FionaM

15 minutes ago, bridiem said:

 

I tend to agree about Hinkis (k not g); I'm afraid I don't generally enjoy watching her very much, though she seems to be both confident and competent. But I found Pajdak (jd not dj) a very beautiful Prayer. I did sense a lack of complete control and confidence on this occasion, but even on a slightly off day she embodies soul and grace in her dancing.

Apologies for the g not k in Meghan’s surname.  Autocorrect 🙄 that I didn’t check before submitting

Double show day for me at Coppélia yesterday..... what a treat!

I loved Anna Rose O’ Sullivan and Marci Sambe in their debuts in the matinee. Both were bouncy and comic and fun, and used their accomplished technical skills well.  They are a super partnership and obviously have a great rapport which added to the fun of their performance .  Good to see Lauren Cuthbertson and Alessandra Ferri in the audience supporting their colleagues.  My ex-Principal dancer friend (and experienced Swanilda) did think AR looked a little nervous early on.  Not surprising on a debut where you are pretty much on stage and required to hold the audiences attention for long periods. 

I rather liked Philip Mosley’s limping Dr Coppelius.  He was comic rather than grumpy.  Good job.  I also liked Bennet Gartside’s version in the evening.  I’m going to be unpopular and say that I found Gary Avis’ version too busy/fussy in the cinema screening.  Hopefully he’ll settle into it and calm down after a few more performances.

In the evening, Yasmine Naghdi was superb as Swanilda.  Streets ahead of Marianela.  Is there anything Yasmine cannot do?  She seemed to have oodles of time for all the technicalities with delicious held balances and slow developpes.  She was hilarious in her portrayal and clear (without hamming it) in her mimes.  And great musicality too.  

She and Matthew Ball also have great rapport and he gets away with being naughty, as he’s so cute.  The supported promenade en pointe going around 3 times in increasing height of arabesque leg was superlative.  

I do not understand the adulation for Matthew Ball from the audience.  His solo was poor.  It was the same in his Don Q that I saw not so long ago.  He cannot do the technicalities of either of these solos to the level of other principals , or indeed to the level that many other RB soloists/artists could.  The panache which he delivers brilliantly, cannot hide his lack of ability.  Vadim, Marci and Cesar can do these solos beautifully.  I’ve seen all of these 3 in Coppelia.  I expect (but haven’t seen) that Steven McRae and Alexander Campbell could too, as I’ve seen their Don Q’s.  I’ll be avoiding Matthew in these roles.  He should stick to the dramatic roles and modern choreography which suit him and which he does perform so well.

Glorious supporting solos from Mayara Magri as Aurora and Gina Storm-Jensen as Prayer on Saturday evening.  Mayara was so fluid and soft on top whilst mastering the tricky speedy footwork.  Gina created a dreamy aura as Prayer ... beautiful hands, luxurious and controlled adage.

Their mastery of these difficult solos highlighted how poor the matinee performances had been.  Meghan Grace Hingis (Aurora) tries too hard to be bright and sparkly and is consequently too sharp and brittle.  It’s uncomfortable to watch.  Poor Romany Padjak (Prayer) had a nightmare performance and barely held the adage movements and then her leg was hardly at 90 degrees.  And her whole body shook when bourree’ing.   I’m sure she’ll have been very upset by this performance. 

The full cast is announced for the premiere performances .... December 29 and 30 at Zaryadye Concert Hall in Moscow 

It’s sounding good 

and looking good 

I’ve only seen Nunez’s Swanilda so far.  Anna Rose O’Sullian and Yasmine Naghdi to come, but I felt Marianela was too careful.  This role needs a fresh abandonment IMO.   Will be very interesting to see how the younger ballerinas fare.  The technical aspects are quite demanding, on top of the acting at which Marianela did a pretty good job.  

Vadim Muntagirov was charming and comedic and danced beautifully.  Couldn’t fault him.  The lighting could be better so that we could actually see his solo when wearing black tights.   😬 how many times do we need to say this.

I usually love Gary Avis’ characters.  I didn’t quite believe his Dr Coppelius.   Maybe it will mature with more performances. 

As of 8.15pm ..... Sunday 15th December, Rome Gala listing has (I have cut and pasted it):

Sergio Bernal is on both lists

9 hours ago, Bruce Wall said:

 

In that case maybe we might get Sarafanov as well!  That would be brilliant.   Do you know, Fiona, that Novikova and Sarafanov aren't doing all three performances in Rome?

 

I see Vogel is ALSO down - according to his own website - on the Rome list and he is scheduled to appear in all of the 24,25 and the 26 January 2020 Les Etoiles Gala performances in Rome - so it seems he WON'T be in London and the list quoted above is not entirely accurate as well.  Here's Vogel's schedule:

 

http://friedemannvogel.com/schedule

 

I wonder if he knows that Ensemble Productions are listing him here on FB??? 

