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DanJL

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  1. DanJL
    Many thanks for this information Dawnstar, it seems there may be some hope for a cinema screening as you say, I'll have to keep an eye on their website! Interesting point about the performance date. It looks like she was standing in for Zakharova on the dates she partnered Andrijashenko, so I wonder if Zakharova was intended for the filmed performance instead? Either way, I'm glad to have the possibility of Manni on film! (I'm a fan of Zakharova, but I have many of her filmed performances, so seeing Manni would be a much rarer treat).
  2. DanJL
    Based on the Instagram stories of Nicoletta Manni, it looks like there was a La Scala production of Sleeping Beauty on Italian TV last night, with Manni as Aurora. Not sure if this information is of any use to anyone, but thought I'd post in case someone has access to any catch up service for Italian channels. I don't know much about La Scala, but have enjoyed many of Manni's posts since I started following her on Instagram after seeing her rehearse on World Ballet Day. Crossing my fingers that this performance might end up available to a wider audience at some point in the future!
  3. DanJL
    I was curious to work out how many shows I've seen this year - I think it was 23, the most I've seen in a year and many wonderful performances. Lots of strong contenders from the current autumn season, but the performance I enjoyed the most was Beatriz Stix-Brunell, partnered by Ryoichi Hirano in Romeo and Juliet.
  4. DanJL
    Thanks Irmgard, that's really helpful. I probably need an alternative plan for getting home then.
  5. DanJL
    I'm planning to see this on the evening of the 28th and excited by the reviews! Does anyone who's already seen the production this year happen to know the length in practice? The website states 2 hours including interval, which would be perfect for my train if true!
  6. DanJL
    Excellent, thanks Janite. I've just found it on Virgin Media channel 162. I've never seen Scottish Ballet, so very much looking forward to watching!
  7. DanJL
    My own take is that Cats is just a very different type of film to others in the current mainstream. A lot of the ridicule I've read seems based on the appearance of the cats being somehow fetishistic. I'm sure nothing was further from the mind of the people designing them and certainly didn't seem apparent to my eyes. I found much of it lovely and viewed it almost as good, old fashioned entertainment, rather than a film with any deep insight. Maybe that makes it a little innocent for some reviewers?
  8. DanJL
    I saw this last night and enjoyed. As a spectacle of song and dance, there's lots of great moments and Francesca Hayward was wonderful in a role even larger than I'd expected. I didn't have any problem with the cat suits - not sure how they were done but for me they just had the appearance of people wearing cat costumes with some cgi to enhance a few details - mainly face and tails. It was great to see Steven McRae's tap skills on film. I thought his singing was fine. It's not a film to see for a gripping storyline. But to just enjoy the singing and dancing, it's really nice.
  9. DanJL
    I've just watched the first act of my copy of this blu ray for the first time and found the image to be stunningly sharp - more so than any other Royal Ballet blu ray I've seen. And very noticeably clearer than the 2016 Nutcracker recording I saw at the cinema on Tuesday. The only thing I can think (unless the reviewers on Amazon had genuinely faulty copies) is that the more static images are so perfect, it's really like you're there on the stage with the dancers. But of course, when they move it's impossible for the focus to remain quite as clear as real life. So maybe that feels disappointing in comparison. But a really great blu ray. The Snowflakes in particular were easily the most visually stunning I've seen them on film.
  10. DanJL
    Thanks Janite, that's great to hear. I've also really enjoyed watching her in a wide variety of roles. I haven't seen her as Odette / Odile though. If I can get a decent ticket nearer the time, I'm very tempted to do so in spring 🙂
  11. DanJL
    Well in contrast he was on incredible form on Wednesday night, fully engaged and great chemistry with Sarah Lamb. Obviously I have no idea what was different last night, but it would be a shame for people to miss out on his talent altogether.
  12. DanJL
    Thanks Sim, very helpful 🙂
  13. DanJL
    Thanks Rob S, to be fair it may have been my relatively inexperienced eye picking up on something that was actually an intended part of the technique with the balances!
  14. DanJL
    Great to hear that last night's performance went so well. I was at Anna Rose O'Sullivan's debut and it was amongst the most enjoyable ballet experiences I've had so far. Just to add some slightly late thoughts on Wednesday night, with Sarah Lamb and Ryoichi Hirano. This was another great performance, particularly impressed with Hirano who I haven't seen dance all that much, but he was incredibly solid and graceful and partnered Lamb beautifully. I always enjoy watching Sarah Lamb and this performance was no exception. I did think her some of the balances in the rose adagio looked a little shaky, but the last one she held for an enormous length of time - maybe 10 seconds. Is this often done in the rose adagio? Lots of wonderful dancing throughout the rest of the cast. Mendizabal was a fantastic Princess Florine.
