FionaM

Congratulations to Nicol Edmonds who replaces Ryo Hirano in the cast with Sarah Lamb as Hermione. Now on the ROH cast lists. https://www.instagram.com/p/C6grYXnohLP/?igsh=MTRwY2tlejFtNm44eg==

And the successful premiere at the Bolshoi in 2019 I wonder if the set designs were expanded for the larger stage 🤔

A trailer from Hamburg Ballet which describes the ballet and Christopher’s motivation, plus, reminds me of his Benois de La Danse award for its creation. The narrator is the regular narrator for Hamburg Ballet videos. (I found it jarring at first as I’m not used to this kind of narration. It’s common across all Hamburg Ballet videos, so I’m used to it now.) it occurs to me that this was a big honour for Christopher. Hamburg Ballet’s repertoire is almost entirely Neumeier’s own ballets.

The other video projections … the boats and seas, and the silks used as sails are all very effective. They seem ‘up to date’ too. This is something that can quickly look dated as video technology is developing so fast. I don’t know if they are updated (or not) for each revival.

I was at the general as well as the opening night. I know we don’t comment on performances in rehearsals, but I will say I am looking forward to seeing the Ball/Nunez cast again. I agree with @Sim they could do better with the ‘bear’. I see the projection on the billowing silk (though it looked upside down to me both times yesterday?) because I know where to look. The lady sitting next to me at the rehearsal had studied this play for her degree and said Wheeldon has done a good job at portraying the play except for this famous line. She was disappointed to discover she’d missed it.

Regarding which companies perform this ballet: Royal Ballet (premiere 10 years ago) National Ballet of Canada (original go-producers) Bolshoi Ballet (have 3 more performances remaining before their licence expires. Last night Wheeldon said to a friend that he misses Denis Savin as Leontes.) Hamburg Ballet (in 22/23 season) Vienna State Ballet (coming in 24/25 season. Incoming AD, Alexandra Ferri was present last night)) Possibly coming to Stuttgart? (AD,Tamas Dietrich was at last night’s performance) Maybe other companies? Wheeldon’s own website doesn’t say.

That change was in 1992 !!! And it was Mariinsky from 1740s to 1935. It was Kirov only for the ‘short’ time inbetween in Soviet times.

As an example of what can happen with guesting: Iana Saienko, Berlin principal and former guest with both ENB and RB (partnering Steven McRae) was scheduled to perform at the Ballet Icons Gala in London back in March. She had to pull out when Berlin State Ballet scheduled for her to dance Giselle and receive her Kammertanzerin award. Gala organisers often have to overbook guests knowing that some will have to drop out due to their home company scheduling. Galas often have to rush around for late invitations to fill in for this and for inevitable injuries. And those late invitations might need to be people not needing visas. It’s not an easy job!

Name changes are always difficult and take time to root themselves, particularly for patrons who have used the old name for decades. We should be patient. Bristol is still struggling with the renaming of our main concert hall from Colston Hall (a slave trader .. won’t they all in that era) to the Bristol Beacon. It’s beyond me why it couldn’t have been ‘Bristol Concert Hall’ which describes what it is on the tin. However I am getting used to going to ‘the Beacon’. It is a unique name.

nor the way to endear over 50s like me to the house either! Another low point after the ‘selling dance merchandise’ post on International Dance Day 🙄

Yes it’s been removed. I saved the video.

I am offended by this latest video on Instagram advertising an opera … Intentional spoiler, PLEASE don’t watch if mutilation of cuddly toys 🧸 will affect you too. I wish I could unsee. I stopped watching partway. It’s too close to the horrors being inflicted on innocent children worldwide. I will email the ‘house’. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6d6kc9hPT2/?igsh=ZGN1MWh6a3Excm8y

Thanks for this news I suggest a husband and wife team … Cojocaru/Kobborg. He’s Danish and a former principal with AD experience , she’s danced there frequently as a guest and with Hamburg Ballet, who tour there again this month. She’ll be 45 by then. Though of course I’ve no idea if either are interested in such a role.

