JohnS

Much to enjoy in last night’s performance as others have highlighted and lovely to see Akane Takada and James Hay. I wasn’t as convinced by the balance between stage and orchestra, particularly for Aurora where the orchestra to me was consistently late for Akane Takada’s finishes. And to be honest I was expecting to be more moved by Aurora/Florimund but this may well be a reflection of just how good the Cinderella run was where I seem to be suffering withdrawal symptoms. I was very impressed by Itziar Mendizabel’s Carabosse and Annette Buvoli’s Lilac Fairy. Leticia Stock as always made the most of Crystal Fountain Fairy and White Cat. Looking forward to the Osipova and Naghdi casts tonight and Wednesday and will be interested to see if my Cinderella hangover has lifted.

Many thanks Richard. With the train at a halt, I managed to find an answer. I’m very pleased that at least we’re getting more information and very much looking forward to the 2nd run of Sleeping Beauties.

With an overcrowded train, broadband is frustratingly limited but from the posts above does this mean there is now some news of other Sleeping Beauty casting? Please would someone be able to confirm Lilac Fairy and Carabosse for tonight and tomorrow? Many thanks.

Avanti published a limited Saturday service earlier in the week and Penrith train staff were able to book me a seat - they as always are excellent. But Avanti’s advice is don’t travel unless essential and expect over full trains/further changes. Anyhow I’m optimistic that I’ll make tonight’s and tomorrow’s Sleeping Beauty performances and hopefully get home at some point on Saturday.

I don’t think any rail company has sufficient drivers. Avanti in chaos this morning with 10:03 Penrith to Euston train cancelled because of staff shortages. Now sadly an incident at Rugby and all trains being held. I thought my outward journey would be fine and I’d have real difficulties in getting back on Saturday.

Didn’t Laura Morera in one of her recent interviews suggest a preference for Asphodel Meadows if she had a free choice? I found her Anastasia utterly gripping, one of those never to be forgotten performances, and think it entirely fitting that she brings the curtain down in London with such a role where she so clearly projects such a complex character as Anna. I do though wish it were the full 3 Act version.

The lack of information does seem unnecessarily secretive when casting for Fairy Godmother and Step Sisters was published several days before Cinderella performances. It would be particularly good to know who’s dancing Lilac Fairy and Carabosse so audience members wishing to provide flowers can make arrangements (quite literally in some cases). Everyone understands there can be late changes (as with the Fairy Godmother switches the weekend before last). But no information before the cast list is published a couple of hours before the performance seems poor to me.

I see there’s a full cast list for tonight but do we normally get some notice of who’s dancing Lilac Fairy & Carabosse? Did anyone notice if Mayara Magri and Kristen McNally were added to the principal casting information before the full cast sheet was published? I’d be very keen to know who’s dancing these parts in the Takada and Osipova casts on Thursday 11th & Friday 12th. And it would be great to know when Olivia Cowley is back on stage as she’s been rehearsing Carabosse. The rail industrial disputes mean I’ll have to stay at least one extra night (and possibly two) so I was very pleased to pick up a Friday Rush ticket for Friday 12th.

I see Rusalka is this Saturday’s ‘Opera on 3’ - 6 May 6:30 to 10:00pm Radio 3 and then available on BBC Sounds. Fabulously sung with Semyon Bychkov conducting and well worth catching. May be a bonus not being able to see the production.

A fabulous evening yesterday with Laura Morera bringing the curtain down on her full length ballet performances. I’d been blown away by her debut, only last Saturday, but last night was even better. The richness of character was spell binding and I was so delighted she held the end of her Ball solo and managed that change of balance in Act 3 with such aplomb. Matthew Ball was the perfect Prince, completely smitten on first seeing his Cinderella and so attentive in his partnering. A great shame that Laura was injured in the Mayerling run and we only saw their Rudolf/Mary Vetsera performance the once. Mayara Magri was a wonderful Fairy Godmother. I’ve very much enjoyed seeing Calvin Richardson and James Hay as the Step Sisters - Calvin certainly has an edge which makes for a more complex character, not a stock pantomime dame, and James scrupulously avoids any suggestion that his step sister is half witted. And with Laura’s dancing coming to a close, how wonderful to see Daichi Ikarashi’s Jester, at the start of his career. It was very much a Royal Ballet complete performance with the Fairies and all the dancers playing their full part. A fabulous performance and so fitting for Laura. It was very good to be in Floral Street by the stage door where there was a real buzz with thanks to a number of Royal Ballet School students. Very pleased to chat to all the main dancers who were clearly thrilled to have played their part in this special evening. Laura too was delighted yet still looks for learning points suggesting she’d prematurely switched off the candle. A true artist in her quest for perfection which I’m sure for many audience members and certainly for me she’s touched in a number of performances over the years, including last night’s Cinderella.