  15. DanJL
    I saw the matinée today with Céline Gittens and Brandon Lawrence, and a wonderful Beatrice Parma as Clara. Such a joyful production with lovely performances throughout. Always interesting to contrast different versions of Nutcracker. Amazing scenery and effects in this one. The Arabian dance is my favourite version and as a whole I think the story works better than most. Really glad I made the trip up to Birmingham 🙂
  16. DanJL
    I was really intrigued by the Les Beaux dormants footage too - it's not possible for me to see it this week, but if there's another chance in future I'd be interested to give it a try. I also thought the Lamb and McRae footage was wonderful - I'd not seen it before and it made me wish I could see the whole ballet. Is this really available on DVD?
  17. DanJL
    I enjoy Darcey Bussell presenting too. It's nice to have someone who's been there and clearly continues to have so much enthusiasm for ballet. As a partner to her, I wonder if Leanne Cope would be an option? On the basis of her presentation of the insight this week, I think she would be ideal!
  18. DanJL
    I haven't seen the programme for this production yet (attending my first performance next week!), but there was a really lovely and helpful section on mime in the Birmingham Royal Ballet production that came to Cardiff a couple of years ago. It was actually my first time seeing Sleeping Beauty and I found it incredibly helpful!
  19. DanJL
    Lovely review, thanks for the link 🙂
  20. DanJL
    Thanks zxDaveM for such a wonderful and insightful review. I saw the triple bill in Newport on Saturday evening and also really enjoyed. I thought Celtic Concerto and Wired to the moon were particularly good. I didn't read everything quite as clearly as you though, so I too now wish I could watch it all again!
  21. DanJL
    I loved every bit of the cinema relay last night and would certainly be keen for a DVD! Personally I like the idea of issuing DVDs that reflect the live programme rather than matching ballets from different broadcasts. If it works as a triple bill in real time, I think it should also work in a recording. Also so nice to have the memory of a wonderful evening (ideally with as many of the interval features and interviews as can be fitted in as extras!). As far as I'm aware there are very few recordings of these Enigma variations and Raymonda productions commercially available (if any?). And the last Concerto DVD was all but 10 years ago (March 2010), so no harm in an updated version with this wonderful cast 🙂
  22. DanJL
    I saw it too, a really wonderful performance and perfect for Halloween! Every time I see Northern Ballet it makes me feel I should make the effort to see them more often! I'm lucky that they visit Cardiff every year, but perhaps I should venture further afield to catch more of their productions! As a side note, the quality of the relay both last night and for the Bolshoi Raymonda (which I saw at a different cinema) seemed much better than I've seen at other cinema relays. Maybe there's been a recent improvement in technology?
  23. DanJL
    Sarah Lamb is someone I always enjoy hugely in MacMillan ballets (I've seen her in Elite Syncopations, Winter Dreams, Romeo and Juliet, and also the cinema broadcast of Mayerling). Something about her lyrical dancing style really works for me with his choreography. For me, this afternoon's Manon was the best yet - beautiful dancing and I thought she perfectly acted the wide range of emotions to go with Manon's changing fortunes and outlook. Really wonderful and hugely appreciated by the audience. Vadim Muntagirov was outstanding too of course, I think they make a really great partnership. I'm sure there are many others equally as deserving, but I can certainly see why Lamb and Muntagirov would be chosen for opening night.
  24. DanJL
    I had a really enjoyable time watching Manon tonight - first time seeing it in the flesh and really impressed with the huge amount of entertaining side action that doesn't come across on dvd or cinema filmings. The emotion hit a lot harder too. Really wonderful performance by Lauren Cuthbertson especially, but Matthew Ball was also great, particularly in the final scene. Thought the whole cast were excellent in fact and Beatriz Stix-Brunell particularly entertaining as Lescaut's mistress.
  25. DanJL
    That's helpful, thanks all. Fingers crossed for more showings announced later but otherwise will be good to know if it's going to be on TV shortly after. The Curzon showings apparently feature an exclusive (filmed) Q&A before the film. So maybe they're just a precursor to a wider distribution of the film.
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