 

Best I think in these instances NOT to get too bothered with who will appear in this London BI gala.   There is just so much said and, as it turns out, just so much 'Fake News' - let alone inaccurate advertising.

 

The night will come soon enough and then we will know for sure.  

 

No sorry I don’t have any info.  Just pointing out that it could be possible to perform at both.  I would also love to see Novikova/Sarafanov together.  

The I’m with you on the ‘wait and see’ attitude.  There were so many last minute changes last year, that speculation is pointless. 

It is possible to perform at both Rome say on 24/1 and then London BI on 26/1.  
 

so I’ll be keeping my 🤞 for Novikova in London 

38 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I'd be very surprised if the female dancer was, as she looked well over 18. The male dancer I'd already noted as one of the beggars in Manon in October. Would a student be likely to do that size of role?

 
No

On 04/12/2019 at 00:25, SugarPlum2000 said:

Great way to start the year! I was beginning to think I wouldn’t be able to see it as the nearest Curzon cinema to me is over 100 miles away! 

Me too.   In my diary ....😉

3 hours ago, Candleque said:

Lots of tickets available for tonight's screening at Sadler's Wells. Includes a Q+A with directors Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, leading cast members and creatives. 

Well that’s a shame.  I would have loved to have been there, but my daughter’s school carol concert takes precedence. 

I’m unexpectedly free to attend and looking for two seats with decent view .... 🤞

Interesting poster design .... there are lots of small creatures (pixies, cats, dogs, owls, rabbits) hinted at within the trees.

Premiere at Zaryadye Hall Moscow December 29th 2020

On 04/12/2019 at 19:25, AnneL said:

Thank you for posting the link. However not all the performances are on this list - I have a programme for 28 December 1968, but that isn’t on there. It featured Diana Vere and Keith Martin in the principal roles and Lesley Collier was one of Swanilda’s friends (I think). My daughter says we also saw Coppelia in the early 2000s - perhaps one of the performances in that long run! 

Do email the ROH collections people with information of missing performances.  They seem very amenable to getting help and making corrections.

Another reason for darning pointe shoes in a circle making the toe marginally bigger, is to help avoid skidding off pointe which can happen with the satin fabric, and also when the flat end is not flush to the floor.

Posé turns en manège are easier to do than fouettes.  But can look equally dazzling. And it returns us to the question is Ballet art, or circus?.  I prefer the former.    
 

In the case of Osipova she was able to do 32 fouettés before, and I’ve seen at least one video where she returned to the stage to repeat them.  So that’s two lots of 32 in short succession, which is pretty remarkable.  

On 11/11/2019 at 23:18, JNC said:

 

I may be mistaken but I don’t think that was Takada...perhaps Sae Maeda? 

 
was it ever confirmed that Sae Maeda danced Act 2 on this eventful night?

Alex Campbell’s IG seems to infer so ...

Sleeping Beauty Rehearsal with Lauren Cuthbertson & Sergei Polunin.  Fish dives from 6 minutes in ....

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bxjs5k48cz5f95h/Lauren Cuthbertson %26 Sergei Polunin - Sleeping Beauty rehearsals %26 partnership?dl=0

Leticia Dias particularly impressed me in the rehearsal of her fairy.  
 

Thrilled to see younger dancers in this insight.  

2 hours ago, capybara said:

 

My money would be on Matthew Ball for Rudolf!

I agree Matthew would be the best of the current RB principals.  
 

The best ever Rudolph (with apologies to David Wall) however is Sergei Polunin....  though it seems a stretch to imagine him dancing it with the RB.  But you never know!

46 minutes ago, JNC said:

 

I think there has also been:

Sambe, O’Sullivan

Corrales, Hamilton

Hay, Hinkis 

 

sadly I’m beginning to think Hayward won’t dance any more performances (she only did opening night) as Sambe recently danced with O’Sullivan, and now Hayward is coming to the end of her beauty run and moving onto Coppelia! 

 

I’m hoping to see Sambe/Corrales/Magri still. O’Sullivan and Sissens were wonderful. 

thank you.  So still only 4 bluebird (males).  Doesn’t seem very many when you consider that all bar Sissens have principal roles to prepare for in SB and/or Coppélia.  
 

so am I right in thinking that Joe Sissens is the only one who is neither a first soloist or principal?  How exciting for him.  
 

Also, is William Bracewell not back to performing yet?

I’m interested in the casting of Bluebird pdd.  So far I’ve heard of:

Sambe, Hayward

Corrales, Magri

Sissens, O’Sullivan

There must be others?

2 hours ago, capybara said:

 

Corrales is a bit of a regular noisy lander. Maybe he doesn't absorb the weight through his legs as much as other dancers manage to do? That said, the Bluebird's jumps hit certain areas of the sides of the stage that many male variations do not venture into and, if/when they do, they can sound noisy there too.

Ah oh, that’s not a good sign.  It can be due to poor technique/training not to absorb the sound through the feet and the plie, and can lead to injury.   Alexander Campbell seems to land quietly most times.