Stevie

3 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I was looking at prices for something that will record as well as play, which are a lot more expensive.

 

 

That only works if you have an existing Hi-Fi system though, which I don't (I have no idea what an "optical audio link" may be. Our TV screen is only a few inches larger than my laptop screen (& I'd be arguing with my mother for possession of it) so I find it much easier to watch what I want on my laptop in my bedroom. I prefer watching things on my own rather than in company (sadly this is impossible for live theatregoing!).

 

I'm sorry if I've got the wrong thread but I did a search for threads with "Blu-ray" in the title & this was the only one that came up so I don't know where else I should/could have put it.

Sadly, I don't think this forum can help  with all of that.

I  have a DVD player/recorder and I can't recommend them. It has the benefit of being able to burn recordings to disc, but otherwise it is more trouble than it is worth. We have 32 inch TV's in each bedroom, with a blu-ray player to each, for when the Grandchildren stay with us, so everyone can then watch what they want, without argument, so that is easily resolved. The 12" indoor 'Labgear' mini log digital aerial is a brilliant reception and so easy to fit up.

If your TV has an optical link, it will be a small socket on the back, clearly marked up as 'optical link'. Some TV.s have 2 x phono links instead, but optical carries better sound. Clearly of no value without a HI-Fi system.

Can't suggest how to get an empty Theatre, but have found the Cinema streaming's not to be as well attended as they deserve, so it would probably be possible to find a secluded part part of the Cinema. I like to see Theatre's and Cinemas full, tending to think that they can't continue without being fully supported.

14 hours ago, alison said:

The trouble with Blu-Rays is precisely that you can't watch them on a computer!

You can, but if you see my other reply and my questioning the value of watching them on a computer. I also thought that this theme may benefit by being given its own theme.

Don't make the same mistake I did and buy  a blu-ray player compatible with windows 7, improved computer speaker's and a 29" monitor for my desktop. It works well, but I find that it never gets used, much preferring to use my large screen TV and surround sound with my Blu-ray player, a far superior experience, the desktop only gets used for such as you-tube streaming's now, but not for playing DVD's or Blu-ray's.

If you have a TV with optical audio link, you can easily play the sound through your existing  Hi-Fi system using a DAC, and Toslink cable, from about £10 upwards. You don't have to replace your DVD collection, because the Blu-ray player plays them with much higher resolution than any DVD player.

So I find that sitting at a computer or with a laptop on my knee when I can sit in a comfortable armchair with large screen HD, with much better sound system and also watch together in company. My friend's wife doesn't like Ballet, so not being allowed to watch it on TV, he is reduced to watching on his desk top. It is a very poor substitute.

I would recommend to every one who has not upgraded to blu-ray already, to do it now, the tech is a great improvement to DVD and it does not create obsolescence of your DVD collection.

I think that this theme is misplaced in the new DVD releases, so if someone can put it where it belongs.

22 minutes ago, Rob S said:

 

6th March was the day they said it would arrive although I do admit that they did get the Vienna State’s Le Corsaire to me earlier than expected. 

That would be the latest guaranteed date, when you look on your orders, they give a range between  earliest to latest date. Only when thing have gone wrong in the post can I remember the delivery being close the late delivery date.

20 hours ago, alison said:

I didn't particularly like it when I saw it in the cinema - or was it the live one I didn't like?  Either way, I preferred it the time before.

I was surprised when they missed the opportunity to release the Nunez/Bonelli version, it was filmed.

9 minutes ago, Rob S said:

I was quite surprised to see the new ENB Giselle in the ROH shop last night, according to Amazon it’s not out until 6th March so cancelled my order and bought it there admittedly for £5 more 

Amazon release date is listed as 1st March, which is tomorrow. Amazon usually get it to you on release date, depending on postal service. Hope you watch it before tomorrow, otherwise your extra £5 is wasted. I watched it last night to get max financial benefit.

The best seller on the Amazon charts, in category performing Arts, is now ENB's Giselle, being ahead of RB's Woolf Works and still only pre release orders.

Is this one of the illustrations of just haw far they have progressed under the directorship of Tamara Rojo ? I hope it is well received on the World Tour this year, including the Bolshoi Theatre.

1 minute ago, alison said:

I suspected that would be the case.

Is that not good ?

13 minutes ago, alison said:

I'm losing track: is this last year's Manon, or the previous broadcast?

Appears to be the one filmed on 3rd April 2018.

Great News and released on 12th April. The Bolshoi : Coppelia, with Margarita Shrayner

This was the first production that I started to take particular note of Beatrix Stix-Brunell and of what an outstanding performer she is.

The Royal Ballet have previously admitted that they are well behind in the subject of literature. I take it that this production is a step in the direction of catching up. Its certainly not my subject since I didn't know who Virginia Woolf was until I saw this production in Cinema.

Hence my appreciation of Orlando as an abstract rather than a story from a book.

12 hours ago, JohnS said:

 

I managed to pick up my Woolf Works dvd at the weekend which I’m looking forward to seeing but a few weeks off as I’ve some work underway and my dvd/television remain unconnected.  On the train home I had a quick look at the blurb - very disappointed that there’s no proper cast list and nobody has bothered to provide a useful synopsis.  I think it’s just a reprint of a programme note by the dramaturg - it refers to two Clarissas but of course no reference to who are dancing these parts (or any parts).  Completely unhelpful and I think extremely arrogant. 

