Esmeralda

But the Infra casting still seems to be four performances first cast, 2 performances second cast, I wonder why...Well, at least I see different casts for Unknown Soldier and Symphony in C.

7 hours ago, alison said:

Is it my computer, or does that video cut out partway through?

I wonered about it too, but I think videos on Instagram have a time restiction and because of this I went also to the RB Facebook page. There is the video too but actually longer. Since I am not longer at FB I see no updates there anymore, otherwise I would have posted this video directly.

This is the link for the FB video.

https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/videos/484678558721928/

6 hours ago, Clara_f said:

Melissa Hamilton seemed a bit off and wooden this evening, hope everything was OK with her. The shade solos 2 (and 3) also seem to be quite unforgiving though so maybe not the best vehicle for her? She seems to shine more in the macmillan / mcgregor stuff. Did anyone ever see her when she performed in Germany in Swan Lake etc? 

I have and I agree with you completely that she fits better at the more "modern" stuff. She was wonderful in Dresden, no question! But it was Dresden (a great company but also going more in the modern direction) and simply just not the RB. Not really comparable. I just really don´t see her at RB at the classical direction, there are dancers - even in low(er) ranks - who I would prefer to see in classical variations.

7 hours ago, capybara said:

The Russian versions call this character The Golden Idol and he dances in what is their Act 2 (the betrothal scene).

Marcelino was very good tonight.

To my eye, Melissa Hamilton's return was not auspicious but both Naghdi and Kaneko, who have danced the second solo most of the time, are more compact - and maybe that helps. Both O'Sullivan and Calvert reprised their excellent Shade solos.

Wasn´t Acri scheduled to dance the Idol? Or am I totally confused? With all the cast changes and switches I am mixing everything together...

9 minutes ago, graemew said:

 

I know some of us are finding levels and doors on "our" side confusing but a back stage tour reveals the nightmare of levels and colour "guides" behind the scenes.

 

True! And even at smaller opera houses as the ROH there are sometimes really confusing and weird ways, where you can get lost quite easily...but the artists are used to this, the (maybe even regular) visitor not...

For anyone who is interested: the ROH Instagram account posted a short video about the Bronze Idol with Marcelinho Sambe and what it does need to get the look of a statue:

Wow, there will be quite a lot of cast changes around Christmastime! Didn´t really realize this before since I only booked for the matinee on new years day only because of the time not because of any cast. If Jackson also cancels his performances I can imagine that maybe we will some some debut from a first solosit/soloist, especially with one pairing (Hayward/McRae) completely missing. Curious to see how this will work out.

2 hours ago, Richard LH said:

I found this purely by chance, on the ROH news page - I don't think any notifications have been sent out? The event page itself does not even say it is being filmed.  

It is a student insight so it seems general tickets have not been publicly available.    

2 hours ago, Richard LH said:

 

Not at this stage.  

This is an interesting project with the student insight, very lovely, so it would be really fantastic if its not only at the livestream, also I have seen Infra only once (without any infos about it at the time) so I will keep my fingers crossed! Thanks for the infos, Richard!

Thank you Richard! Hopefully we can see it later on youtube too, since I am not at home tonight! Do we know about dancers who will join?

9 hours ago, capybara said:

Let's think about this..........James Hay has not been cast as Basilio so it is surely very unlikely that he would suddenly be given the role AND the cinema relay in one big jump, and with only one show before the broadcast too.

 

I am sure that I've heard Kevin O'Hare explain that there is an expectation that the cinema audiences will see Principals and that, to balance this, he likes to field Soloists for Insight relays.

Interesting. Would absolutely love this with seeing more of the Soloists in rehearsals but this season was - until now - mainly Principals. Though to be fair, the season is young and we had only 3 of them, but still only one soloist and one first soloist. Except I have forgotten about someone. Last season we really had some fantastic rehearsals with Soloists/First soloists like in the Nutcracker and even First Artists/Arists for Alice so I would really love it if O`Hare would give more time to the lower ranks in the Insights!

If the infos are correct on the page the first cast from Infra has 4 performances and the second cast 2 - I booked the last 2 performances so I won´t see the second cast🙁. Well the first cast is great and a dream (and a lot of faves) so I will try to see it positive that I can see them twice (though it would have been nice to see Kaneko, Dias and Sissens).

But at least I see 2 great casts for Balanchine!

So, who will be the next? Any guesses? Corrales was in Billy Eliott, Joseph Sissens was once in a musical too...I think Calvin Richardson were interested in musical theatre too when he was younger. Not sure with the ladies... Other candidates? 😂

32 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said:

This thread is giving me earworms...

I had no earworms until you wrote it...now I have 4 different songs in my head, will try not to sing on the bus to home🙊🙉

32 minutes ago, LinMM said:

In some ways I am still glad it was added though as its a nice number and gives a male dancer something to get to grips with!!

Definitely!I t is a great opportunity for a dancer to shine (literally) because it is a really fantastic solo and I always love watching it so I am curious how much I will miss it when I will see La Bayadere in Berlin. Though maybe the dancers in Berlin aren´t too sad about it, I often hear dancers complain that they need almost the same time to get rid of the makeup as the time to learn the role😉.