@alison Thank you for mentioning the lighting and what can be seen, or not! There is a related problem with costume colour choices. I couldn’t see the movements of the Countess’ hands because she was wearing black gloves. And worse (Carlos Acosta should know better about this issue himself) is the dim lighting of Yasiel in the Dream scene. His dark face and hands were lost. (As so often happens with men in black tights against dark backgrounds and flooring.). I thought it was quite gloomy with Lachlan, but at least the dim spotlight caught some of his face and hands, being lighter coloured.

The replacement ballerina sounds really good. They say “a star is born” as so often happens in these sad situations for the original dancer.

Natalia was scheduled to perform Swan Lake with Isaac Hernandez and San Francisco Ballet yesterday 30 April. According to Tamara Rojo’s instagram she was replaced at last minute due to injury, by new principal and debutant in the role, Jasmine Jimison https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6ajznzO_Tg/?igsh=OXlraHFicXptaGto It doesn’t say whether Natalia will be able to perform her other date in San Francisco on Friday 3 May. https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/#swanlakeencore

agree. It’s the end of my Friends subscription if the casting is not known in advance of public booking. .

clearly there are too many entities if so many people are confused. I assume the one that the general public is now going to see everywhere on marketing, social media, posters, etc will be ROYAL BALLET & OPERA. My guess is ROH won’t be seen as acronym or in full, once the transition is complete. Though it will be interesting to see what happens with the website address.

tribute from Laurretta Summerscales on her Instagram story https://www.instagram.com/stories/laurretta.s/3358216199382147305?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=NXVqMnQ3NWVxNmtz

Re new logi its modern and dyslexic friendly, being sans serif. It will also stand out on large posters and flags. I also quite like the quirky ‘&’ and the elongated R in Royal. They add creativity

there is a complete recording of Jewels by Mariinsky. Ulyana Lopatkina and Igor Zelensky in Diamonds. It’s on Marquee TV, EuroArts, MediciTV. Probably other places too.

agree. Which is why this change is significant. It positions ballet as an equal partner in many minds … from casual visitors to arts council. Maybe the building will become known as ‘The House of the Royal Ballet & Opera’. Or RBOH.

I think this is a very important step and maybe other opera houses of the world will follow. It raises awareness of the importance of ballet as an equal partner at any ‘opera house’. Perhaps the name ROYAL OPERA HOUSE will be dropped at some stage. I feel it should be dropped soon, as it does not reflect the performances on show in this building. Imagine if it had been the other way around, ie. Known for centuries as the ROYAL BALLET HOUSE. How would the opera feel? Some other opera houses also host classical music concerts, so they have a three way problem in their name.

I too am in shock. Like others here, I very much appreciated capybara’s comments and insights on this forum over a number of years. We met first in person at a visit of the London Ballet Circle to watch classes taught by Vadim at the RBS studios at Barons Court. How apt that seems now that she was also his ghostwriter. She supported his publication in every way possible. She was even involved in such details as arranging deliveries to ROH and abroad. All this whilst coping with her illness. We met often since at ballet performances and events in multiple venues across London, and I know she also enjoyed travelling abroad to elite ballet venues with her husband prior to Covid. A particular highlight was Mayerling at the Stanislavsky in Moscow where they’d been hoping to see Sergei Polunin in the main role but their tickets turned out to be for the alternative cast of Igor Zelensky who impressed them both with his considered portrayal. A more recent trip which brought much joy to Linda was to Cape Town in summer 2022 to see Fumi Kaneko and Vadim in Romeo & Juliet with the local ballet company. She was a hugely capable person and has inspired me in many ways. I will carry her love and respect for ballet with me. I have no doubt that her love of ballet extended her life. My condolences to her family and anyone who knew her. A great loss to the ballet world. RIP

I’ll be interested to know which of these “rights trained” ballets will be included in cinema relays for 2024/25.