HelenLoveAppleJuice

I did not see Magri in Variation 4. For the filming performance, I have to say that I am not impressed by Beatriz Stix-Brunell's performance variation 4. I have enjoyed many of her performances and really like her smiling nature. But this time her steps/jumps were a bit messy. Comparing with POB filming one, Dorothée Gilbert did this variation in almost same choreography much better. Hope that they will use Magri footage if it is also recorded in DVD

I noticed that she is not on stage for RB for most of December last year and this year. Her last performance 2018 is Symphony in C in the triple bill ended in beginning of December if I recalled correctly. And this year 2019 her last is Sleeping Beauty December 2nd. And returning on Jan 18, 2020 for the Onegin. This round Coppelia is starting Nov 28 and heavily focusing on holiday pierod. It seems to be a pattern for her to spend pre-Christmas and Christmas out of London. It is not unusual for a star level principle to ask for a longer rest over holiday. Nunez also has her last performance at Dec 10. Usually pre-Christmas is nutcracker season and it sells no need with big names, also a good chance for junior dancer to get a bigger role. This year is special by the return of Coppelia. I doubt that it is possible to schedule 2+ shows with her within Nov 28- early December possible. And plus, if the filming is going to Nunez, then the schedule will be planned around Nunez availability for the best. PS: No wonder Vadim is getting slimmer and slimmer. He has to debut&film for Raymonda and Coppelia (does he danced those role before?), and do Sleeping Beauty with both Nunez and Osipova. Rehears Onegin. Franz in Coppelia and Onegin are both heavy role....

This is part of reason. And I want to also add marketing and contracts factors into the discussion of casting. First I agree that 2 performances per pair Manon/Des Grieux with so many pairs sounds not ideal. But regarding of rehearsal efforts, actually only debuting/opening/filming pair will be on the very-effort-consuming end. Others will spend a lot of rehearsal time together with other casts, and a bit of time of solo rehearsal with coaches. I saw a photo of La Bayadère rehearsal for Nikiya/Solor. All pairs were together in a room. (Corrales with Osipova, Vadim with Núñez and many others). Some ballets, like Manon, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, are on stage very often in RoH. Thus for a senior principle who has danced the production a lot, it won't request a lot of efforts for them to rehearsal. So it will be more a question of if they are willing to dance this round. For junior principles, it may ask for more efforts but they are more on wish-to-dance side. So the real question for KOH is who will be given the chance of debuting considering the costume costs(most of principle roles will get personal fit costume) and rehearsal cost. Also take into consideration is marketing. I hate to say but it is a fact that technique is not the only requirement to become a principle, but also the ability to attract a fan base, often related to dancer's background, nationality, looking, and many other factors. Thus every principle has some fan base, small or big. It may play very big for some people on deciding if they will go to the ballet. For example, when I was living in San Francisco Bay Area, I received friends coming to visit California from East Asia often. They won't consider to go to a show in SF Ballet, as ballet is not a thing-to-do for a California trip. But they will be interested if Yuanyuan Tan on stage, as she is a famous figure for them. Same things happen more or less here in London as well. Thus in Royal Ballet, they will try to analyses fan base and how to schedule some shows to attract them. And deciding how many shows is needed/enough to satisfy a fan base. Some stars, like Osipova and Nuñez, will have contracts with the company about how many shows they will have on RB stage. KOH will definitely be happy to schedule as many as performance with Nunez, but she will, of course, wish to spend some time on other locations. This round of Manon have Nunez/Bolle, Osipova/Hallberg(I know some of you have doubt on him but he is still a big ticket selling star), kind of world level stars. I doubt that if we can negotiate more than 2 shows per pair. Also want to point out that I am quite impressed by Vadim Muntagirov. He is certainly a star now and he is still very flexible and super hard working for RoH. He took many extra shows as supplement for injured colleges and paired with multiple ballerina for a single round. Especially for something like Don Quixote, it is very effort consuming to pair with another ballerina. No doubt that KOH gives so many filming opportunities as kind of reward. He is really working hard. I am not concerning about effort cost of Manon. The big challenge this season should be Coppelia and Raymonda, not very often on RB stage, difficult especially on female side. Most of current leading principles/soloists have not danced it. Swanilda is a very heavily demanding role, virtually have to dancing all time in Act 1&2. And in Raymonda, each variation is hard. So I am quite disappoint that Osipova is not scheduled to dance Swanilda, as the only two principles in current RB fleet, has danced Coppelia and really has a reputation for it. (Correct me if I am wrong but AFAIK, the only other is Marianela Nunez who debuted in 2006. Yuhui Choe danced Coppelia PDD on other stages before)

