Candleque

11 hours ago, JNC said:

Have to admit I'm not overly excited by casting for some reason but I am looking forward to maybe Naghdi/Muntagirov in R&J (though will struggle to choose between that and Naghdi/Ball as we all know that's a great combination). I wish they had maybe swapped a bit of casting so we could see Naghdi/Muntagirov in Giselle or the Nutcracker.

 
Naghdi/Muntagirov seem perfect for Giselle. Muntagirov can do anything for sure, but he doesn't feel like an impetuous Romeo to me. But maybe Ball will play Tybalt in their show, which would be cool 🤺

It was after I saw Naghdi/Ball debuts in R&J that I went from casual fan to casting obsessed.  Iconic.

Also agree completely with the above that James Hay would be a fantastic Romeo and deserves the chance to prove it. 

Am super sad for the RB (she is a brilliant brand ambassador) and for us fans, but am very happy for her. 
 

Echoing all who are already queuing for her final ROH performance. 
 

Who knows? San Francisco Ballet might coax her to guest during school vacations 🤞

4 minutes ago, Lizbie1 said:

I think we should give them some credit for reacting to the complaints.

I just get cranky when companies pretend they are doing you a favour, when in reality a scheme where people have to phone up every Friday to compete for a single ticket is far from user friendly.

3 hours ago, MJW said:

We know that some of you were disappointed when you were unable to find a single ticket for your chosen performance(s).

Understament.
Seriously cannot believe that the ROH and the Royal Ballet think a 'strictly limited' Friday rush solution, phone only (?), is the correct solution to this serious issue hurting some of their most ardent fans. I guess single ballet goers have nothing else to do and don't need to plan in advance. Wondering why I pay for a Friends membership tbh. 

1 hour ago, Lizbie1 said:

I agree that single tickets are again scarce

I also had a v hard time booking anything. Tbh, I thought tickets were just selling out super fast. Forget or didn't realise the ROH was restricting single seats. Frustrating, but as they say, a first world problem.

He is the first dancer I fell in love with. RIP Jacques d'Amboise. Thank you.

On 20/04/2021 at 18:22, Jane S said:

I tried to access the L'Allegro stream just now and got 'video not available - if you are outside the US please contact us' - has anyone tried that?

Yes, I did contact the Mark Morris Dance Group. They emailed me a link and password to see the L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato video and were very nice.
They said: "for all those wishing to view outside the US, contact info@mmdg.org and inform us of their name and country to receive a link."

52 minutes ago, Bluebird said:

Not a total fantasy.  I remember the Royal Ballet doing a Mark Morris Ballet around 19/20 years ago....

Fantastic to learn. Thank you 😁

Well, other than the McGregor and the Wheeldon (which I just can't get excited about, sorry), the list of ballets exactly overlaps with the ones I have seen the most often, both at the ROH and elsewhere. Beautiful yes, and they will sell out. But not a list this beggar would have chosen. I agree with everyone hoping for something upbeat or unexpected.

My own personal fantasy is for the Royal Ballet to do a Mark Morris work. The fact that it is so far from a realistic idea in no way negates my enjoyment of the dream.

5 hours ago, bridiem said:

Millions of us will be alone on the 25th. Knowing that brings a sense of solidarity and even comfort, to me and I hope to others

Agree. One silver lining of Covid that I hope will last is the increased empathy we feel towards each other. In truth, many people are alone for Christmas every year.  

Maybe it is a blessing not to take anything for granted, including the comfort of being with loved ones. Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope the new year brings us health and joy ✨✨🎄✨✨

3 hours ago, JohnS said:

“Anna-Rose O'Sullivan reprises the role of Clara and will debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy later in the run. As much as we wait for that with great anticipation, her youthful looks, light, buoyant dancing with beautiful lines suit Clara so well, it'll be a shame when she graduates to the prime spot in the cast.”

I know that the Sugar Plum is a major career milestone for any ballerina, but I agree with the sentiment of the reviewer quoted here. Clara is the better part in my eyes, as it is all her story. And it must be so fun to dance. I'd rather see Francesca Hayward as Clara again than SPF, for example. Just my view. And I'd love to see Mayara Magri as both. What a shame she isn't doing either. Ah well, the Royal Ballet is spoiled for talent, especially the women ✨ ✨ ✨
  

ps: Also HATE the wigs.

Have DM'ed

Hi all, I am looking for a ticket for any of the dates below at the ROH. To buy or to swap for my Orchestra Stalls seat on 12 Dec, 2pm.
Thanks in advance 🎄
 

Friday 11 December 2020, 2pm

or

Saturday 19 December 2020, 2pm

or

Tuesday 22 December 2020, 2pm

or

Thursday 24 December 2020. 12pm
or

Wednesday 30 December 2020, 2pm

or

Thursday 31 December 2020, 2pm
or

Friday 1 January 2021, 2pm
 

So happy for both these couples making their debuts ✨ ✨ ✨
(But sad for myself, as I had already booked blind and won't get to see them)

3 hours ago, Richard LH said:

Looking forward very much to Scherzo which looked really good on World Ballet Day, plus some exciting  cast changes for some of the pieces we have seen recently.

