Blossom

Phew. I can’t log in either.

Is the site down for everyone at the moment? Just checking it’s not me refreshing a specific performance which is blocking me…

Glad some of it will be streamed as it’s a really awkward time to attend. Frustrated to see I could have got a ticket (some still available) but absolutely can’t go!

Also thought this.

Saw this and equally find weekends hard- the timing was perfect just before Christmas but on a weekday when it’s easy for me to get into Central London for ballet things whereas weekends are full of juggling family etc. Hope there is an appropriate date for friends soon.

That's really strange. I am a 'Benefactor' level friend and have had nothing. I just happened to be on the site to check the information on Carmen and scrolled down to see if there was anything new there. Hoping there is some communication today, but mostly, that I can get confirmation of my booking as they have definitely taken the money from me!

No I didn't. I also booked for the class and q&a and didn't get a confirmation email so am just investigating! Although even at the level of support I give, it still seems to take a number of days for the Friends/Support team to ever respond...

I think it might be the Blossom jinx. I can't watch any sports or 'my team' or player will lose. Mayara slipped on the 2 occasions I was there...

ENB have a few new events live on their site for direct booking. Behind the scenes tour 9am on Wed 20 Dec or Fri 19 Jan. Company class and Q&A 11am on Wed 20 Dec or Fri 19 Jan. Nutcracker workshops 9am to 1045am: Adult open level Sat 16 Dec Youth advanced level Sun 17 Dec Youth open level Fri 22 Dec Giselle Workshops: Adult open level: Sun 14 Jan Youth open level: Sat 20 Jan

This is exactly why I am so pleased they attended. Lovely to have a bit of PR for the ROH. Also lovely that Camilla Windsor got to actually see the full stage as it seems she quite enjoys the ballet.

Downstairs cafe was only out of action when the building was closed for a security sweep up til 5.30, then it opened for people with tickets only. It was open in the intervals tool. The face value of most tickets which were re-issued for those of us who booked during Friends period was £150 - this was the case for my ticket in the stalls circle which was purchased for £125 and I am pretty sure someone mentioned the same for an amphi ticket. This suggests that whoever purchased tickets on behalf of all of these groups made a sizeable donation, which potentially enabled poor positions to be left empty.

I've booked end of aisle stalls for £50 - not quite half price (based on the Coli's prices direct not the inflated Today Tix rate) but very close and perfect sightlines.

I wonder if this was to manage the guest list and ensure people got a decent seat. I was wondering from my seat in the stalls circle whether those zero viewability seats might have been completely excluded. I can't imagine standing tickets were supplied to the invited guests, so would only have been accessible on one side of the auditorium to friends who were able to access booking before the performance booking was closed.

Last night was particularly special, even though from where I was sitting it was impossible to see the King and Queen. There was a definite buzz among the (definitely increased number of) staff when I arrived, quite early and the building had been closed for a few hours no doubt for a security sweep. It was lovely to attend for such an official occasion and also lovely to see many children attending as part of the invited audience. Mayara is in her element with this ballet and enjoyed seeing her perform with Marcelino Sambe, but something was definitely dialed up in the performance last night because of the very special partnership with Matthew Ball. There was just that extra layer of confidence, intuition and trust. Matthew seemed to lift Mayara aloft for even longer than in his performance with Yasmine Naghdi and Mayara's horizontal leaps into Matthew's arms in act 3 (not a fish dive and no idea what the technical 'throw yourself horizontally for partner to catch' is called) were spectacular no doubt because of the connection and trust between the 2 of them. Sophie Allnat and Sae Maeda were a lovely pair as Kitri's friends. They had an excellent rapport and confidence. Was really happy to see Leticia Dias as Mercedes, she is a really pretty dancer to watch but wish she had more to dance! Calvin Richardson was incredibly sharp and completely believable as Espada although I still think of the casts i've seen, Joseph Sissens oozed the most testosterone... Not a big fan of act 2 and the often awkward choreography for the gypsies is a key reason for this. Last night was the least awkward I have seen overall and Hannah Grennell and Leo Dixon were paired well as the gypsy couple. I absolutely adore Annette Buvoli and Queen of the Dryads was perfect for her. She has the strength but also the fluid port de bras to make a tough solo look incredibly easy and beautiful to watch. I feel her casting on previous visits as lead gypsy didn't work because of her long limbs and neck - too much to squeeze under lead gypsy man. I liked seeing the beginnings of her Mercedes in the insight and would have loved to see her full performance. Great to see Liam Boswell as Sancho Panza again being so remarkably adaptible in such an ungainly and comedic role. And of course always a delight to see Gary Avis. His ability to take on a character and become it so completely and so physically real is always such a treat.

