MJW

Lovely to see James Hay back on stage - clearly he is very pleased also - 

From his IG - 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C32MkJVoKXm/

I will book for their run at Sadlers Wells in June. Very kindly as I gave a donation they have invited me to watch class when there are in London.

Photos of the four New Works from ROH's Flickr. I think the set of Twinkle was beautiful and certainly caused a gasp from the audience last night

https://www.flickr.com/photos/royaloperahouse/albums/72177720314818290/

19 minutes ago, art_enthusiast said:

 

Totally agree, she was superb. I really liked the piece overall. I have huge appreciation for November as an artist and choreographer, and I thought that although Magri seemed the most comfortable with the choreography, Joonhyuk Jun and Leo Dixon - and I think Blake Smith, one of the Aud Jebsen dancers - also did a great job. I was definitely one of those in the audience applauding them loudly. It had a real joie de vivre to it that I really liked, very much needed in these times. I felt energised after watching. I also thought the costumes were beautiful. As he stated, it involves South African street dance with some classical moves and I really liked the fusion. (Perhaps something that also appeals to Magri culturally, as she grew up in Brazil and I think has mentioned the impact of it on her performance style.)

 

The idea of having the video clips before each work was a very good idea - especially for someone like me who prefers not to spend money on programmes. I agree that some were a bit too long - we don't need to know that much about costume design/every step of communication involved - but it was a great way to add context for the audience.

 

Twinkle was clearly the strongest choreographically. I thought it was very good, well paced, although I'm not a massive fan of the nursery rhyme - preferred the lullaby music at the beginning. I hope to see more work from Jessica Lang. Beautiful set and costumes as well. Having the pianist on stage was an excellent idea. It felt a bit odd to me when the audience laughed at some parts, but I understand it was intentional. Perfect choice of dancers as well.

 

Boundless - some good parts, loved the PDD between Naghdi and Hirano, but probably not something I would want to see again. Ditto Never Known, though I really liked Junker's choice of music - now listening to it on repeat on Spotify! I really liked the way it started, but it didn't really grip me as it went on.

 

I think this way of presenting 4 new works - a "quadruple bill" as someone next to me described it - is a great way of giving a new choreographic taster without drowning the audience in something that doesn't engage them with no chance of escape (e.g., Wayne McGregor's Untitled). Much better to give 4 different pieces of reasonable length that don''t overwhelm the audience.

 

 

I suspect that the relatively cheaper seat prices have helped !

13 hours ago, MJW said:

Twinkle was an absolute delight. Perfect. How wonderful to give Kate Shipway such a prominent position.

 

Four very different works, three of which I would be very happy to see again and even the fourth I wouldn’t try and avoid.

 

Boundless was impressive in parts though perhaps a few cuts here and there are needed. For what it’s worth certainly brought a smile. 
 

Not overly keen on Never Known - nothing that I haven’t seen before but the dancers are impressive as always.

 

Last nights Twinkle:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3Z40KlovUr/?igsh=MWduaDR0ODQ5ZG53Mw==

Twinkle was an absolute delight. Perfect. How wonderful to give Kate Shipway such a prominent position.

Four very different works, three of which I would be very happy to see again and even the fourth I wouldn’t try and avoid.

Boundless was impressive in parts though perhaps a few cuts here and there are needed. For what it’s worth certainly brought a smile. 
 

Not overly keen on Never Known - nothing that I haven’t seen before but the dancers are impressive as always.

This evening’s cast sheet

https://static.roh.org.uk/digital/cast-sheets/New-Works/New-Works-Cast-Sheet-15-02-24.pdf

Looking forward to Thursday evening's performance - just have to remember to leave work early for the 7pm start!

1 hour ago, alison said:

I've just found this still open in another tab, courtesy of last week's Links.  I'd meant to flag it earlier, but have only just realised it was there.  I don't know if the share token is still valid, but it says at the bottom of the article that it's an abridged version of a speech he recently delivered to the House of Lords - does that mean it will appear in Hansard or somewhere in due course?

