Richard LH

5 hours ago, Linnzi5 said:

There was mention of Ashton casting in my Friends email this morning:

 

Due to a number of factors, the Ashton Les Rendezvous, The Dream and Rhapsody casting is currently not available as it is still changing, and we do not wish Friends to book for a certain cast which will then not reflect who dances in that performance.

 

I wonder when it will be finalised? 

I suppose we must assume there are some pretty extensive casting issues still to be sorted, that would go well beyond the odd or two last minute changes that could arise with any programme.....

I thought Fumi Kaneko gave us a  flawless performance on her debut....excellent both in technique and in her own interpretation of the role. However I too found Muntagirov rather lacking in Act 1, seeming to wobble a bit a times in his solo, and somehow not really being convincing in this important first declaration of his feelings towards Manon. This meant that for me the overall partnership did not work quite as well as other casts I have seen; although all the passion was certainly there at the end of Act 3, it was rather less believable as it didn't really seem to have been there throughout.

Perhaps my problem arose  from drawing  comparisons -  looking back to the wonderful recent debut perfomances of Naghdi and Bracewell, as well as looking forward to seeing Hayward and Campell in these roles again shortly. 

I was also somewhat underwhelmed by Joseph Sissens as Lescaut, by Joshua Junker as Beggar Chief, and by Christopher  Saunders as G. M., so my high expectations of this cast were a little deflated from the outset! 

However this is really well staged production, and there is always much to enjoy...and the Corps ladies and gentlemen, and the orchestra, were again excellent overall.

Anyone getting excited about Fumi's debut tonight? 😃

18 minutes ago, Sophoife said:

Alexander Campbell was not cast in either Winter's Tale or Swan Lake, nor in the Ashton. So his departure has nothing to do with the casting delay. I know, I know, you all want to know, but at least this is negative but confirmatory news.

 

My source for this information is the horse's mouth.

So he at least has known something of the casting for some time, if only that he was not himself  included?  

9 hours ago, Roberta said:

So those who haven't booked for the 2nd, try the 8th.

Both dates are "Sold Out" at present though.

31 minutes ago, MAB said:

Unfortunately I am having surgery on the 8th 

Best wishes for that @MAB

1 hour ago, MildConcern said:

This newest announcement makes it fall into place - it is fitting that Campbell's last performance is with a partnership that has brought us so much joy over the years. My favourite role of his remains his Bratfisch (he embodies it like no-one else) and I will be very sorry to never see it again. 

Although a last performance with Takada as Manon again, which would have been the case but for her injury, would also have been very fitting, given their various lovely partnerships !

35 minutes ago, HelenHelen said:

it seems fitting that, although not as originally cast, he has Francesca Hayward alongside him - theirs has been a special partnership.

Indeed, certainly for me...it was Alex and Francesca who really introduced me to this beautiful art form in their BBC "Dancing the Nutcracker" documentary, setting off my visits to live ballet, one the earliest being their partnership in Giselle in 2018, and later in Manon that same season. After which there have been so many wonderful  moments seeing him on stage! So it will be a poignant moment to see Alex dance in Manon with Frankie again in his last RB performance. Wishing him and his family all the best for this exciting new chapter in his career.

15 hours ago, jmhopton said:

I asked the Friends office if they thought Ashton casting would be announced by the 29th (Friends+ booking) and they said probably not. A lot of apologies and ' things outside our control' and 'unforseen circumstances ' which wasn't made clear so I'm hoping for a miracle by Saturday but not really expecting one.

Perhaps one of the unforeseen circumstances is Alex Campbell's impending departure to RAD?

1 hour ago, Blossom said:

My understanding is that the dancers don’t even know yet.  

I suppose that's what you would expect though....if the dancers knew the casting then why not make it public?

15 hours ago, capybara said:

I like Viola Pantuso and am pleased for her that she is cast as Perdita. 
But I’m not altogether ‘with’ using more junior dancers quite so much as seems to be becoming the trend.
After all, several Principals and First Soloists have only just made it into the TWT roster after spending quite a while climbing the ranks. Where’s the motivation and the reward for others if it can all be had within a couple of years of graduation?

Surely this is unusual though....I can't immediately think of any other Artist recently dancing two major roles like this, (with Clara) in only their second full year in the Company.

Maybe Akane  would have been cast again as Perdita in the Fumi/Vadim cast had she not been still rehabilitating from injury, alongside Sissens ( with whom she has been paired a few times now). If so, Viola gets an unexpected, rather than a planned, opportunity to perform in a role which may well suit her undoubted, perhaps exceptional, talent. So I am not sure this is an example of of any "trend" to somehow promote younger dancers over longer serving ones.

