loveclassics

Fashion note: Proper 'joined-up' knickers as we know them did not come into use until the 20th Century. They were originally two separate pantaloons which were connected by a sash tied at the waist and they reached to the knee. Hence the expression 'a pair of knickers' still in use today and one of the reasons the can-can was so sensational and shocking. Re Paris: I was rather impressed by Valery Hristov in the role 2 or 3 seasons ago. For the first time I found I was really was interested in the character and his unfortunate end added to the impact of what is essentially a family tragedy. I thought the white costume he wore for the ball very flattering - when was that changed to mustard? Also, can anyone with a better memory than mine confirm that Sarah Lamb danced Juliet to Slava Samadorov's Romeo in a live transmission quite a few years back? He was another streetwise Romeo but none the worse for that IMPO. Linda

I am in no way a member of 'Team Polunin" but in all fairness, even a minor neck injury can be pretty serious for a dancer. The spine is like a string of cotton reels joined by a piece of elastic (well, that's how a back specialist described it to me) and just a slight misalignment in the neck vertebrae can lead to a major problem lower down. That rules out pirouettes, jumps and many other steps required of a dancer. Ballerinas can't even go on pointe with a back problem and I remember Cojocaru had a lengthy lay off when she injured her neck. But anyone who booked tickets, flights, hotels etc for La Scala has my sympathy even if it is one of the perils of advance booking for ballet. It will be very interesting to hear if this proves a career-maker for the new young dancer though. Isn't that how Pavarotti made his name as a last minute Rudolfo? Linda

I'd love to see the Ashton version too. With so few of his ballets being performed why can't it be brought out of retirement? Is it being performed by any other companies? Linda

I have no problem with Lamb as Juliet but for me it's McRae who doesn't feel quite right for Romeo. His dancing has an assurance and a certain degree of knowingness that works brilliantly in many roles but is a little too mature for this ballet (IMHO). On the basis of his Des Grieux I think Muntagirov can project the vulnerability of a very young man and I hope people who booked for Osipova will stay with the performances they originally booked and appreciate his performance. Linda

I always thought Nunez was brilliant in Fille, Sylvia and other rather lightweight roles but her first Juliet was soo different. I was really moved which is pretty rare for me. But Cutherbertson is also wonderful in this and has a great rapport with Bonelli. But with injuries you can only pay your money and take your chances... Linda p.s. I wish Muntagirov was doing the cinema broadcast - I saw him at the Albert Hall with ENB and he was fantastic.

I've watched it several times and I'm still smiling at the memory. I sent the link to a ballet-loathing friend of mine and she loved it too. I suspect it's the old 'white tights and tutus' vibe that turns off so many people but they actually like the movement when they get to see it presented informally. Linda

I picked this up from a random classical newsletter. Just hope it's not another expose of the Black Swan type: http://www.classicalite.com/articles/26380/20150807/starz-drama-flesh-bone-set-rip-band-aid-ballet-walleybeckett.htm Would one of the moderators like to put it in the links forum? Thanks Linda

In Bryan Forbes' film musical "The Slipper & The Rose" there's a wonderful sequence where RB dancers dance the mice, frogs etc who become the horses and footmen for Cinderella's crystal coach. The film looks rather dated now but the ballroom scene includes a lovely waltz (choreographed by Norman Maen, I think) and I always watch it on TV just for the dancing. Linda

I think a performance of Bintley's Sylvia was shown on TV about a year ago. I really liked it but can't find any commercial recording. Does anyone know if it is likely to be released on DVD/Blu-ray? BRB performances don't seem to be filmed anymore but I am sure they have been in the past. I know I've seen some on DVD but can only remember a Nutcracker with Yoshida and Mukhamedov. Linda

This is what I saw online: Income from the Royal Ballet was up by £1.5m from £12.8m in 2013 to £14.3m last year. But the cost of productions also rose from £97.1m in 2013 to £104.6m last year. Looking at the total it must be for all productions but I didn't spot it at the time. Apologies for that. I don't go to opera performances at the ROH - were there a lot of new productions last year? Have to say that I still don't see the need for laser and other lighting effects that always seem to be part of new works. Can't the dance speak for itself? Linda Edited to correct grammar.