 

Melvyn Bragg: ‘We are sleepwalking into permanent mediocrity’ (thetimes.co.uk)

 

"It’s strange that over the past decade the creative industries have grown at 1.5 times the rate of the wider economy. They have contributed billions of pounds of business activity and exports. But again and again these profits drain away and the only begetter, the arts, is left stranded on overdrafts."

 

Hugely depressing.

The start of the Lords' debate is at the link below

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/4a103539-5cf0-4704-81e0-5a2616ae04b1?in=11:51:21&_gl=1*1ceoixq*_ga*MjUwNjE3ODY4LjE3MDc1MDkzNjQ.*_ga_L0NJWDWMGN*MTcwNzUwOTM2NC4xLjEuMTcwNzUwOTM5OC4yNi4wLjA.

Goodness….what an intensely moving performance this afternoon. Coming back to reality as one meets life on Bow Street comes as a shock!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C25E6R2oWeW/?igsh=eHIzOHlmdjBpNDBl

7 minutes ago, Linnzi5 said:

I. hope it's sorted out quickly!

Thank you! Thankfully on the move again  - luckily I am getting an early train into London 

2 hours ago, MJW said:

 

I will be

At least I hope to be - there is a trespasser on the line near Clapham so all trains are being held - stuck at Woking!

8 hours ago, Missfrankiecat said:

Is anyone else going to tomorrow's matinee performance? [Osipova/Clarke]

I will be

Just had this offer for La Boheme

Have you been thinking about booking your first opera at the Royal Opera House? If you loved Swan Lake we think you'll love La bohème. 

With its soaring love duets, intimate arias and spectacular chorus scenes, Puccini's timeless Parisian tale has enduring appeal to audiences throughout the ages. Join us on Wednesday 24, Monday 29 or Wednesday 31 January and get 40% off tickets for the top two price bands – meaning you could get stalls tickets for under £150.

Well that was certainly better than a day at work! Cuthbertson especially was excellent this afternoon.

Back for more on the 3rd.

26 minutes ago, capybara said:

It appears from social media as if that cast has already had its final Stage Call.

 

Oh well....I'll wait and see then.

3 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

Having finally caught up with Friday's Insight stream last night, I thought I'd go back & watch the one from the previous run tonight, but I can't find it on Youtube even though there are Insights on there going back several years earlier. I'm sure I remember watching one in 2019 with Christopher Saunders coaching. Am I going mad?

I think it was streamed on Facebook rather than YouTube.

As the General Rehearsal is tomorrow afternoon and the run starts that evening, I thought I'd start the thread. 

I thought that Laura Morera mentioned in last week's Insight that Will Bracewell and Yasmine Naghdi would be performing in the General tomorrow. Hopefully that will be the case, as I'm not booked to see them otherwise.

4 hours ago, oncnp said:

 

The position of Director of The Royal Ballet is generously supported by Lady Ashcroft. 

Deleted. Please ignore

At the RBS, James Hay recently discussed how he prepares to inhabit a role. As he discussed Gamache, I thought I'd include it in this thread:

https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/2024/01/12/the-art-of-acting-with-james-hay-first-soloist-with-the-royal-ballet/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2024_JAN_ALL_latest_news&utm_term=james-hay-talk&utm_content=image

Just finished watching this fascinating series this afternoon. What an excellent presenter Fonteyn was - her conversational style put me in mind of Clark's Civilisation or Alistair Cooke's America, which I have seen (several times) on DVD as they were all rather before my time.

How perfect to see Salut d'amour again - having seen it first at the Fonteyn celebration a few years ago.

1 hour ago, ROHfan said:

Hi can I please ask you the link to this? Thanks a lot!

It was in an email to Friends and Supporters

Out of interest, who amongst the current established choreographers, work in the classical tradition?

If there aren't any (or many) then clearly it is incumbent of the Royal Ballet (and other companies) to foster new talent in the classical manner. That in turn rather begs the question of why Joseph Tonga has the choreographic residency at the RB given his background in hip hop.  

Also mentioned in this evening's Friends ENews

5 minutes ago, Sim said:

Call me stooopid but I don’t really understand what he’s getting at.  

I'm glad you said that, because I thought the same thing when I read it!