MJW

This afternoon’s cast sheet https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/43/the-nutcracker-by-peter-wright/cast-list/54528 The House seems extra busy today!

That’s good news - nice that your comments have been appreciated

Lovely performances last night and thoroughly enjoyable (I am in the last throws of a cold so was very pleased not to have had a coughing fit last night!). I don't often see Yasmine Naghdi live so great to see her - such a professional. Shame that James Hay wasn't performing but Daichi Ikarashi was pretty impressive and as others have said Viola Pantuso was lovely. Glad to see Harris Bell and that (unlike some others) didn't seem to struggle in the Arabian. First of three trips to London in a week (bit mad). From last night: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Esy_xIxnL/

Looking forward to seeing Harris Bell in the Arabian

Interesting...I wonder if this becomes a regular thing.

Unfortunately yes. I'm asthmatic so and quite sensitive to dry air/perfumes etc. I always have a water bottle with me and tend to take some mints with me to suck just to keep my throat from drying out.

I'm sure we are all wishing him well.

A lovely prelude to the new run of the Nutcracker and how lucky to see Gary Avis (the perfect Drosselmeyer) and Francesca Hayward and Alex Campbell (can't remember the last time I saw him on stage). Marianna Tsembenhoi was a charming Clara and Giacomo Rovero a very handsome Nutcracker. Best of luck to them for their first main performances. When with a friend who hasn't been to Covent Garden to years and she very much enjoyed. Certainly more fun than being at work (!)

I thought Von Rothbart and Benno castings were announced, but perhaps not.

Is casting for other roles for Swan Lake released well in advance of the performances starting? I can't remember from last time. Booking for Friends+ is on Thursday and thus far we Odette/Odile and Siegfried.

Hopefully he will be back for Manon and the first tranche of Swan Lake

He was the main reason I booked to go twice in the week before Christmas

Cast details (for part anyway) - https://northernballet.com/the-nutcracker/casts

True but perhaps the danger of setting too big a figure (and possibly unachievable) is that it might put people off? Anyway they have raised £9172 today which is pretty good. Let's hope that continues over the next six days.

It was - and although it had met the target by the time I got home from work, I donated anyway.

Pleased to see that Northern Ballet has met its matched target.

True! But I think they have got rid of the hideous wigs now (certainly for the supporting men). Same applies to the men in the Nutcracker and Kolia's wig in A month in the Country (whose wig seemed to have been inspired by Worzel Gummidge)

Whilst I didn't see them live at the Linbury (and am kicking myself about that), I did see them on World Ballet Day and will try and catch them when they are at Sadlers Wells next year. As you say, the journey to Norwich is unfortunately prohibitive otherwise I would have tried to see Beauty and the Beast. From what I have seen Harris Beattie is certainly one to watch.

I saw him on Friday at the general rehearsal in the downstairs cafe - I thought how nice to see him, not having been on stage for some time

https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/gabrielle-chanel-fashion-manifesto Visited the Chanel exhibition at the V&A today. As someone who isn't that interested in fashion (but is a Friend of the V&A) I thought I ought to go. Beautifully curated - though very busy even on a Monday - its well worth going. Be warned its the V&A's best selling exhibition so tickets may be at a premium! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz3tWgxIJgs/?img_index=1 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz3tqlCon2T/?img_index=1

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm afraid I found it rather a struggle (especially compared to Woolf Works which was astonishing). Still, we can't like everything and it will save me having to buy a full priced ticket!

As I’m at the general rehearsal I thought I might as well start a thread for the forthcoming run.

This afternoon was the first time I have seen Osipova live in a three-ballet (I've seen her Raymonda Act III and Symphony in C). Clearly she had a lot of vocal support in the audience and (as with @MildConcern above) I preferred that with Bracewell and Keneko, it was certainly a fun afternoon and glad I managed to grab a late ticket Monday lunchtime. From this afternoon - https://www.instagram.com/p/CzhBSInIgwZ/

As Kevin O’Hare is sitting a few seats away from me perhaps I should ask him about pricing at the next interval!

Having sat there for Woolf Works, at least he has a smashing view.