aliceinwoolfland

1 hour ago, Shya100 said:

 

I think Campbell just needs to play the leads now. He is just at that stage. In Manon I could hear people talking about how the brother was a better dancer than the main guy. He was the brother. He is tending to focus attention on him. He has presence, talented, and no little chemistry with Hayward and seems a nice guy who is liked by all the ladies he dances with. Maybe time to let him just do princes role. Shocks me he was a fill in for injuries this year. If I were him I would be annoyed.

I totally agree. The fact that as a Principal he was not (originally) cast as Albrecht, Des Grieux OR Siegfried seems completely bizarre. Give me him over Kish any day. 

I had a slightly stressful experience at the ROH on Monday - I was sitting in the amphitheatre, in a non restricted view seat, but being very small my view was almost totally blocked by a very tall woman in front. I sat on an inflatable cushion, which made me about the same height as most other people (and still shorter than my boyfriend) and at the end of the first interval the women behind me complained that I was blocking their view and that the seat cushions are only for children. I explained I couldn’t see otherwise and suggested that they also get a cushion. They went off to complain to the ushers and came back grumbling but didn’t say anything else to me for the rest of the performance. Can anyone advise if I was breaking some sort of code of conduct? I don’t want to deliberately block anyone’s view but I’d paid for a non restricted view seat and I am pretty short....

It’s £20.75 at Odeon Oxford 😕

Muntagirov really wowed me in Act 3, but I agree that Siegfried’s role seems to have been downplayed quite a bit...

I have many thoughts which I will post tomorrow, but Yasmine Naghdi - WOW. Sheer perfection. Her Odile was especially mesmerising. Disappointed by Kish, who paled in comparison. Loved Sambe as Benno, and a lovely performance from the cygnets. Naghdi’s sheer versatility never fails to amaze me - from her louche Mistress in Manon to her fragile, yearning Odette, she is a true star. I just wish she could have been partnered with Ball or Muntagirov.

I appreciate Lamb's technical artistry, and I thought her performance had vastly improved by the end of Act 3, but I'm afraid that compared to Osipova and Hayward's Manons I was somewhat underwhelmed by the cinema relay. I didn't think she had a great deal of chemistry with Muntagirov, and I felt that her dancing - while technically brilliant - lacked the passion that I like to see in Manon. I wasn't really feeling much by the end of the performance - when I saw Osipova I was close to tears, and Hayward managed to get me to cry!

First they came for the tube drivers, and I did not speak out because I was not a tube driver...

I would love to see Calvert eventually become a principal. I adored Anna Rose O’Sullivan as Clara and Alice but not sure if she would be suited as Aurora, Odette, Giselle etc? Stix Brunell and Kaneko are definite future possibilities. I hope that Ben Ella continues to rise up through the ranks! 

I assumed it was a UK8 as the article is in a British newspaper 

Thought this may be an interesting read https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/28/shes-good-but-shes-big-my-years-as-a-fat-ballerina?CMP=fb_gu

Yasmine Naghdi has posted a picture of herself in her Odette tutu on her Instagram stories!

Who is Osipova’s ‘go to’ partner if not Hallberg? Maybe that’s why they put her with Ball.

My review of the night is up, if anyone is interested in reading  https://aliceinballetland.wordpress.com/

Leticia Stock really is tremendous. Time for a promotion to Soloist?

5 stars in the Independent! https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/swan-lake-royal-opera-house-ballet-review-liam-scarlett-marianela-nu-ez-a8357406.html

Will write more tomorrow, but just wanted to say that Muntagirov was absolutely exquisite, especially in Act 3. Nuñez was technically perfect but sadly I didn’t get much of an emotional connection. I loved the lavish sets and costumes, and a special mention to Bennet Gartside and the lovely Akane Takada. 

Thank you!! I may go straight home afterwards then!

Probably a silly question, but do the dancers come out at the end after the first night, or is there some kind of party afterwards?

So Francesca, Alexander and Akane will all be performing tomorrow?? So excited! I will also be at the bottom of the escalator!

OK - I'm going! My bank balance is very disappointed in me, but I am very excited! I'm in Amphitheatre A82 - it says 'view obstructed by tier ledge' but the view actually looks pretty good. Can anyone confirm?

I have a surprise opportunity to go tomorrow. Pros: it's opening night! And I'm not due to see it for almost a month...cons: it's on a work night, and I'd have to travel to London, and could do without the expense. Thoughts??

True, although Macmillan may have been drawing inspiration from Odile in Swan Lake?

I adore the black dress. I think its colour does symbolise a ‘loss of innocence’. 

I really like the girl’s cream dress in The Invitation, and Clara’s Nutcracker dress. Manon’s act 1 dress is also really dreamy. 

Ooh what a great thread! I agree with Manon’s black dress, and also Titania’s dress in the Dream....Alice’s lilac dress with puffy sleeves that she wears at the beginning, and Margeurite’s white fringed dress.