Another lovely Cinderella from Akane Takada with some exquisite dancing, particularly in Act 3, if to me not quite as convincing as last Saturday - some uncertainty in holding the end of the Ball solo and I thought not quite as at ease in Act 1. Itzia Mendizabel was an ideal Fairy Godmother. I didn’t find the cast came together as well as others where we’ve had some very special performances. The performance was very well received, an enthusiastic audience, and great cheers for Akane Takada. Great to see her back on stage and I’m very much looking forward to her Sleeping Beauty with James Hay (trains permitting).

Yet another fabulous Cinderella last night with Natalia Osipova and Reece Clarke hugely impressive. Annette Buvoli makes a lovely Fairy Godmother and a delight to see her again. I found Gary Avis and Luca Acri more restrained than on previous occasions which was welcome - or perhaps I’d mellowed after supper with my brother and interval wine. And Marco Masciari is a stunning Jester. The whole evening flew by and just seemed so wholly satisfying. I rather think @Rob S’s fabulous photo of Annette Buvoli sums up the sheer joy that such performances give dancers and audiences.

Cast sheet for tonight - Annette Buvoli replaces Mayara Magri https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/40/cinderella-by-frederick-ashton/cast-list/51563 And Mayara Magri is dancing on Saturday evening replacing Gina Storm-Jenson

Getting home on 12 May after Takada/Hay Sleeping Beauty the previous evening may be very difficult.

It seems very odd that the Darcey Bussell last performance programme has never been released as a DVD. I’m still hoping it’s not too late - June 2027 would make for a 20 years celebration. And I can’t recall if the BBC ever broadcast a repeat but I don’t think they did.

I had sky high expectations for Laura Morera’s Cinderella debut and she surpassed them, a simply stunning performance. She has enormous stage presence, drawing on the richest of palettes of colour and emotion and her years of experience. She provides enormous detail in setting out and developing her character - the loss of her mother, the sadness of her father’s plight and how he is bullied and manipulated by her step sisters, the slight of being excluded by her step sisters and having to skivvy, the disappointment of not going to the ball and not having clothes to wear even if she had an invitation. Yet at all times she exudes a benevolence which seems almost tangible. Whenever on stage she is fully engaged, making clear the importance of what she’s seeing for her character, including her appreciation of the Seasons’ Fairies. And she draws out the best from those sharing the stage with her as she is so engaging: Tomas Mock (Father) responding to every touch of the arm or pleading look; and Gina Storm-Jenson (Fairy Godmother) warning a Cinderella in rapt attention. I very much enjoyed Matthew Ball’s Prince and he and Laura Morera made for a fabulous partnership, the Prince and Cinderella completely captivated with each other following Cinderella’s stunning entrance in Act 2. I thought the slipper scene very touching with Cinderella struggling to believe that she would win the Prince’s hand and the whole evening made for a transcendent final scene. There were other impressive debuts. Calvin Richardson certainly brought a bit more edge to his step sister which I thought worked rather well and I very much like James Hay’s step sister. They were step sisters who I found I couldn’t ignore (with some pairings I’m quite happily not paying much attention to them as they quickly pall) and I’ll be very interested to see them again. Daichi Ikarashi, everyone’s favourite Napoleon(?), was a Jester to treasure. His jumps elicited sighs of astonishment from the audience and all his jumps were fabulously controlled. And good to see a sneezing Wellington for a change rather than the smoothing of the hair. The evening was one of those special performances which will live long in the memory. There were a couple of moments which I’m sure will work better in later performances: in Laura Morera’s Act 2 Ball solo she couldn’t quite hold the ending and needed an extra turn and she momentarily came off pointe at the critical change of balance in Act 3. But these are of no consequence when being treated to such a fabulous portrayal of the Cinderella of my dreams. Looking forward immensely to Saturday’s final performance of this cast.

