San Perregrino

it goes without saying that personal experience varys and for the tourist travelling to another country invariably costs are greater than for the locals. the pound has declined steadily against the dollar in the course of my lifetime. though i haven't ventured across the pond since the pandemic, when I was still doing so, I know that travelling the other way, to the USA from UK, was becoming increasingly expensive. at one point in the early 2000's, the pound was as high as $2 and regularly $1.60 until Brexit when it dropped to $1.20 or lower. there was even a moment where it was close to parity. similarly, the pound has declined against the euro from a high of 1.75 in 2000 to an average of 1.15-1.20. apologies, my information was out of date. VAT refunds on purchases made used to be claimable from HMRC at the point of exit when leaving the UK. as @Bruce Wall says “VAT-free shopping remains available for all non-UK visitors buying items in store and having them sent directly to their overseas address.” I think I remember American friends living in Manhattan and had them shipped "out of state" to parents in New Jersey or Connecticut so that they could have the Sales Tax refunded. I don't know if this is still possible?

It’s just clicked to me that perhaps you mean hated rather than heated? I think it’s standard everywhere to pay VAT/ tax/federal tax on goods and then have to claim that back on qualifying purchases when one leaves the country isn’t it?

What is a heated tourist tax? London is still good value for tourists (especially from the USA) because of the favourable exchange rates and all the free things there are to do here compared with say Europe.

some theatres yes, but not most.

might different prices for different productions for the same seat reflect how restricted the view is for that particular production? eg a side view for Swan Lake will miss seeing half the corps at times whereas from a side view for Carmen it is still possible to see the singers as they are generally centre stage.

And I wasn’t disappointed. What a stunning pair of debuts from this youthful, energetic and talented pair. They simply sparkled and sizzled setting the stage alight in Act 2.

If it’s up for resale because too late to return for credit I.e. within 24 hrs before the performance, you can call the box office and, provided that it hasnt resold, reclaim your ticket at any time before the performance starts. No need to rebuy it.

I think Pantuso/Sissens will be a very good watch and am looking forward to this little bonus.

Add Mariko Sasaki to the list too

Who’s to say or know if the bum notes are played by permanent orchestra members or by those drafted in?

interesting. I can't say that I've ever noticed it being a regular thing. perhaps the brain auto-corrects as it can do for spelling errors. the only passage of music I have a repeat issue with is a section of the Sleeping Beauty overture which always sounds to me that as though a mangled cassette tape is being played backwards under water 🙂

in live performance, isn't the occasional stray note acceptable in the same way as a ballet dancer touching the stage with his hand or slipping off her pointe? (both of which happened last week) I'd far rather the odd bum note than a performance danced to recorded music.

I’d suggest, for me, it is the music that under-delivers. While Talbot is perfectly pleasant, his music doesn’t soar or sweep nor lift or dive, it doesn’t move me to joy or tears nor get under my skin in the way Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky or even Minkus do. I sincerely hope that in his next commission for ROH, Wheeldon looks to the classical canon to orchestrate his work.

I dont believe that Friday Rush tickets are priced any cheaper than regular tickets? Similarly standing tickets are cheap because they come without a seat (and generally but always with some kind of restricted view).

I’ve always wondered if, sitting in row A, one is able to see the dancers feet?