Directly underneath so not been able to see King and Queen but great view of Floella Benjamin… Stellar cast tonight led by a top form Kitri and Basilio.

King and Queen are going to be in the house. I took a pic of the programme (bought one already and not buying another for the special cover). editing to say I have no idea how to make the file size smaller to share!

Working today and there seems to be little information on exactly what is being presented for WBD. Is it possible for anyone watching to note highlights in terms of performances being rehearsed etc?

I saw Anemoi/The Cellist on Wednesday, the only ticket I've purchased for this run. I was interested to revisit both given The Cellist was the last production I saw at ROH before Covid (excluding the Swan Lake friends' rehearsal) and Anemoi was part of the Royal Ballet's return to the stage programme. I've not had a chance to really read the programme yet to see if The Cellist is referred to at all in terms of proximity to Covid closures. My lasting memory from 2020, having seen both casts, was that Lauren Cuthbertson really embodied the raw emotion of Jacqueline DuPre throughout the performance, with energy, passion and sorrow. I was a puffy, red eyed mess by the end, still blubbing as I left with my daughter who was perhaps a tad embarassed... The chemistry and energy between Lauren and Marci Sambe as her cello was electric. As she faded, I really felt the loneliness and isolation he was feeling too - a connection still there, but unable to be fulfilled. I had high hopes for Mayara Magri - she is a dancer who can convey every emotion with every movement she makes and I felt that she'd be able to channel a similar sort of energy to that from the Carousel pdd into this sort of role. On the whole, I was not disappointed. She danced with some level of abandon, conveying her connection with the music and of course with her cello, although I felt this wasn't pushed quite as far as Lauren Cuthbertson. However, as she was taken over by MS, her frustration with her body and inability to play was loud and clear and again, I finished the performance in tears. Anemoi was a completely different experience to 'in Covid' (no doubt because we were still wearing masks then). A project for the junior dancers of the company, I was unfamiliar with many of them those few years ago, but familiarity has grown over the past 2 years and it was lovely to get the opportunity to focus on some favourite dancers (Daich, Liam Boswell...) dancing more substantial roles. There are a few things which don't sit right with me - some clumsy lifts (not sure if it's the dancers or the choreography) and unattractive costumes as 2 examples - but the music is glorious and I love that the piece nurtures young talent as well as giving Valentino Zucchetti an opportunity to choroegraph a neo-classical work for the main stage. I'd love to see more from him.

Not ‘specially invited’ just booked before they decided to take it completely off sale (the bar side of the auditorium only was available to book).

As a ticket holder would love to know sometime soon!

Just received a survey from a research partner of London Coliseum about attendance which includes ’Would you be more likely or less likely to attend if the following was offered DURING the performance’ -Freedom to talk or make noise during the performance -At seat ordering of drinks/confectionery - Different seating options eg standing, reclining, cabaret tables, dancing - the list goes on - The ability to take photographs during a performance - The ability to take confectionery/drinks into a performance -The ability to use my phone/social media during a performance - Freedom to leave and reenter the performance Let’s just say I am very much aligned with the views on this specific thread.

I'm not on this group but am on another seat filling group and haven't ever seen anything for ROH. TimeOut offers has previously had ROH deals but not this season (yet). My daughter is YoungROH but no offers - unless they are only sending to people who haven't booked yet. Could be an NHS list?

Tonight was another wonderful ray of sunshine. Yasmine is always one of my must sees, especially in partnership with Matthew Ball. It is very hard not to grin from ear to ear watching the duo and enjoying the moments of comedy and the excitement of all the leaps, turns, holds - and those moments in their act 1 odd where the lifts turned into a bit of a throw in the air (does everyone do that as I haven’t noticed before?). Isabella Gasparini continued to be pure joy to watch - I would be happy to have her dance Amour in every performance I see. Charlotte Tonkinson and Mica Bradbury were confident and assured as Kitri’s friends are were a lovely balanced pair to watch. Very much enjoying the Sancho Panzas- both in terms of the visual transformation and also the fabulous acting. On the note of visual transformation, I would never have realised that Christopher Saunders was behind all of that hair as Lorenzo! A note across the 2 performances I have seen- it’s lovely to see some experimentation and opportunity in terms of the casting but there have been a couple of roles which seem to be a bit of an awkward fit.

Excited for Kitri’s friends, delighted for Sancho Panza and thrilled to see Isabella Gasparini again! Looking forward to some sunshine… Had been planning to go to the Friends event but not sure I will make it at this rate…

Absolutely nothing. Don’t know where the usher on my side went. Too funny, I guess should never make assumptions then!!