11 minutes ago, Sunrise said:

Looking forward to hearing him sing too 😁

Does the role of Skimbleshanks require a lot of singing? I believe "his" song is actually sung by the other cats...Or maybe they write him another song too like they do for Hayward.

8 minutes ago, LinMM said:

I've always thought Ballet dancers in particular were not so good at projecting their voices .....something to do with different way of breathing etc....but probably another one of those myths! 

It is a bit difficult because of the breathing. When I took singing lessons I learned that I had to relax my belly so that you can breathe more deepily, but as a dancer you are just not used to it (it is a little bit more complicated, but you get the idea). Once you learn the trick to "relax" (or probably some can do it quite easy) it is up to your talent how well you can sing.

Maybe we should ask who else from RB auditioned and who may miss some time at the RB?

Guess this explains, why McRae didn´t revive his role at Frankenstein. Like with Hayward I am not afraid that the strong company has a problem to replace them for the few months. Hopefully a few from the soloists are getting chances like O`sullivan!

19 minutes ago, Sim said:

I think Esmeralda means that she shouted for joy when she read JohnS’s post!  

That`s what I meant, thank you!

7 minutes ago, Stevie said:

I guess so, a very happy punter indeed. Hope it all becomes a reality for her.

Well, I hope for everyone who waited for this DVD it will be true😊!

8 minutes ago, Stevie said:

Esmiralda, where did the shout of joy that you heard come from. I am sure 😉that you cant have heard me from Germany ?

I guess there were a few shouts of joy around the world with these news😄

I could also add some names but I think in the end we all agree that we are living in a very happy ballet time and can only hope, it will last for a long, very long time!

21 minutes ago, JohnS said:

 

I'd asked Opus Arte about Woolf Works as I'd heard there was some activity.  Very pleased to have received an email just now:

 

"Opus Arte will be releasing WOOLF WORKS in February next year."

My dear colleagues heard a shout of joy just now😄! Thank you for bringing such great news!

31 minutes ago, capybara said:

Richardson is unusually long-limbed to be cast as the Bronze Idol but he brought it off with style.

 

The corps was impressive again last night. A special mention for Letitia Dias who features in the Bayadere sequence at the beginning, the D’Jampe dance, the Grand Pas (purple girl), the Shades and the Act 3 candle dancing. Her delightful presentation somehow encapsulates the quality in depth within th RB.

Thank you Capybara, this is why I asked when Vanartus said Richardson - but glad to hear only positive things!

Letitia Dias is always worth watching! When she was dancing with BRB I wondered always why she wasn´t at RB. She just has something very special!

55 minutes ago, Vanartus said:

LOL - no, he was good - honest!

It sounded so neutral at first, so I wondered. But thank you for being honest😄!

9 minutes ago, Vanartus said:

Calvin Richardson 

Thank you! Anything else to say or better not speak about it?🙂

Absolutely agree with all of you! There are so many ways to announce cast changes without wasting paper - especially if they hide the casting slips or put them in programmes, which aren´t bought by everyone. There could even be a mix of them - announcing changes on Social Media and an anouncement over the speaker system. Or really big screens at strategic points. I seriously hope there will be a change in the future because it is not fair to the dancers AND to the audience (at least to them who care about who is dancing).

May I ask who danced the Bronze Idol last night? I assume it wasn´t Campbell because not only the leading ladies switched their roles but also with Corrales a different Solor, so probably a different Idol too?

9 minutes ago, aliceinwoolfland said:

I like Anna Rose a lot (she was incredible in Alice) but IMO she isn't yet at the standard that Naghdi and Hayward are at - that's no bad thing as she's at a different stage in her career, but I can see why people would be disappointed if they'd specifically booked to see Naghdi. 

Well, disappointment could even happen when another principal would replace Naghdi, it is the same case for a friend who bought tickets especially because of Hayward (and because she wanted to see her dance with Ball). She likes Naghdi, this is not the problem, but she would have preferred Hayward.

I just bought tickets for both casts to see as many dancers as possible so not too big disappointments from my side (I would have loved to see Hayward but I didn´t book because of her)😃.

Very interesting, Vanartus! I am quite excited for it since I heard/read it was a reconstruction a few weeks ago. Will have to wait until the second Christmas day though, have only tickets for this performance! On the homepage it says it is appropriate for children at the age of 6, hope this is true since it is my christmas present for my niece, haha.

Thank you Stevie, for posting the technical infos! I am afraid, I don´t understand them either😳

I just asked me the same questions as bridiem...Maybe we wouldn´t ask these questions, if we would understand the technical infos🙂

Ah, the Amazon problem...I have often the same thoughts - do I support the local shops etc. or buy it cheaper at Amazon...When I buy things from RB at the german Amazon page it is cheaper for me as if I would buy it at the shop at ROH.

13 minutes ago, alison said:

Well, if it is indeed O'Sullivan, is she even back from New York yet?

From their IG stories I interpret that O`Sullian and Sambe coming back today.