Richard LH

13 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

If others start clapping during Alex Campbell's entrance, I'll join in. But if they stick to custom and don't, I won't. 

But if we all wait for others to start, no-one will...🤔😂

49 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

I'm not generally in favour of entrance applause for Des Grieux, as he doesn't make an entrance as such but wanders on while 2 of the Courtesans are dancing, but given tonight is Campbell's last performance I'm thinking an exception should/will be made?

Well Vadim got applause on entrance in the performance I saw recently......conversely Frankie didn't get any applause on her entrance last Saturday...I did try at first but it didn't catch on which is always a bit embarrassing!

Maybe if enough of us try tonight when Alex enters!? Assuming it can be coordinated, since as @Dawnstar suggests, it is rather an informal entrance which I usually manage to miss!

8 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

Cast List is up: Marco Masciari will be pinching Gary Avis's pocket watch tonight  while Yuhui Choe tries to get Valentino Zucchetti's attention as he focuses on making deals at Kristen McNally's table. Nicol Edmonds plays the baddie across the pond who gets it in the back. 🎭 

Good to see Yuhui in the cast .....she has also had some great partnerships with Alex over the years.

1 hour ago, FionaM said:

Whatever… there is no way he is 5’11.  

Maybe when on pointe .....

4 minutes ago, Balletfanp said:

Not sure what comes after that but yeah, me too! 😂😢

Quitto?

22 minutes ago, Sim said:

Hi all.  I have hidden a few posts (after a report) that refer to RB couples and ex-couples dancing together.  No real breaches of AUP, just trying to nip it in the bud so no further discussion ensues.  Thank you.  

Apologies, I think I have been at fault here.

This is getting emotional already......

10 minutes ago, capybara said:

I get the impression that Kessels is a law unto himself. His head is usually more buried in the score than in connecting with the dancers.

It's not just Kessels that slows things down....Boris Gruzin virtually brings The Shades to a standstill in the last RB recording of La Bayadere!

11 hours ago, Peanut68 said:

Off topic but relevant to discussions here about strange allocation of budgets perhaps….

Saw local arts centre jobs posted… the massive disparity between a marketeer told & technical staff really grates with me…. So much money spent on a role to presumably find out what audiences want etc (hence all the blinking surveys these folk send out ti justify their existence!) yet the tech teams who help create the actual magic of theatre that is what brings audiences back are paid paltry minimums…

World gone mad

 

To be fair though, the first position is full a full-time, permanent  leadership role as a Senior Manager, whereas  the other is a casual contract position with presumably far fewer overall  required qualifications or relevant experience. So I don't think this particular instance is a like-for-like comparison,  but  I do agree that one does wonder at times about the smaller amount of emphasis apparently given to practical skills. And I also agree about the interminable feeble  marketing surveys we now seem to be bombarded with.....

15 hours ago, RobR said:

And very nice to see Katharina Nikelski back dancing 

Good to hear....presumably she has been injured for a while?

17 hours ago, Sim said:

She didn’t miss Vadim and Fumi, and wasn’t wowed by Alex and Frankie because she wasn’t there!  😂

I thought @Scheherezade said that her friend DID miss Vadim and Fumi, but saw, and was wowed by, Alex and Frankie ....but I am now completely confused!

With the recent departures of Edward Watson and Federico Bonelli, and now Alexander Campbell, I am thinking the RB has now lost three outstanding actor/dancers in short succession.....😕

6 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

both rather "like a real life ballet" and so adorable

😍

53 minutes ago, Fonty said:

Am I allowed to mention that Mr Campbell is also rather gorgeous looking?  

Either way it's too late now @Fonty...you have mentioned it! 🤭

Well that was a strange night for me....all going fine until just before the first Act PDD when I succumbed to one of my occasional migraines which (apart from the headache and sick feeling) affects my vision for a while. I stayed in situ trying to watch, and could sense I was missing out proper enjoyment of a really  wonderful performance by Alex and Frankie!

Fortunately I also have tickets for Friday,  and all being well I should be OK for that.

I had meant to try and meet  other Members in the interval but didn't feel up to it... so my best wishes in absentia to those who were there.  

1 hour ago, alison said:

Just checking: has anyone who has actually booked received the email? And have all those who haven't actually signed up for offers?

I have also booked and signed up for offers but haven't received an offer as yet.

54 minutes ago, Sophoife said:

due to the size of the group and the location of the apartment, it works out that if a person spends 12 nights a year there, they save 30-35% or more depending on what class of hotel they'd normally book.

Interesting @Sophoife...so how much annual  rent/other outgoings would that be per "occasional" person (i.e. other than one of the two official tenants, who presumably pay a lot more, since one or other of them is there all the time)?

22 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Very pleased to be on the train heading for London for today’s double Manon. Avanti are running pretty much to time and I don’t think there’ve been any cancellations so far this morning, at least on the main line. With a covering of snow and ice, not the easiest of drives to Penrith but I’d allowed double the normal journey time. I’m pretty sure all the snow will have gone by Sunday afternoon and next week’s Swan Lake General Rehearsal drive should be easier. Whether Avanti continue their recent run of good performance (at least as far as my own arrangements are concerned) may be more of a question.

Keep your fingers crossed and have a good trip! Will also be there this evening...

1 hour ago, PeterS said:

also, perhaps given it’s increasing popularity, it’s time for the RB to think in the medium to long term about having its own dedicated venue rather than having its opportunities to perform limited by having to share a space with the RO. 

Wow that's a random thought @PeterS!

I would be fine with this, but where would the Royal Opera go? 🤔😂

1 hour ago, capybara said:

Lauren did dance O/O a couple of years ago, I think - returning then from maternity leave. So any performances this year would have been more consolidation than revisiting the role after a break.

As she has also withdrawn from other roles in the fairly recent past (Month in 2022), she might have reached a stage in her career where she wants to make choices about her rep.  If so, one can but admire her for that.

 

(Apologies for speculating.

Perhaps this discussion about Lauren  missing O/O was supposed to be continued in the RB Casting for Spring 2024 thread?

5 minutes ago, capybara said:

Further to this, it has also just been notified that Lauren Cuthbertson will not be dancing Swan Lake this season and will be replaced by Fumi Kaneko on the 15th and 28th March and 1st April.

I wonder why?

Still, those who have booked for her will now be getting the excellent partnership of Kaneko and Bracewell. I would like to see these two, but these dates are all sold out at present (apart from the boxes on April 1st).

43 minutes ago, JNC said:

I’m of the perhaps controversial opinion that if anything there are perhaps too many principals now.

I don't think this is controversial @JNC, this seems to be the overwhelming opinion expressed on this thread so far....including myself. My only caveat is that I would abandon that position if James Hay were promoted, but I am assuming (like others) that is not now likely.

3 hours ago, BeauxArts said:

it is really rewarding to see Ball and Bracewell in their prime, the return of Corrales (hopefully) Clarke and Sambe, with Vadim M, and they are a good indication of the strength of that male rank. 

I would add Hirano to that list!

44 minutes ago, Lizbie1 said:

Got everything I wanted this morning - a straight run of seven Ashtons. All done by about 09.07; email confirmation through at 09.12.

 

Good luck everyone else.

All very smooth for me too, although the website was slightly slower than usual in responding. A good, albeit costly, experience...thanks ROH!

There seem to be plenty of seats currently available for all the Summer season productions, as far as I can see*.

Swan Lake had more choice for me than in  the first half of the run.

* Edit...although not many currently  available for some of the Sarasota  perfomances, incluidng the last ones on 8th and 9th June

I am guessing this should have been a very good cast; looking forward to any reviews....?