FionaM

@Lizbie1 I did not say it was not a sacrifice for Olga and her husband to choose to leave. The people of Russia and Ukraine have all been put in the most awful position by this war … to have to make choices from increasingly limited (and unattractive) options. I can only begin to imagine how hard this is. I only point out that Olga had more options left open to her than others do.

She only spoke out once she was safe outside Russia. She is in a unique and privileged position being already a prima ballerina and therefore able to secure a role elsewhere. She had the added advantage of financial security given her husband’s job and level in investment banking. I’ve no doubt it is still not easy for her either … her family and friends in Russia may be estranged from her, or worse. You cannot seriously expect all Russian dancers to leave, speak out and also secure jobs outside Russia.

@oncnp I compare Russian ballet dancers’ ability to influence their government … with my own ability to influence my own. Effectively nil. So far we are equal. The only difference is that sometimes I can speak out about it. They cannot. The emotional feedback I get from Patrick’s messages is love. Whereas in this forum it is often hate. I know which I prefer. I will support any person who is trying to spread love and build bridges in any way they can, however small.

I think it’s possible to support both the humanitarian need in Ukraine, and not to ostracize Russian ballet dancers … who have no choice in how their employer is funded (the Russian state) and therefore in what they are required to support. Mind you it’s no different here, imagine the consequences if a RB principal with strong Christian principles refusing to join a post performance line-up with the Royals because they disapproved of the King’s adultery with Camilla. It would be wonderful for Russian Ballet if Svetlana could join the Ministry of Culture and get more state funding for cultural projects and ballet in particular.

There are two other dancers from Russia involved in this gala - Danila Korsuntsev (Former principal of the Mariinsky Ballet) - Daria Pavlenko (Former principal of the Mariinsky Ballet) In addition I see the artistic director of the gala is Patrick de Bana. Patrick is interesting as he clearly doesn’t pay attention to the artistic/cultural barriers that you all feel should apply. His latest creation ‘Minotaur’ for dancers from the Bolshoi premiered a week or so ago. As an aside, Denis Savin was hugely impressive in the title role https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClEdpakjjCB/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= If you read Patrick’s comments, words similar to this extract appear often: “May this love be a little part of the ocean of PEACE.Art in stormy times may be the form to bring more understanding to humanity.

@EmeraldsMünich have their own Raymonda (by Ray Barra) which Lauretta has performed. And with a new director and her own baby I’d think she’s probably fully occupied.

It’s on Dutch National Ballet’s social media https://www.instagram.com/p/ClY4eyuo8kI/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

There are rather a lot of other things that also have to come out of every £1,000 … NHS, education, govt departments, energy subsidies, blah blah blah etc. It is rather sobering to hear it in such stark small numbers.

@alisonsee thread under performances. Essentially they’ve changed the whole cast to ‘Matthew Balls team’ except Akane Takada as Mary Vetsera. As he is stepping in last minute to replace Steven. He can’t he expected to perform all these pdd with new partners … and Akane deserves her shows. Matthew & Akane will be hard pressed to have had more than a couple of hours to rehearse together today. best wishes to them all!

I have no doubt they contribute in other ways … one would be in encouraging sponsorship from their network of wealthy contacts. That in itself is worth many free seats.

Why does Bratfisch need to change?

Steven McRae is not performing Mayerling for rest of run https://www.instagram.com/p/ClYa3nGNL0A/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= who will step in for tonight? Stepping in is a big challenge in this role with all the complex partnering

thank you for posting this … and yes it was for Kings of the Dance. (This video is on the YouTube channel of the promoters/producers of those shows) so comparing the cinema recording to this … Ball is Steifel, Hay is Kobborg, Sambe is Corella, Muntagirov is Tsiskaridze

ENB staff have replied … “We have spoken with the venue team - this was as you suspected a misunderstanding whereby the team there were under the impression that the ban on filming and photography during the show extended to the curtain call. We've been in touch with them to clarify that for the curtain call specifically we're very happy for our audience members to take pictures and videos.” Hooray .. that’s the second time this has happened to me recently … the other was Northern Ballet in Cardiff and Federico Bonelli himself sorted that for the second night.

