Richard LH

I would suggest asking the seat-holder politely first! 🙏

I really liked Meaghan Grace Hinkis in Fille...I thought she caught the character well, and Luca Acri is always worth watching. Very sorry to hear she was injured in the evening and hope she is back soon. "For Four" did not disappoint, seen live - wonderful choreography and I love the way the boys interact as they transition through their respective solos. Difficult to imagine a better group of 4 male dancers in any Company! I very much enjoyed "Concerto Pour Deux" and "Prima" again .... I didn't have any problem myself with the costumes in either, other than being a bit distracted because of so many comments about them here and in other reviews! But I tried to concentrate on the lovely dancing. Now I have seen "Dispatch Duet" live, the problem for me was the awful cacophony that passed for a musical accompaniment. With a different choice of proper music, this could be a witty and interesting skit about the interaction between two ballet dancers trying to master steps and find a style. No need to mention "See Us" or "Qualia" again...best forgotten, in my view. "Diamonds" was appropriately shining and brilliant..the corps, led by Claire Calvert and Leticia Dias, on top form and Marianela Nunez outstanding, well supported by Reece Clarke. Her natural smile just got broader and broader as she danced through the piece, and was so infectious ! A wonderful choice to end this celebratory performance. Finally, the other Jewel for me, back near the beginning of the evening, was Akane Takada dancing Manon again, albeit for only one short PDD. Just sublime ! 🥰 All in all... great to be back to see the RB - my first visit this season.

The matinee cast sheet is now available https://www.roh.org.uk/about/cast-sheets#stage

Well put bridiem.....let's not try to see virtually every classic ballet as representing some form of female oppression by men!

Mayerling includes abuse, and ends with an assumed double suicide. However it is not an "old" classic.

I think Act 2 is an exciting and dynamic part of the whole work (only going by the DVD as yet).

Looking forward to Dance Links tomorrow...interestingly, there is a lot of disparity in the various published critics' reviews I have already seen - just like on this forum! Perhaps surprisingly there is even quite a degree of enthusiasm from some quarters for the Toonga piece😬! The common denominator seems to be pretty broad based plaudits for "Diamonds".

But could you join in, based on the rehearsal....? (perhaps you could be forgiven, on this occasion, for avoiding the usual etiquette)! 😊

I was in the cinema and here at least (Broadway, Letchworth) the lighting was pretty poor (as with previous streams) and the focus could have been sharper. The lack of adequate lighting was particularly noticeable for Toonga's piece, but I convinced myself to regard this as a bonus! Dawnstar I agree about the relationship of the choreography with the music - there was no real connection between the two. As to the meaning of "See Us!!" Toonga has seemed unwilling, or unable, to explain it (beyond saying, in effect, the title just means "look at us dancing this"). However, I assume it is a sort of observation relating to aggression/fighting in some undefined context. I am not sure why Toonga has been chosen to work with the Royal Ballet, and I got the impression that he is not really sure either! Yes I would agree... I seem to have seen a lot of the same from various of McGregor's works. I found it quite disturbing and unenjoyable by the end. Otherwise there was much to enjoy, especially, of the PDDs, Takada/Richardson in Manon, and Campbell/O'Sullivan in Fille, although I do think (as Darcey Bussell implied, talking to Ed Watson in one of the screened interviews) that there can be a danger in showing certain extracts from narrative ballets in galas, in that the full context (and scenery) is inevitably lacking. Like some others, I am unsure, as yet, about "Dispatch Duet" ...I found it sort of clever, and sort of annoying, at the same time! Perhaps seeing it live on Saturday will assist. Either way, O'Sullivan and Bracewell are to be highly commended. I liked "Concerto Pour Deux" ...I have rather a soft spot for ballet danced to a vocal score. Seeing Osipova in this reminded me of her in "Medusa" which I also enjoyed. Great to see McRae fully fit again (I still shudder when I recall seeing his achilles injury in Manon in 2019) and I'm now looking forward to his Rudolf in Mayerling with Takada next week. I loved the two "4" pieces - the Gentlemen in "For Four" and the Ladies in "Prima" - I felt (in contrast to Toonga for example) both choreographers really listened to, and respected, the music, and designed the steps and movements accordingly. The dancing was especially impressive from the Gentlemen and I am totally with Bruce regarding James Hay! "Diamonds" looked spectacular and I am very much looking forward to seeing this live...hoping for the same sort of Balanchine thrill I got from seeing the RB perform "Symphony in C". Wonderful dancers performing ballet to music by Tchaikovsky...what could be finer?

Go for it Dave !

Yes it seems a bit strange that the Broadway World piece contains far more information than the ROH has published itself, as yet! Regarding Kenneth MacMillan, I am hoping that the programme will include the PDD from Manon that was rehearsed on the World Ballet Day by Akane Takada and Calvin Richardson 🤞.

I am not sure this sort of thing is dance, let alone ballet!

Interesting cast lists!

I would be surprised if there were any professional ballet dancers who would NEVER dance in a tutu ballet, although no doubt for some (including Leanne reportedly) it is not their favourite. I never saw her perform live, but looking at her DVDs, for example, she wore tutus in Firebird and Coppelia.

Yes, good to see...he also danced as Romeo in a PDD at the Royal Ballet Gala in Japan in July this year, also with Takada. They were to have danced R&J at the ROH in January this year, but she was injured at that time and was replaced by Naghdi.

Slightly annoyed that the ROH did not tell us what the "exclusive" additional live rehearsals were going to be on TikTok, after the main streaming...did anyone see these? Apparently they included Takada and Richardson rehearsing a PDD from Manon... Rachel Hollings (#lahollings) has posted some lovely still photos from this on Instagram. Do we know if this will feature as part of the Diamond Celebration?

Agreed...I was particularly impressed with the Wheeldon work for 4 gentlemen, probably aided by the fact that they were Ball, Hay, Sambe and Muntagirov.

Hopefully some popularity out there for Akane too! ☺️ This is a great pairing, and perhaps could be more frequent if Mr Hay were made a principal....

😂

I was surprised that I only appeared to have 15 minutes to complete all bookings in one go. The period was much longer last time.

So pleased for these two..many congratulations!!☺

Such a difficult period for her..let us hope she gets whatever help she needs to return to the stage soon.

Me too, I suspect!

Thanks Lizbie1 I was just about to post the same thing! An interesting pairing.

I found the defile quite emotional....over 200 young people on stage together, having danced their hearts out, and looking forward to their future ballet lives.