Richard LH

On 01/05/2024 at 10:19, FionaM said:

Re new logi

 

its modern and dyslexic friendly, being sans serif.  It will also stand out on large posters and flags.  
 

I also quite like the quirky ‘&’ and the elongated R in Royal.   They add creativity

I like the design too, having seen it now in few different contexts. Hopefully folk will grow to be pleased with it, or at least reasonably content.

There is lot of invective on here about the name change which includes fair criticism/opinion, but some posts seem to be repeating queries about being unsure of its exact nature and extent; queries which may have been valid initially but which I thought had been answered pretty clearly by the Royal Ballet and Opera at the outset, and covered upthread. 

Many thanks for your clarification @JNC

2 hours ago, JNC said:

Not to take it too far off topic but it's interesting they talk about the desire for new repetoire and how they're moving to a more approachable and less elitist organisation, implied through programming.

1 hour ago, MAB said:

 

That always makes my blood run cold.

Understandably @MAB , but with respect  @JNC

hasn't really summarised this accurately.

Neither Oliver Mears nor Kevin O'Hare, as respective Directors of the RO and RB,  suggest they are moving either organisation to be "more approachable and less elitist", through programming or otherwise.  The words "elitist", and "irrelevant" are referred to, by Mears alone, as a problematic, but unsubstantiated, preconception by others about Opera, and one which he challenges as follows:

He continues that the perception of opera as ‘elitist’ and ‘irrelevant’ remains a big problem. “But I think the work we’re presenting challenges those preconceptions which are normally presented without any evidence.”

52 minutes ago, EVWS said:

There's also on YouTube (definitely not legal!) a full recording of Marianela and Thiago Soares dancing Onegin at the Royal Ballet - from memory it's a fixed camera recording and had the ROH logo in a top corner so I guess was filmed for internal Royal Ballet use only but has somehow ended up on the internet. 

Not sure of the date though. 

This would be 2015, also with Akane as Olga and Vadim as Lensky.

I am delighted to be able to see, for the first time,  Serenade performed by the RB, and Symphony in C again. I am not at all sure about Prodigal Son though, from watching what can be seen online.

Onegin is great, and I loved the new Cinderella (mostly) so fine with those.

R&J is fine but I hope I wont become  jaded by seeing it so regularly over recent years.

Very far from excited about yet another new McGregor; nor Alice...I am very surprised the latter  gets a total of 30  performances, especially as Wheeldon's "The Winter's Tale" (a much better work IMHO) doesn't seem to have sold all that well, and is about to start.  

Nothing else in the season particularly grabs me I'm afraid. 

4 hours ago, emmarose said:

Re Cinderella, I had very expensive, fairly central tickets in the SC and yet I missed one of the big moments of Cinderella walking down the stairs en pointe. I won't be going back for the exact same issue to come up again...

This was an issue Forum Members (especially the now greatly missed  @capybara) took up with the Management last time and I think it was largely resolved....with suitable apology, may I quote my own post from then..."we were at the extreme right side front of the Stalls Circle (A97 & 98) and even from there we could still  see Fumi's lovely procession in full from the bottom of the stairs to the front of the stage, although her earlier passage down the stairs was somewhat obscured. The onlookers bow down/ curtsey as she progresses, which must help from some viewpoints".

It has been made clear that there is no change to the name of the building itself.  

The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera remain separate parts of the umbrella organisation that used to be described as "Royal Opera House" but is now to be "Royal Ballet and Opera".

We wilI still be going to the Royal Opera House to watch the Royal Ballet (or the Royal Opera). 

I don't see the change as objectionable, rather I think it can  be welcomed.

The latest magazine I received today  includes  a Friends letter that explains that the changes to logos on publications etc. will be rolled out over the next few months, to be "as sustainable and financially responsible as possible".

This is a real shock for me, and others I expect on the Forum,  who didn't know her diagnosis.  I never met her but we occasionally exchanged private messages, and she was always someone whose opinion and ballet knowledge I greatly valued and respected.  Very sad...she will be greatly missed. 