Me too. Although I was assuming they would mix it up more in the selection of pas de deux.
For Swan Lake, any chance we'd get to see Frankie as Odile instead of Odette? /wishful thinking

17 hours ago, Lynette H said:

Sarah Lamb came on stage for Elite still wearing her blue mask....it took her a couple of minutes to realise and then discreetly dispose of it. What strange times.....

For a second, I thought Sarah's mask was on purpose. Sort of a simpatico nod to the 'costume' we were all wearing in the audience 😆 😷 😆

One of my accolades for the night is that the dancing made me totally forget I was wearing a mask. A new measurement of being transported to a happier place. Big fan of the gala format as a way to see many different dancers. And glimpses at ballets like Rhapsody which I have yet to see. Would have loved more pieces that included the corps, but I know that is much harder to bubble wrap. Le Corsaire was my personal fave. Hoping this somehow sneaks into the show they stream next week. Matthew Ball and Mayara Magri have such joy dancing together and the upbeat energy of this pas de deux is the escapism I need these days ✨

1 hour ago, cackles said:

watch his solo when he won the Prix de Lausanne in 2017.

Watching now. Lovely example really about what World Ballet Day is all about — insights into the art and closer looks at the stars of tomorrow. 

So fun to watch the company class. Especially to get better acquainted with the corps. A dancer I didn't recognise really stood out for me. Think the teacher called him Stanislaw, so I'm guessing Stanislaw Wegrzyn. Some experts here might know? 

On 10/10/2020 at 18:53, Fonty said:

As a matter of interest, where was Darcey?

She was cheering them on from the audience. I would have have loved Darcey as the moderator. Surprised she wasn't asked tbh, as she does the live cinema relays.

Am rewatching the show, and just fast forwarding past the presenter.

One niggle for me (and I love The Dream) was that Alexander Campbell and Claire Calvert didn’t get to dance together. You could see how special it was for the other real life couples to be on stage together. I wonder why their bubble got left out? 

Wishful thinking — Alex could have done two parts (like Akane did) and danced something fun with Claire, like Coppélia. I guess I just want More 😄
 

Apologies to all having issues with the stream.

OMG, Mayara Magri and Matthew Ball in Carousel. Steaming. 💐 💐 💐

Am loving the gala format which shows us pieces like this that I hadn't seen before. Also reminds me of the incredible talent of the RB, who don't all get the attention they deserve, like Sarah Lamb and Ryoichi Hirano (gorgeous in Diamonds) and Akane Takada and Federico Bonelli (so moving in Swan Lake). So grateful to be watching them all.

On 14/06/2020 at 13:25, Irmgard said:

Wayne McGregor’s choreography did not do justice to the music, text or the considerable talents of Cesar Corrales and Francesca Hayward.

 Totally agree. It was a forgettable piece I don't think would make the stage in normal times. 

Of all the dance we missed due to lockdown, I too mourn missing this couple debut in Swan Lake. Happy to pay my £4.99 for Vadim, but I hope the ROH up the game on what they offer ballet fans going forward. 

On 03/06/2020 at 20:05, WoodlandGladeFairy said:

Lincoln Centre YouTube channel has put up their "Live from Lincoln Centre" series, and this one is from 1978 with American Ballet Theatre

This is so good. Thanks @WoodlandGladeFairy

Noticed that Fernando Bujones was given a wreath during the curtain call. Have never seen that before, but love that the male dancer got a tribute as well when the ballerina got the expected flowers. 
Did that happen regularly back then, and now is out of style?
 

In the future, I'm wondering if fans might give favourite dancers a taxi voucher, rather than a bouquet. A bit of help to keep them off a crowded Tube.
 

On 14/05/2020 at 21:18, Don Q Fan said:

The Balanchine pieces have all been glorious what a genius he was and the Ratmansky DSCH was a pure delight from start to finish (including Ratmansky himself what a lovely man!)

 
Agree. Concerto DSCH has been my streaming highlight. Had never seen it before and now I just want to see it again and again. So good. (Someone posted the recording here btw. I'll watch then make a contribution to NYCB as tribute.)

Dare I ever hope the Royal Ballet does DSCH? Similar to Dances at a Gathering, I bet the dancers just love performing this ballet. It looks like pure joy.

17 hours ago, alison said:

Act II is an absolute dream.

Agree. To me, it is almost a different work (which means I have to admit the tortured emotional twisting of Act I isn't my taste in ballet)

On 24/03/2020 at 07:54, bridiem said:

because the statement has been issued at this incredibly difficult time there will be no answers at the moment

As much as I love the Royal Ballet, it is very disappointing when they revert to old school control and cover up behaviour. So 19th century.

I work in marketing/ PR like penelopesimpson. Agree it is not an accident that the management finally release a statement now, during a time when the news is full of much more important matters. They had more than six months to decide to no longer work with Scarlett. Or, as Luke Jennings points out, 26 years. They just can't bring themselves to be honest about the whole icky subject.

I don't agree that this subject is not important. Sexual harassment — and the refusal to accept it — is one of the biggest issues of our time. And like many have said, the secrecy and corporate vagueness is worse for all involved.