I just picked this up: http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/19847/royal_opera_house_sees_record_1275m_income Interesting that although the RB's income rose by £1.5m, mostly from ticket sales, the cost of new productions rose by 5 times as much. At the risk of being thought a philistine, perhaps they should stick to more traditional sets - all that flashy lighting and special effects for new contemporary works must be very expensive. Linda

I've heard the 'Don Quicksott' pronunciation on the BBC whether referring to the book or the ballet. You can usually rely on the Beeb for the accepted way to pronounce any foreign names. (That's how I learnt to pronounce Eyjafjallajökull, anyway!) Linda

I don't like to be too high up so I rarely book seats in the balcony but on the rare occasions I have sat there, I have found most seats in the centre to be pretty good. I'm not keen on the loose tall seats though. Some of the front row on the sides are marked as restricted view but if you check with the interactive seat plan, the view is not at all bad. Linda

I'd like to see Coppelia again - it must be at least 8 years since the RB performed it. IMHO it is far superior to the full-length Bayadere and that pops up far too often for my taste. Linda

Alison, I think the clip from Manon is from a documentary made around 1997/8 when the Rb was not at the ROH due to the redevelopment. She was filmed performing Manon with Zelensky at the Coliseum. Birthday Offering was at the Festival Hall with Inaki Urlezega (hope I've spelled his name right). Incidentally whatever happened to him? He went back to Brazil (or was it Argentina) around 2005 and I haven't heard anything about him since. Linda

Sometimes even the weather can't spoil a performance. My sister went to see The Tempest and there was a real downpour but it amazingly co-incided with Prospero summoning up a storm so really added to the atmosphere! I used to go a lot but in the seating areas as I couldn't stand that long. The seats are not that comfortable but you can hire a cushion which helps a bit. So glad you enjoyed your experience - I think it's something everyone should put on their bucket list if they're lucky enough to be able to get there. linda

Well most of the stuff I've seen lately has been uploaded by the copyright owners. There used to be a lot of stuff of doubtful provenance but the clips have been removed and replaced by a notice saying why they were taken down. For instance, the clip mentioned above comes from Thames so I assume it's quite legal to link to it.

Now that Youtube is official and the clips are (mostly) legally licensed, I have noticed that all sorts of old stuff is being uploaded. Thames News, for example, has posted some pretty old stuff including this: It's a news item about a royal gala at Covent Garden in 1986 (I think) which was a performance of Ashton's last production of Cinderella. Nice rehearsal footage and an interview with Anthony Dowell. The clip was uploaded earlier this year and the quality is very good for a change. (Sorry about the link but I've forgotten how to do it neatly - could some nice moderator direct me to the instructions?) Thanks Linda

If you want a good long novel (730 pages!) then try Dancing on Thorns by Rebecca Horsfall about a male dancer in a small struggling company. Great fun, a bit over the top of course, but the references to the ENB and RB are wickedly funny. Perfect holiday reading and it's nice to have a ballet story that shows the male point of view for a change. For biographies, many of Balanchine's stars have written about their experiences with the great (in their eyes at least) man. Try Zorina (Vera Zorina), Choura (Danilova), Holding on to the Air (Suzanne Farrell) & Prodigal Son (Villella) many of which highlight the sheer hard work and sometimes brutal reality of a life in ballet in general and with Balanchine in particular. Linda

Definitely a rainy-day sanity saver - thanks so much for letting us know about this amazing archive. Linda

Thank goodness for the Ashton, I say. Everything else (except the mandatory moneyspinner Nut of course) seems like ballet to slash your wrists by. Not ANOTHER Macgregor? And Frankenstein, Raven Girl & Winter's Tale - not exactly uplifting fare. Oh well, my bank manager will be happy. Linda (aka Depressed of Canary Wharf)

I can't help thinking that the Press has a lot of (possibly undeserved) influence on promotions. Back in the mid 2000's there was no shortage of articles about the paucity of home-grown talent amongst the RB principals. With the remaining two British stars retiring (Bussell and Cope) there was a lot of comment in the broadsheets about too many foreigners in the upper ranks of our native company and I suspect this may have influenced the AD of the time to promote dancers such as Watson, Cuthbertson and Pennefather. No reflection on the dancers but the timing was a little suspect and I can't help wondering if the latter two would have had fewer injuries without the pressure of the spotlight being put on them in this way. Linda

Thanks Alison. At the time I saw it on the news it was just smoke - now there's flames coming up from the manholes in the street and the damage must be extensive. Tough luck for Insight ticket holders - it looked like being a good evening but on the bright side maybe it will be rescheduled. Must keep a look out for the tickets - was there anything on Twitter about this? I believe the ROH uses it for short term changes. Linda

The ROH's website says their telephone booking system is down due to power being cut off in the area. Kingsway and Holborn tube station have been closed due to an underground electrical fire. It doesn't say if the ROH itself is still open - other theatres and shops in the area have had to close. If you're going to the Insights event in the Clore tonight you might want to check. Linda

Back in the day, matinee audiences could order tea (plus sandwiches, cake etc) to be served to their seats. The service was delivered during the interval but the clink of cups and saucers could continue during the next act. I suppose we should be grateful that water and other drinks come in plastic bottles nowadays. Linda