She started conversation with fans in English very actively at least from early this year (after Don Q performance). Very warm person. Before that when I met her in stage door, she clearly understood what I was talking but hardly replied in English. ---- Completely unrelated to the performance but---- Well I think that it is related to her real life partner Jason Kittelberger. As a non native English speaker, I have to say that best way to improve a foreign language is to have a native speaking partner or roommate:) See this article in May from Standard "Natalia Osipova interview: 'Some dancers would refuse to partner me — I’d knock them over'" https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/natalia-osipova-interview-royal-ballet-sergei-polunin-a4152626.html It says Osipova "just got engaged" to him and "plan to marry this summer" Well, I am not happy with Standard to put Polunin's name in the link. Understand it is for prompting search keywords. But the article is about Osipova and very unrelated to him. And I don't know how accountable it is for the "plan to marry this summer" part as it is already winter now and no news following up. I saw Kittelberger in ROH last night. I feel very happy for her.

She did clap. I can hear clearly at balcony but not very loud one. I have not attended other performance by RB for Raymonda Act III. But from the recordings I have watched it seems related to the choreography. Russian. including La Scala version based on original Russian choreography : Empty fake clap. No sound. POB: loud clap. (Gillot and Guillem recording) RB: Clap with sound but softer. And also the Hungarian pose are softer than POB (Rojo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQxlfxqOtIU) My friend who learnt a some ballet in school told me an explanation from their ballet teacher (not accountable though) : Clapping with sound was regarded not graceful in Russian at the time when Raymonda was staged. Nureyev made the clapping sound. He staged the one act for RB first with almost non exiting story line. Thus Raymonda is more or less just a happy bride. He staged the full length for POB later, gave new concept of Abderam and Raymonda character. Arguably Raymonda has a real feeling for Abdeam. And her Act III solo shows her anger, sadness and the determination, which is not emphasized much in one act version because the audience won't understand where it comes from.

I got words from RB insider confirming both Bayadere and Raymonda Act III will be released in DVD I did not ask about Concerto or others. But I am now curious about if Coppelia will also have DVD. They seems to on some effort to build a Vadim Muntagirov collection.

I think that his role is mainly supporting and he did a fantastic job of all those difficult lifting. I already started a debate of her vs Sylvie Guillem with my friend. We watched a video clip of Sylvie Guillem on youtube. And Osipova also posted saying that the Raymonda crown for her was worn by Guillem, what a coincidence!

Just got home after attending tonight performance. A real treat. Originally I booked 2 performances last week but could not make them for a very busy working schedule myself and illness. I got to this one. Only got 3 hours! And what a wonderful night! Concerto: love Shostakovich, wonderful dancing of the leading roles. the middle piece is nice, the 1st&3rd parts is a little "chaos" to my taste. I would say that I would prefer if shorten into a 20minutes work. Enigma: No it is not for me. Although I found it "interesting" and watched "carefully" but I doubt if I would attend another performance of it. (Maybe just sitting outside at the bar) The music is okay, but unfortunately it is put in the middle of the great Shostakovich and the wonderful Raymonda. I would say that "a month in the country" will be a better choice to put in the middle for the cinema screening. Francesca Hayward Laura Morera perfect. Ball managed that interesting solo. Raymonda: I watched La Scala version and loved Raymonda. So I was very looking forward to RB version and it is WOW! Natalia and Vadream are beyond my word to describe. It will be quite a lot of pressure on them. Because in this version Act III, the leading pair actually does not have very long stage time and the other solos are also very compatible. In traditional full length Raymonda, Raymonda has very demanding solos in the first two acts. Besides the leading pair, Fumi Kaneko also stood out. The costume , music and dancing are wonderful. The tile effort on the floor looks very beautiful from Balcony. However I was really worried for a moment (especially that famous ariation pour quatre danseurs) because it looked very slippy, it was possible to see the reflection and shadows! (I am being silly lol) To be a bit picky, I don't know if it is the angle problem from my seat or not. It seems that Natalia Osipova was almost late for the 2nd "bell" turn with male soloists in Grand adage but she saved it. And Hinkis did not control some steps in the last part of her solo that well. Hope either my eyes lied to me or they will make it up in the DVD.