An astonishing performance tonight from Laura Morera and her cast and I can’t recommend highly enough the next two performances - Thursday 27 April (80+ tickets) and Saturday 29 April (100+ tickets). I imagine the tickets will go pretty quickly. I’ll say more tomorrow.

It was lovely to see Akane Takada back on stage and her delightful Cinderella. I’m not sure the overall performance had quite the lift of some others, with a rather muted audience (save for someone with a persistent cough). I’m afraid I didn’t sense much chemistry between Cinderella and her Prince (Nicol Edmunds). I enjoyed Itzia Mendizabel’s Fairy Godmother but I wasn’t convinced by David Yudes’ Jester. And the step sisters and suitors quickly began to pall. Nevertheless I’ll be pleased to see next week’s matinee as it will be very good to see Akane Takada again and I’m sure the cast will be more relaxed.

Has anyone else been cast as both Napoleon and the Jester? I now see David Yudes is one of the Suitors tonight having danced the Jestor in the matinee.

Much to like in yesterday evening’s first performance of the Osipova cast’s Cinderella. Natalia Osipova demands attention and for me provides much welcome relief from the Avis/Acri step sisters albeit I fully acknowledge they were met with great enthusiasm by many in the audience. But Osipova is always busy fleshing out her character whenever on stage. Thomas Whitehead was a late replacement for Tomas Mock as the father and the Osipova/Whitehead scenes were very touching. Mayara Magri was a lovely Fairy Godmother and I enjoyed all the fairies. As others have said Marco Masciari impressed on his debut. I know there’s criticism on the forum about the ‘magic’ but I thought it good to hear the applause for the appearance of Cinderella’s coach. And I do rather wonder if we’re being a bit harsh on the Fairy Godmother transformation and Cinderella midnight substitute. I assume the stage doesn’t yet allow for the use of trap doors etc and I’m happy to go along with the ‘magic’ that’s presented, like many of the audience seeing the performance for the first time. I’ll certainly look forward to another Natalia Osipova performance but before that, another double Cinderella Saturday and the Takada/Morera first performances!

Yes - she really stood out and I’m very pleased to hear that she’s impressed before. Jun is great to watch and takes big risks in executing the most difficult jumps. Often he’s successful but not always. That’s in part why I highlighted Taisuke Nakao and Daichi Ikarashi who reeled off fabulous jumps and whose landings were soft, so secure, and held for ages.

I thought Taisuke Nakao and Daichi Ikarashi hugely impressive. And good to Olivia Cowley on stage for at least the barre part. [Just hoping I’m not mistaken.]

New local government arrangements in Cumbria were supposed to come into place on 1 April with the creation of two unitary authorities (Cumberland, and Westmorland & Furness), sadly splitting Cumbria and the Lake District in half. But the arrangements are not yet operating and the new Westmorland Council is not yet able to take credit payments, including pre payments for car parking which I’ve used for many years when leaving my car in Penrith for London trips. Having not been able to book in advance, I assumed the ticket machines would be operating but they only issue tickets for the day, not for 2 or 3 days. Last weekend I therefore had to use the Station car park where charges are more than double the cost of the local authority car park. A prime candidate for Room 101. But I’m putting this in Room 102 as in finding credit card facilities have still not been arranged, I phoned Westmorland Council to express my exasperation and ask whether anything could be done for this weekend. I found myself talking to an ex Eden Council team member and she managed to book me a car parking place for the weekend. I asked about payment but she said as they couldn’t take credit card payments it would be free. She’d noted I’d been so inconvenienced last weekend and hoped the free parking would offset last week’s disappointments. My ‘complaint’ to Westmorland has now morphed into a ‘compliment’ for the team member.

First cuckoo this year above Ambleside (Tuesday 18 April). I thought I’d heard one call but but rather dismissed it and that I’d imagined it as it’s a bit early (in previous years it’s often been 23 April). Then at a tea break shortly after the cuckoo called several times. A lovely end to a fabulous walk, Red Screes to Wansfell and quite a few in between.

In light of Laura Morera’s interval contribution to the Cinderella live relay, I thought I’d just flag this fabulous ‘interview’. Very impressed with the editing as it presents Laura’s responses to the interviewer in effect as a monologue. And even more impressed with what Laura has to say.