Richard LH

Well it's one way to spend an early Sunday morning in the sunshine ...😎. For what it's worth, I reckon these reviews average out at about an 85% approval rating (based on star ratings out of 5, plus estimates based on the tone of the reviews where no such rating is given). Now someone just needs to conduct an equivalent analysis of 35 pages of comments here ...😉 The Ballet Association site looks to be a great source for ballet lovers, by the way.

Looking forward to seeing O'Sullivan's Clara in December....

Tenuous connection - Maguire = RB ballerina, or scorer of England's first goal....

LOL!

Linda It may be that a single cinema viewing is not the easiest way to get into this new production. Although many people have loved the live screenings, some have found them problematic technically and visually, according to the venue, and there is always the issue of being limited to what the filming editor choses to show. The ending, and the role of Rothbart, are clearly matters of individual taste. Anyway, I hope you may be able to get to see SL live at the ROH, next time around, and that this increases your enjoyment of this major work, in its full glory!

Wow, thanks so much MRR, this is exactly what I was hoping for, but even more so, as you have provided links to all the parts as well. Brilliant.

Thanks BB (and BBB) - but the problem for me is that the movement/dance line up in earlier recordings such as the LSO/Previn CD won't be the same as the new Liam Scarlett production.

Thanks BBB, and BB, Well we have just had a thunderstorm here - I blame Von Rothbart.....

PIT's brilliant musical score to Swan Lake is what holds it all together, but there are so many lovely themes involved that I am struggling to remember which particular music goes with which dance, despite having seen this production multiple times ! Does anyone know if there is a source anywhere that marries each dance with an appropriate Opus number/variation name (or whatever the nomenclature should be) ? In that way it will be possible to recall the appropriate dance when listening to a full score which shows the numbers/variation names. I am also asking the ROH the same question, so if I hear from them first I will report back!

From http://www.roh.org.uk/news/catch-the-royal-ballets-swan-lake-live-in-cinemas-and-on-bp-big-screens-on-12-june-2018 Joseph Chadbourn (Cinema Account Officer) responded on 20 June 2018 at 2:10pm Dear Vivian, Thank you for getting in touch. We are glad that you enjoyed the screening of Swan Lake on the 12th June. To purchase a hard copy of the programme, please visit our online store at the following link: http://www.roh.org.uk/products/swan-lake-programme We are happy to report that there is a DVD and Blu-ray release of this production of Swan Lake scheduled for May 2019, although this date is subject to change. Best regards, ROH Cinema

I had thought that was it for this run of SL, but I found there are still one or two UK cinema recordings of the live streaming and we were able to enjoy one today by travelling to Brighton. About 2 dozen only attending - is this not a popular area for ballet? Anyway it was lovely to see this beautiful production once more, for what surely must be the last time for me until the DVD release. I could catch some of the nuances only available from the different angles and close-ups that the filming provides. And a particular joy for me was being able to appreciate again the brilliance of my two favourite RB ladies, Takada and Hayward, dancing together with such elegance, liquidity and synchronisation.

As reported elsewhere, at the Spring Gala the main pairings we saw (Act 4 only) were: Kaneko/Bonelli Lamb/Kish Choe/Campbell Naghdi/Hay but I have no idea if this is to be repeated for the full show. I am sure it will be splendid, come what may.

Yes Bracewell has stepped in to take on a very high profile principal role, and performed it with a lovely classical elegance and maturity. Very pleased for him - he is definitely one to watch for the future.

I could not agree more...this is what prompted me to see her three times! A lovely review all round, thank you Bridiem. I am so pleased the last performance was such a success.

I have just discovered that bookings for several types of Autumn packages can now be made, if you are a Friend of the ROH. This is a week in advance of normal Friends' bookings. Definitely worth checking out as the packages involve a range of discounts...

Last performance of this run has (presumably) just started! I am sure Takada and Bracewell will provide another outstanding performance, fitting for the occasion, to add to their previous ones, and those of the other Principals that everyone has enjoyed so much. And 3 cheers for the fantastic, dedicated Corps throughout the run.....

Fair point, but I suppose it all depends on what exactly was her problem. "Foot injury" seems to me to imply something rather more serious than the sort of condition that must plague ballerinas all the time.

Takada too, as I recall....I loved the nuanced, vulnerable emotions she expressed as Odette.

I find this surprising....if you have a niggling foot injury I wonder how you can dance a demanding role like O/O at all.

The version I found on YouTube has Nureyev "drowning" in the lake for about 10 minutes, by popping up and down repeatedly behind a blue sheet waved by stage hands, whilst Fonteyn slides along at the back to and fro on her tummy in "swan" pose, probably with the aid of a "hostess" trolley. Probably one of the funniest (unintentional) ballet moments! Could other such moments form a topic to keep us amused over the summer?...

Interesting viewpoint Shya... I wonder how many ballet aficionados, or even casual ballet-goers, form their opinions and ticket buying decisions, on any reviews in the popular press these days. The more informed, specialist reviews in dance publications is perhaps another matter......

The beauty of the miming in this SL is one of its best features. I gather some of it is left out in other companies' SL productions which is surely a big mistake - I think wonderful ballet depends so much on the characterisation, the interaction between the principals, and telling a story. This is something the RB does so well. To keep hearing how great Nagdhi has been in her SL debut is bitter-sweet for those who have not been able to see her live, nor on any live screening, or the forthcoming DVD (if any)!

Wow..I know I was finding it difficult to count!

Have a wonderful time capybara, the closing night should be something special. I can't make it 😕 but look forward to reading the feedback.

He was very impressive with those turns but so was Bracewell, I thought, and he is just a soloist. I would not discount the highly trained and practiced technical abilities, for turning or otherwise, of the other principals (some of whom were not performing as Siegfried in this run) and other dancers throughout the company, and other companies. I know when I saw Nunez effortlessly doing her fouettes on the first night I was thinking "that was matchless", but then I thought Takada did them even better on at least one occasion, and young Francesca Velicu of the ENB gave an amazing series of fouttes at the Emerging Dancer competition with loads of triples and doubles thrown in. There is so much technical talent out there at present.