DanJL

1 hour ago, Dawnstar said:

. Fortunately the ROH is pretty central so I would think it's walkable from most of the main London stations (not sure about Paddington, I've never walked there).

I've always walked from Paddington to Covent Garden since the start of the pandemic. Very doable if you're able and used to walking. If it's daylight I tend to take a lovely scenic route through Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park. As it happens I ran back that way after the performance this afternoon (simply because I didn't have time for my usual Wednesday morning run before heading to London) and my GPS watch tells me that it's 5.5km that way. Looking at the map I think a more direct route might be at least a kilometre shorter. 

I really enjoyed the show this afternoon as well. A wonderful lyrical frailty from Sarah Lamb, beautiful dancing and caught the emotion perfectly. Totally agree that there was great chemistry with Marcelino Sambé - a lovely partnership and great debut from him. Also really enjoyed Gina Storm-Jensen's Myrtha.

Others have already commented on previous performances, but I thought Gasparini was a revelation as Zulme. I was already a fan, but she really excelled in this role - hopefully she will continue to have more opportunities to showcase her talent! 

13 minutes ago, bridiem said:

Today's cast sheet:

 

https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/giselle-by-marius-petipa/cast-list/49074

Thanks bridiem, really looking forward to seeing Lamb and Sambé, along with Gina Storm-Jensen, and an added bonus that I'll get to see Gasparini as Zulme too 😊 

Hopefully more people have picked up tickets this morning. For me at least it's lovely to have a weekday matinée - a self indulgent day off work and slightly more expensive trains more than made up for by not needing to book a hotel or arrive home in the middle of the night 🙂

I arranged to sing it with my (virtual) work choir on Tuesday, after seeing Giselle the night before 🙂

After much anticipation, tonight was my first ever live viewing of Giselle. Obviously I have nothing to compare it with, but I thought it was outstanding. Completely entranced by Nuñez, wonderful dancing as ever by Muntagirov and the corps were incredible. All in all, a really great evening 😊

Thanks for the reviews, looking forward to seeing this in Newport tomorrow 🙂 

I'm possibly in the minority, but I find the occasional weekday matinée quite useful. I have to take a day's leave, but it means a relaxing journey to and from London in the same day, without getting back late or having to stay over. Weekend travel tends to be a lot busier and weekends also risk clashing with other commitments. 

The cast sheet states that Dante Project is "A new ballet inspired by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and Vita Nuova". Based on the term inspired (and the information from the insight) I assumed it would be a less literal narrative interpretation.

Just in time for me and managed to get what I wanted, phew! Thanks Bruce! 

Yes, me too. And it's disappeared from the list of shows to book on the website! 

Spartacus isn't being shown in Cardiff either! I may be joining you in Bath! It's between there and Bridgend for me - Bridgend is physically closer but a bus journey rather than train. A real shame this isn't being shown more widely.

I think Dracula was shown on BBC4 as well. I've enjoyed watching all of these 🙂

Thanks oncnp. I think this was a later event than the one I was thinking of though. There were a number of live streams curated by Antonio Pappano in June 2020. Highlights of these were also shown on BBC and I believe included all of the ballet segments. It looks like the Kaneko / Clarke Concerto pas de deux was on 27th June. Although the all star gala still on iplayer is another chance to enjoy Fumi Kaneko dancing of course 🙂

     
(Hopefully this link works for more details on the June performance https://www.balletcoforum.com/topic/22673-live-from-covent-garden-13th-june-and-following-weeks/?do=findComment&comment=320793) 

Oh that's a shame. I have a feeling there were highlights on BBC as well, so hopefully it's possible to find the footage again somewhere. 

Was the June 2020 performance the livestream with a mix of ballet and songs? There was no audience, so you didn't miss an opportunity, but hopefully you saw it on film 🙂

I thought she danced the role with a wonderful look of evil in her eyes. Maybe this didn't carry (I was lucky to be near the front)? But from my view I thought it was great acting, playing against type. Perhaps the casting reflected faith in her abilities as a newly promoted principal? 

Thanks for the wonderful photos Rob - so nice to have a reminder of this special moment. And likewise thanks to JohnS for the instagram link too. 

A magical evening! Lamb and McRae both in wonderful form - strong connection and great acting from both, and the dancing was magnificent. McRae seemed on fire from the balcony pas de deux onwards. Very long and touching standing ovation for him at the end, during which he was presented with a bottle of bubbly 🙂

55 minutes ago, LACAD said:

Though it was very impressive, did anyone else find the Thieves section with all the men doing virtuoso a little cheesy? It felt just ever so slightly Barnum and Bailey.

I loved this bit. I see what you mean in a sense, but it felt to me like one of the deliberate pieces of contrast to the darker parts of the first act. And it certainly brought the house down! 

1 hour ago, oncnp said:

 

Is it for someone who liked "Woolf Works" but otherwise doesn't care for McGregor?

I would say if you liked Woolf Works definitely give it a go! It certainly shares the maturity and vision of Woolf Works. I'd say the scope of the music and dance is more varied and ambitious. There are very many things to really enjoy in it 🙂

Well I thought that was absolutely outstanding. Epic music and choreography, design etc to match. The enormous cast of dancers were wonderful, Ed Watson as magnificent as expected. I won't spoil any details but suffice to say I've left feeling greatly uplifted! 

Not sure about future cast sheets, but there's lots of useful background material and explanation in the programme. Just taken my seat for tonight and very excited! 

1 hour ago, oncnp said:

 

And Steven McRae is finally back, Lamb's usual partner. 

I've never seen them together apart from on film, but very much looking forward to next Tuesday! 

31 minutes ago, Borzoi said:

Maybe he needs just the right partner to pull it out of him. Wondering why he and Nunez were not cast as R&J?

In the last run Muntagirov danced with Sarah Lamb (as he has in a number of MacMillan ballets). I was lucky enough to be at one of the performances and thought they were wonderful together. Always worth trying other partnerships though of course.

Excellent! Thanks Stevie 🙂