1 hour ago, Sim said:

For those who are going to miss the RB Nut this Christmas, don't forget that ENB are going to present a new version.  I can only hope it's a vast improvement on the current one (just my own opinion, of course).

And there is also the BRB Nut.

2 hours ago, bridiem said:

The Royal Ballet and Opera - really? Why not be honest and call it the Royal Opera and Ballet?

Am I right in presuming that in due course the overall "Royal Opera House" name on everything is being replaced by "Royal Ballet and Opera" - except for references to the actual building? So we will receive a "Royal Ballet and Opera" magazine, and be Friends of "Royal Ballet and Opera" and the website will be titled "Royal Ballet and Opera" and become something like rbo.org.uk? Assuming such changes (particularly to the website 🙄) can be engineered without too much cost and disruption, I think it is to be much welcomed that "Ballet" is now included in the name. 

57 minutes ago, Elodie said:

I would have loved a Tchaikovsky ballet

Well at least Onegin and Serenade are set to Tchaikovsky's music!

5 hours ago, Geoff said:

I could say but then would have to kill you and resign from the Magic Circle. Suffice it say there are ways of holding a large cloth and timing one’s movements which can make for a strikingly magical exchange. 
 

I should add for clarity that, along with a number of Scarlett’s other innovations, his original conception of an opening transformation was dropped long ago, possibly even before the end of the first run. The way it is staged now would not benefit from what illusionists could have added to the original idea. 

Geoff isn't the transformation concept now just the same as at the start of the first run?

If done properly (and yes the lighting has to be right) I think the way VR turns around Odette and engulfs her in his "wings", to engineer her transformation, works very well. I'm not sure how it would be improved by him using a cloth instead, perhaps with the sort of "tada" flourish one might see in a magic show, without introducing an unintended element of amusement!

4 hours ago, Rob S said:

 

It's a world where Kristen McNally is the mother of Marcelino Sambe, Sae Maeda and Ashley Dean 😄

 

 

 

 

Indeed! .... so I don't think we need be too picky about the exact similarities of the two Odettes in the prologue,  seen by most observers at some distance,  in dim lighting. 

5 hours ago, San Perregrino said:

Taisike Nakao having danced a fantastic Benno in the matinee performance followed this in the evening with a scintillating Neopolitan in partnership with Ella Newton Severgnini. 

Yes they are excellent in the Neapolitan....one of the stand-out performances for me.

I also particularly liked Benjamin Ella as Benno....I'm not sure if he has been mentioned yet.

I really like the prologue....as @zxDaveM suggests, it poignantly sets the scene,  and  always gives me goosebumps when Odette as a swan appears, being the first glimpse of whichever amazing ballerina is dancing the role that night. The spot lighting does need to be just right, though, to get the full effect.

On 25/04/2024 at 13:36, zxDaveM said:

I think we may be overthinking the 'plot' a bit 🙂

Exactly! However I've just re-read the well-written synopsis provided for the Scarlett production, and it may answer some of the queries people have raised. Anyway it adequately explains everything plot wise I might need to worry about! In fact I think it it adds quite a lot of additional poignancy to the story.

6 hours ago, MildConcern said:

I do always like my Giselles slightly more deranged than politely insane

😂

BEST CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY

..........Wayne McGregor for Untitled, 2023 for The Royal Ballet......

😂

1 hour ago, Roberta said:

Worth remembering she was turned down at first attempt at While Lodge entry. Persistence pays

Wow, hope for me yet then? 😂

29 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said:

Yes, Hirano’s operation was on his ankle - he has posted on IG a picture of the removed bone fragments.

😬

23 minutes ago, Sim said:

Done. 

 

Many thanks @Sim

Onegin would be very welcome....Takada's Act 1 solo as Olga  (followed by the PDD) is absolutely delightful and one of my most favourite ballet moments. I recall she was nominated for a 2014 National Dance award for the role.

12 hours ago, capybara said:

This thread is headed RB but I guess the survey relates to everything about the ROH?

Sorry yes of course I should have said ROH. Perhaps a Mod could kindly change the title?

2 hours ago, Mary said:

Yes I commented on this on another thread

Sorry,  I did look to see if this had been mentioned elsewhere but I didn't spot your post.