I sincerely hope not!!!!!  Good though that we will have short style classic tutus.  Agree, that Ashton finale is superb but unlikely to be kept with Scarlett revising the ballet.  Another Ashton gem is the beautiful and exacting Pas de Quatre which was interpolated in the Third Act (and performed by the RBS this summer).  Again, highly unlikely to be revived for reasons stated above.  I also do rather like the BRB's version when the character dances in Act 3 are taken by the various nationals' princess, ie Italian, Hungarian, Polish.  It provides more opportunities for up and coming soloists in the company.  Again, doubtful but one can only dream and speculate and hope we are pleasantly surprised !!!!

    • Like 2

    The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake, anticipating the new production, Summer 2018

    in Ballet / Dance news & information

    Posted

    On 12/30/2017 at 18:17, Fonty said:

     

    She said in  an interview she gave that she would have loved to have done it, but doesn't think she will be given the opportunity now.  I would imagine if she had the chance, she would grasp it firmly with both hands.

     

     

    It would be great if she was given this opportunity even now in her career - perhaps her "swan song" in principal role (excuse the pun!)

    • Like 1

    Royal Ballet - 2018/19 new season wish list

    in Performances seen & general discussions

    Posted · Edited by fashionista

    My wish list as follows (and reflecting some of the choices already posted):-

     

    Onegin

    La Bayadere

    The Sleeping Beauty (an essential for mastering and nurturing pure classic technique - needs to be rehearsed and performed to the highest standards!!)

    Revival of Madame's ballets - Checkmate or The Rake's Progress

    Cinderella - only if the Ugly Sisters' roles could be revamped and with really good sets and costumes - currently they are dreary and old fashioned

    Diaghilev Homage - The Firebird, Petrushka (wonderful dramatic role for central male - Ed Watson please!!!), Les Biches to name a few

    Robbins Centenary - Dances At A Gathering, Afternoon of a Faun, The Concert 

    Ashton  - Agree with JMHopton's Xmas double bill of Les Patineurs/The Two Pigeons (could also be billed with Raymonda Act III) - please give The Nutcracker a "rest"'; also Enigma Variations and Symphonic Variations

    MacMillan - Anastasia (has its flaws but wonderful music and great role for central female), Requiem, My Brother, My Sisters, La Fin du Jour

     

    I would also wish for principal casting to be available at the same time as dates for each booking period is announced - always has been until last couple of seasons - the company knows what talent they have and who they wish to cast!!! It makes it so much easier to book for those dancers you really do want to see/debuts etc (yes, I know there is always the risk of a dancer being injured).  

     

    My feeling is that this is simply a "wish list" and probably none of the above are scheduled for next season but no harm in dreaming!!!

     

    • Like 4

    The Royal Ballet: Sylvia, London, November 2017

    in Performances seen & general discussions

    Posted

    On 11/28/2017 at 19:01, Darlex said:

    My programme cast sheet from 4th November 2004 lists Bussell/Cope/Soares. Funny, I don't remember them in it at all, but I do remember seeing Nunez/Pennefather and a frustrating blank in the role of Orion! I think Samodurov or Jose Martin may have danced Orion at some point. 

     

    Checking the programme and cast list more closely, Martin was actually a goat at the above mentioned performance and Samodurov's photo and biography is one of a few selected in the programme, so he must have been the third Orion.

     

     

     

    Indeed, it was Slava Samodurov who danced with the Nunez/Pennefather cast.

    ROH Open Up changes

    in Ballet / Dance news & information

    Posted

    I most certainly agree that it does seem rather a waste of money to be closing and refurbishing both the Amphi Bar and Restaurant which seemed pristine.  My thought since the ROH re-opened after the huge refurbishment works 20 years ago, was that the "non-use" of the former "Crush Bar" was a total oversight.  It has always meant that the large proportion of the audience struggle to enter, obtain drinks and circulate in the Floral Hall.  When the House re-opened after the major works, there were a number of audience surveys, and I always mentioned that not using the Crush Bar was a huge mistake as there is always a bottle neck of people scrambling to get served in the Floral Hall.  Although the former Crush Bar has reopened as the Dorfman, it is not the same as in former days.  I know one should always move forward, but sometimes, change is not always for the better.  Similarly, all toilet facilities are located on one side of the house since the refurbishment - again causing too much time wasted in getting to these facilities if sitting on the opposite side of the House - I always prefer getting tickets on what I call the "user friendly" side!!!!  Surely an Opera House of this size, can manage to allocate facilities on both sides of the theatre thus easing congestion?  

     

    In summary, it is rather bad planning that after only 20 years, such a major refurbishment is necessary - one hopes that we will all benefit and reap the results of the time, money and inconvenience which is going into the "Open Up" project.  

    Mathilde Kchessinskaya movie: opens April 20 in the UK

    in Ballet / Dance news & information

    Posted

    37 minutes ago, FLOSS said:

    fashionista,

    I have no information as to when, or if, this film is due to go on general release here. If you are anxious to see this or any other film there is a website which lists all the films showing in London cinemas it has a proper address but I have found that simply googling "film listings uk" provides access to a site which gives an a-z of films showing in the UK and another which gives access to an a-z of films showing in London with full details of cinemas and screening times. I hope this information helps.

     

    As far as the film itself is concerned most of the coverage so far has been more interested in the extreme response of some members of the Orthodox church to the film in Russia than in its contents. It seems to have had some official backing as people who are close to, or part of Putin's artistic establishment such as V. Gergiev have been involved in its creation. Someone has suggested that it was made in order to create a loss for tax purposes but that seems rather far fetched to me as it presupposes  that the country has an effective system of tax collection and that everyone is equally liable to taxation.From what I have read and heard while that may be the theory in Russia it may not be true in practice.

     

    Be that as it may, it is quite extraordinary to contemplate a situation in which by allying itself closely with the Russian Orthodox church the current regime under Putin finds the  centenary of the October Revolution a political embarrassment. Who would have imagined that in 2017 Russian cinema would have produced a historical biopic about Nicholas Romanov and his affair with "Notrethilde" or that it would have caused so much controversy ? Clearly no one close to Putin had thought through the political consequences of the regime's public contrition for the murder of the imperial family nor the effect of the canonisation of the Tsar and his immediate family.I imagine that when the project was first suggested it seemed so simple and straightforward. Make a film to be shown across Russia which will have the effect of airbrushing away all those uncomfortable historical facts connected with the revolution and its aftermath; distance

    the current regime from its communist  past and assert its legitimacy and its connection with pre-revolutionary Holy Russia. Rehabilitate Tsar Nicholas and the imperial past and it is as if the events  of the past century had not happened. 

     

    I wonder when we shall find out if it is actually any good as a film as opposed to a propaganda exercise?

     

     

     

     

    Thank you so much for your guidance in tracking down when this film may be shown. I should imagine the 26 November screening may be sold out, but I will try.  I did google cinema listings, but to no avail, but I will explore further - many thanks.  A friend of mine in St Petersbury saw the film last week, so it is on general release over there.  Despite the propogranda surrounding the film, she was very enthusiastic about the production.

    La Sylphide plus ... ?

    in Performances seen & general discussions

    Posted

    If my memory serves me right, I think when Kobborg mounted for RB, La Sylphide was preceded by either The Lesson or Napoli - which was a charming double Danish!!!  

     

    Not sure that the Song of the Earth/La Sylphide is a good combo, but one certainly gets one's money's worth for this programme.  I think a lighter preceding work works best.

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