I most especially want to see Emma Hawes in this role. is there a shortage of O/O? They have Erina Takahshi, Fernanda Oliviera, Emma Hawes, Natascha Mair (who performed Swan Lake with Isaac Hernandez in Russia under Tamara’s tuition) and hopefully Shiori Kase will be recovered by then. Soloists who could step-up are Alison McWhinney, Precious Adams, and no doubt others. Plenty with the technical capabilities to do this role … Julia Conway, Haruhi Otani, Ivana Bueno, ….

I know I’m not the only one to find her onstage portrayals to be rather wooden. But then I have only seen her online or on cinema. I’m hoping she can open up her expression in Amsterdam. The signs are good. The other principal ballerinas in Amsterdam are also worth travelling for. If you go … see multiple shows 😉 - Anna Tsygankova especially for dramatic range, Anna Ol for melancholy and superior technique, Maia Makhateli for pure joy on stage, Jessica Xuan for sensitive refined performance, and Riho Sakamoto (only age 22, promoted to principal in 2021) is extraordinary. There are other principals too that I don’t know.

Has Nijinsky/Stravinsky original version of ‘Rite of Spring’ been mentioned ? The ritual sacrifice of a young girl forced to dance herself to death. Creepy violence against women … the pianist and dance teacher in cahoots in Flemming Flindt’s ‘The Lesson’

@Emeralds I live in Bristol 😉

Oh and annoyingly Bristol Hippodrome staff stopped one of my party from taking photos of the end of show curtain calls. They claim this is a directive from ENB, which I cannot believe. Curtain call photos are allowed at ENB shows at Sadlers Wells and London Coliseum. I’ve messaged ENB staff to get them to clarify why, or to correct the instruction to the venue. Tamara Rojo was at the show … she left saying it really was her final show.

Bristol tonight … Eric Woolhouse was on fire 🔥. He grabbed everyone’s attention as soon as he walked on. (Ok … I can’t attest for everyone .. my party of 4 were all hugely impressed). He was both sexy and dead keen on Raymonda and also polite and understanding of her situation. A masterpiece of a role and portrayal. FG Frola had kicked off the show with exciting leaps and beautiful technique … “huge airtime”. But was soon overpowered by Eric’s charisma and leaps. Extraordinary. Has to be seen. I realise the John de Bryan role in this version is a nondescript character, but FG Frola did nothing with it emotionally, even in the wedding scene when he’d won Raymonda he hardly smiled. You’d think he’d be happy on his wedding day. That was disappointing. His technique was super. But it’s not enough for me. Fernanda Oliveira’s Raymonda was an internalised character struggling with her life decisions. It worked quite well I thought.. She does have such reliable technique and beautiful feet in pointe shoes. Beautifully executed. I felt Francesca Velicu needed more sass for Henriette, but was otherwise a fun flirty friend. I find the Sister Clemence role annoying and interfering, so it’s hard for me to appreciate the dancer in it. Precious Adams did a decent job, and was especially lyrical leading the trio in the final act. Super foursome in the male pas de quatre … Henry Dowden, Ken Saruhashi, Sabiel McCormick, Matthew Ashley. They nailed it!

I’m starting a new topic for livestreams that are offered free of charge. There are plenty of companies offering pay-to-view online but precious few offering free ones. Münich, Vienna, and Argentina are the ones I’ve noticed. The livestreams from Teatro Colon in Argentina are live only at the time of performance. The next free offering I know of is today … CINDERELLA Bayerisches Staatsballett, Münich Available for 24 hours from 4pm CET 🇩🇪 on 19.11.22 “The Bavarian State Ballet is in your home this weekend! For 24 hours, you can watch Christopher Wheeldon's CINDERELLA at home on the couch, in bed, eating or wherever! Enjoy Madison Young as Cinderella, Julian MacKay as Prince, Maria Chiara Bono as Stepmother, Elvina Ibraimova & Bianca Teixeira as Stepsisters, and Shale Wagman as Benjamin. To be seen on the State Opera. tv Video on demand starts sat 19th November 16h available for 24h. The show was held on the 13th November 2022” https://www.instagram.com/p/ClI9urKuj2X/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I’d suggest asking the ushers for a step or stool for your daughter to stand on. I’m 5’1” and can usually see without interruption from standing. Often better than hugely expensive stalls which has insufficient rake and therefore tall people make head dodging necessary.

Sad sad situation thank you for all your info and insights @Buddy

lovely speech by Misha 👏

@Sophoifethank you for all this great info. Disappearing down ballet ‘rabbit holes’ is my idea of fun too 😉