San Perregrino

OUCH 🙂 my instagram postings of both opening night and last night have been re-posted by Tamara, Gavin & the leads. i was centre stalls row D and front row centre DC respectively. the size of the Coliseum & width of the orchestra pit mean that it is a long way to the stage even from those seats, i only have a 6 year old iPhone but take the best i can with it.

it’s incorrect to say that the ballet doesnt have a happy ending. I won’t spoil it by saying anymore

For me, albeit the plot was a little thin, but tonight was a triumphant celebration of dance in all its glory. And music too. Chapeau to Ms Rojo, Mr Sutherland and the ENB. ps I have no idea why my photos always post sideways 🤷🏻‍♂️

With the exception of not putting male dancers ‘en pointe’, I’m not aware of anything where the RB doesn’t offer gender equality. In fact I’d suggest that the ROH bends over backwards to promote and encourage equality.

With hubby Isaac Hernandez going too, there’s an opening for a lead principal at ENB. Suggestions?

it wouldn’t do to make the Russians look silly, Putin has a long reach 😉

The TodayTix App has a new Raymonda offer for 20th-23rd January. save up to 56%, tickets starting at £10.

hence my (?), so thanks for the clarification. i haven't seen him in that role but there are many R&J's that i didn't see.

sometimes a picture paints 1000 words and Rob’s photos capture the emotional journey that Nela & Federico travelled together as Juliet & Romeo. Her Juliet was playful & graceful yet timid as an innocent girl, later becoming a young woman defying her parents as she is torn asunder by the passion of an all-encompassing overwhelming first love, convincing us that life wasn’t worth living without Romeo. As Romeo, Federico became a convincing perhaps slightly scatterbrained young man. Initially merely motivated by teenage hormonal lust, chancing his luck with any passing female, his first encounter with Juliet at the Ball was one of those moments when the world stood still. His grief at Mercutio’s death and his reactive rage in revenging his friend by killing Tybalt was palpable. His remorse almost instantaneous. His grief at finding Juliet ‘dead’ overflowing into the audience. To me, Sambé fought, spun and leaped with alacrity, seemingly much more at ease and freer as Mercutio than he was in his recent Sugar Plum performances. Congratulations to Téo Debreuil on his debut (?) as Benvolio after 5 months of recovery and rehabilitation from a nasty injury. He has already danced the Spanish a few times in The Nutcracker, a role he is already very familiar with. Not unsurprisingly. his performance in a new role last night was tentative in places and I look forward to seeing him again as his confidence increases and he permits himself to let loose and fly freely. Who only knows what casting hurdles have had to be overcome backstage to deliver this performance but the corps and company rallied beautifully if not perfectly to give me another night to remember.

Natalia danced Sugar Plum with Reece on 4th December. She was replaced by Fumi on 25th November. For me, though completely contrasting in style, one sizzled the other floated, both of these pairings/performances were outstanding.

ps When Kevin O’H talked about “everyone involved”, he included thanks to the audience for coming out to support the ROH in difficult conditions. We are essential for the survival of the organisation. Makes one feel all warm 😊

Olivia Cowley & Nicol Edmonds

Great photos Rob. For me, Yuhio Choe & Matty Ball gave a masterclass in pairing last night. Sublimely synchronised, in complete harmony, generous, graceful and gracious, elegant and unhurried, connected and comfortable with one another. A joy to watch. Goosebumps.

Kevin O'H said from the stage tonight that this has been, and will continue to be, a challenging season for everyone involved and, circumstances being what they are, cast changes cannot be ruled out for future performances. He thanked Matty Ball for standing in at last minute, for what turned out to be a sublimely harmonious, elegant and graceful Sugarplum pairing with Yuhio Choe. To add to the excitement, we even had a hastily revised performance of Nutcracker this evening due to technical problems this afternoon with the scenery. Such fun. And, for me, the uncertainty of it all does add a little frisson to the proceedings.

Looking at the casting, I notice that Jeffrey Cirio will no longer be dancing John de Bryon now the run has been shortened.

I’m curious to know if Marcie Sambé last night was the first non-blond Sugarplum Prince? In all the other performances I’ve seen this season the Prince has been wearing the frosted blond wig.

Ticket returned to box office

Stalls Circle Standing ticket for 6th Jan 7:30pm performance. Face value £10 and it’s an e-ticket. PM me and leave a message here if interested

Ticket now re-homed

Stalls Circle Standing D49 for 10th Jan 7:30pm performance. Osipova/Clarke Face value £10 and it’s an e-ticket. PM me and leave a message here if interested thanks

Per his Insta feed, Marcie Sambé replaces Valentino Zuchetti on 6th & 8th January.

Bringing this thread back to ballet and the ENB Nutcracker, solid performances all round this afternoon from Natascha Mair as Clara, Daniel McCormick as the Nephew and Henry Dowden as Nutcracker. Noam Durand stood out again in the Russian dance. Sadly the Arabian had been cut.

You would have to look at fromtheboxoffice T&C. My understanding is that, booking through a third party, you would have recourse to that third party in the event of performance cancellation, not the Coliseum or ENB.

Bruce you may find that the expiry date has been extended due to the ongoing pandemic. I was able to recently use my voucher which had an original expiry date now long gone.

After a few days suspension due to omicron, as of December 23rd, this production is up and running again at Sadlers Wells. It was a delight to unexpectedly watch something so bright and cheerful on a dark, dreary, dull, pre-Christmas evening. The exuberance, energy & enthusiasm of the cast at being back on stage doing what they love reached from the orchestra pit to the back row of the upper circle. I understand that, in the past few days, principals have been rehearsed into corps roles to provide cover so that the show could go (back) on. Well done Sir Matthew Bourne (& everyone else) for not giving up.