I’d raised the need for a more helpful cast list/synopsis with the Royal Opera House sometime ago and was told the information provided would be reviewed when Woolf Works was taken to Australia, not that any aspersions are being cast on Australian audiences.  I’d spoken to a Japanese visitor at the Royal Opera House who’d spent hours researching Virginia Woolf and the novels in order to get a better understanding of what’s going on so she could enjoy the performance more.  I was mightily impressed with all her efforts but why oh why can’t the Royal Opera House provide a useful synopsis/cast sheet?  I suppose there’s a chance the cast details might be displayed on the dvd (which I won’t be able to see for some weeks) but I doubt this will have been done.  Infuriating because the cast referred to themselves by character (certainly in ‘I now, I then’ and I think ‘Tuesday’) but audiences are denied such basic information.  Why?  And how does this deliberate opaqueness fit in with Open Up? 

Despite the moan, I’m very pleased to have the dvd!

The cast is listed on the back cover of the case and although it doesn't  state who plays what, it does become apparent during the performance. They are also rolled up at the end. The extras provide some good insight into the basis of the production. I don't have the programme, so don't know if it differs. 

The role of Clarissa is shared by Alessandra Ferri and Beatrix Stix-Brunell, in displacement in time, which having watched the performance becomes somewhat like stating the obvious.

After all our campaigning, we now have a release.

On 29/01/2019 at 20:33, alison said:

Ask and ye shall receive, and all that   

 

Not that I'm suggesting this poll had any influence on the decision, but 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N3XD6GL/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1548791057&sr=8-5&keywords=english+national+ballet+dvd

 

Many thanks to Bluebird for spotting this!

Well I will buy it, alongside my classical versions. Why have one when you can have them both. Based on the last ENB release on Opus Arte, Le Corsair, I would recommend buying the blu-ray, it was crystal clear, whilst the DVD was comparatively like viewing it through a net. I upgraded to blu-ray because of this.

if you are making comparisons for ballet then the music score for Onegin is so much better than that of Tatiana, that you can only contrast them.Auerbach music for Tatiana.

On 22/01/2019 at 08:17, Geoff said:

 

Dead parrots? After being nailed to poles and stuck on wrists? They were just resting.

 

 

She was also given the interval interview, so is certainly being pushed by management. I rather liked the acting.

 

I unfortunately missed the interval interview, but the first viewing of Olga Marchenkova was an added bonus and one of the highlights of the evening. Management will do well to push such a talent.

3 hours ago, barton22 said:

Most seem to come out in both formats.  I can't think of any that are blu ray only.  The more recent Mariinsky ones come with both DVD and blu ray (my Romeo and Juliet came in that dual format and I gave the DVD to a friend) in the way many Bfi releases do.  A smaller number come out in DVD format only - presumably where the footage is older and not amenable to/of high enough quality for the blu ray format (for example, most of the Bejart discs, although the Beethoven 9 came in both formats).

7 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

It works for me!

I got it working as well. Reasonable quality picture and sound. Buffered to start with and then worked

2 hours ago, alison said:

I sort of half-watched it in the cinema yesterday.  I say half-watched, because it was really excessively hot in there (I ended up with a migraine when I got home), and I kept nodding off - unfortunately through some of the best bits (I'd have been happy to miss the embarrassingly capering black-faced children, for example, but no such luck).  It's a stunning-looking production, that's for sure - but I don't remember it all from when it was last at the Royal Opera House, so is there a touring version for smaller (i.e. all?!) theatres?  The transmission - or our reception of it - was however pretty horrendous: sound cutting out every few minutes (at least a dozen times before the title character made her entrance!), and less-frequent pixellation/breakup of the picture.  It made it quite difficult to concentrate on what was happening on-screen during Act I - fortunately the other two were a lot less badly affected.

I have found that Cinema customer services are very fair with compensation when things go wrong. Vue, even once, gave me complementary tickets for another performance when I showed up a week late, having got the date wrong, completely my fault.

On 05/12/2018 at 17:55, barton22 said:

The Cranko is on Amazon UK available for pre-order although hard to find (you need to search "John Cranko blu ray" as the product page doesn't have Romeo and Juliet in the name).  Also easier to see here:  https://www.mdt.co.uk/prokofiev-john-crankos-romeo-and-james-tuggle-c-major-bluray-1.html

 

Excerpt from the newly release, 11th January, Cranko's Romeo & Juliet by Stuttgart Ballet.

Like Ivy, I also enjoyed the Bolshoi Sylphide in Cinema very much. I must admit that I missed the importance of the mime and will pay more attention next time. I go for the enjoyment and never try to dissect a performance for criticism. My friend complained about the condition of their shoes, but I didn't notice the condition of their shoes. Its very easy to look for fault if that's what one wishes to do. 

Watched and thoroughly enjoyed on Christmas day. No interval extras though, as in Cinema, so a little reminder of one of the associated extras. Hope you all enjoyed as well.

20 minutes ago, Beryl H said:

The video looks good, must look up the reviews, wish the Bolshoi would release their version too!

DVD output from both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky has dried up of late. There are many I wish they would release, including Bright Stream, Legend of Love, Taming of the Shrew etc, etc.

A new release of Le Corsair by Vienna State Ballet on Feb 8th 2019 and Wolf Works now available to pre order for February 1st release. A john Neumeier collection also released on 8th February. So save up for after Christmas.

Some concerns at the moment. Despite the statement from Naxos Chairman, that "the experienced Opus Arte team will remain on board', staff report that up to 50% have left during the first 6 weeks, whilst some others who have remained, are no longer part of the team. So the future for customers like ourselves becomes uncertain. We just have to wait and see what remains  in terms of quality and selection.

New release on DVD only, January 11th. Bejart's, Right of Spring and Bolero, with presumably Maya Plisetskaya dancing the Bolero. Don't know how the archived footage will be turned out.