11 hours ago, art_enthusiast said:

I’m a bit confused by information on the website - are the Ashton triple bills all being held in the Linbury, or just the Sarasota performances? Because when I filtered by main stage venue Ashton didn’t show up, which was a bit strange 

RB Ashton triples are on the Main stage...perhaps you included a wrong filter option? You need to make sure any filters are only  set to Ballet and Dance, and/or Summer 23/24 and/or Main Stage.

11 hours ago, Paco said:

I don't have this issue with Instagram, but I clean my PC from cookies twice a day (using a cleaning software)

Does that work though? I have to use an old toothbrush for getting the crumbs out of the keyboard....

1 hour ago, LinMM said:

Why do you say that PeterS? 
Are you suspecting Takada won’t be dancing in June even though it’s just been announced? 

Hopefully this suggests there is at least a prospect of her returning by June....or they would have already announced a different casting.

1 hour ago, PeterS said:

Sissens actually only has one outing in the first period 

 

No he has two including the Schools Matinee.

So First Soloist Sissens gets 4 performances (with Sasaki and Takada) but Principal Campbell gets none....again🫤

Osipova/Clarke, Takada ❤️🙏/Sissens, Calvert/Edmonds...!

1 hour ago, Sim said:

I would have gladly done it.  

Me too! 😂

9 minutes ago, JennyTaylor said:

I was lucky to be near the stage so could see every expression and to watch Will even in the passive moments of Act 2 when he is circling the back of the stage was incredible. 

We were also near the stage ....almost as close to the  stage as possible I think (front right hand side SC) and I very much agree.... being  able to see their expressions helped make Yasmine and William's  artistry and storytelling come to life so much. Beautiful, emotional dancing, and I don't think they put a step wrong. 

Act 3 was particularly incredible I thought...Yasmine seemed so broken on her arrival at the port, it was heart rending...

The only part I didn't really appreciate  was the Gaoler scene...some of the elements seem gratuitous  and perhaps could be  toned down without losing the gist of the story...provided what is happening  is clear  enough to enrage  Des Grieux in his defence of Manon.

The final PDD was electric....how did they manage Yasmine's lightning fast aerial full body twists? And she showed so much confidence In William, in starting to fall towards the stage well before he was close by to catch her.

I thought we were going to see the first major RB production I can remember where the lead ballerina didn't receive flowers (which would have been a travesty!) but fortunately a bouquet arrived for Yasmine just in time for her to share a flower with William as well as Luca Acri (a brilliant Lescaut).

Overall this is a fabulously staged  production, with all the cast on top form.....the whole company now have a well-earned mid-season break. Looking forward to seeing two other casts later on....

Superb debuts from Yasmine and Will tonight....❤️❤️

I'm missing Akane so much! 😞

Like @Emeralds I last saw her  on the ROH stage on 26 May 2023 in that wonderful SB performance as Aurora with James Hay. 

She danced in the summer  Japan Tour but missed one scheduled performance there, and  has been absent here since the start of the season. 

Hopefully she is now receiving the new treatment and recovery time she needs to sort out, for the longer term, the nagging injury problem she has suffered for many years.

It would be so lovely to see her dance again in the  Ashton programme and The Winter's Tale (Perdita), as well as Swan Lake of course, but naturally she should take out whatever time it takes to allow a strong and lasting comeback - in the same way that Fumi Kaneko did some years ago with formidable results!

11 hours ago, Swan said:

Very pleased that the Annette Buvoli/Nicol Edmonds rehearsal is on You Tube and available to all. I also highly recommend watching and hope that there might be more events like this in the future. The rehearsal footage allowed us to see how hard the dancers work, the stamina required, a look at how they develop their partnership and ‘tricks of the trade’ offered by Darcey Bussell. 
 

Enjoyed the Q&A too, lovely answers from a delightful couple and I wish I could see their performance on 1 January. Good luck to both!

Yes, well worth watching...good luck to Annette on her debut after all her hard work learning and polishing the role. I was surprised and impressed that it only takes about 2 hours for dancers to learn the basic steps and movements for something as hard as the SPF solo.

Perhaps only the Telegraph could have a "Head of Luxury" (presenter Sasha Slater).....nice work if you can get it!

1 hour ago, Fonty said:

 

I am desperate to know how her Googlies went.  

From where I sat she seemed only to do them with her right leg.....🤨

10 hours ago, bridiem said:

I was thrilled by Viola Pantuso's Clara - she has such beautiful arms! (And legs!). And she danced beautifully as well as responding well dramatically.

Completely agree....Viola stole the show for me! Her dancing is so light, quick and  expressive and she was very much in tune with the beautiful music and with the character of the role as Clara. I am not at all surprised she is making a name for herself already. A star in the making, I feel.....

6 minutes ago, Sim said:

Tonight's cast sheet:

 

https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/43/the-nutcracker-by-peter-wright/cast-list/54522

 

Great cast... apart from James Hay's absence. Looking forward to my first Nut of the season!