Thanks for the information! Apologize if my comment causes any confusion. My knowledge came from an introduction video of Raymonda from a Chinese ballet instructor who made some videos online to promote ballet. He said that Raymonda has a weak story line comparing to other classical ballets because it cut off the most exiting part (Raymonda falls in love with Turkish) from the "original novel" when the story was adapted into ballet. I made some comments yesterday asking him about the data resource. Either it was true or it was likely caused by translation because most of Chinese ballet textbooks are translated from Russian. There is some confusion between a "story" "novel" or "legend" in the translation. I guess perhaps it should be a "legend" not a "novel". I also did some research yesterday and found this article on nytimes in 2016 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/arts/dance/review-mariinsky-ballet-in-raymonda-searching-about-for-a-perfect-suitor.html It says "The creaky story line of the 1898 “Raymonda” was shaped by Countess Lydia Pashkova and Petipa along the lines of the Romantic historical fiction popularized a century earlier by Ann Radcliffe (the novelist satirized by Jane Austen in “Northanger Abbey”)." However it sounds strange because the none of Ann Radcliffe's novels has a similar story line like Raymonda. Searching Russian sites, I see info like this one http://www.pro-ballet.ru/html/r/raymonda.html attributes "scenes. L. A. Pashkova (on the plot of a knight's legend)".

Raymonda can end in two different ways. One way is the couple happily marry together with a proud Raymonda. Another is that Raymonda marries Jean de Brienne but she has hidden sadness for the Abderakhman because she grows an affection of him before he dies. The original novel has Raymonda falls in love with Abderakhman but after Abderakhman dies, some magic removes Raymonda's love memory but she will never be the same girl as before.

I have not seen RB version of Raymonda before but have seen La Scala full length one. By saying Osipova's 2nd solo, does Raymonda have 2 variations in RB Act III? Plus do we have the famous multiple entrechats variation? It is in Act 2 if I remembered correctly in La Scala.

I don't know if it is proper but some insider told me that Raymonda Act III will have a DVD. Highly suspect that the other two will also have DVD, likely to put together with the triple bill early this year? Maybe not in the same recording? I suspect that RB is building a box set for Vadim.

Interesting, for Raymonda herself I think that the Russian choreography is more on the "icy queen" side while Nureyev version is more like demanding and arrogant with under the surface passion. I will see it next week to check what they deliver this time

I have seen Hallberg in R&J twice and seen his troubles in lifting. According to others review from other places of performances of Hallberg with other ballerina, it seems that Hallberg having this problem in himself and need to work on that. Still I admire his classical lines and beautiful feet. Maybe his acting is not dramatic enough up to RB standard. But surely he is a strong dancer and brings a lot to the stage. Maybe cast in more "classic" and "princy" roles. However I also doubt if something in Osipova contributes to the lifting trouble. I went to 4 DQ performance this year, 2 Marienela&Vadim and 2 Osipova&Vadim. Nela and Osipova are of same height. And clear to me that in both performances Vadim's lift executed better with Nela than Osipova. (Maybe Vadim's very busy schedule during the time when he paired with Osipova contributed to it as well. ) Frankly I personally feel that Vadim is the best partner I have seen lively with Osipova so far who have the same power of commanding the stage. Despite what I saw with the lifting etc, I feel Vadim even more pairs with Osipova than Nela. I saw more relax in him and more emotions when he danced with Osipova.

Bolshoi live broadcast to cinemas all over the US and Canada on Sunday, October 27. RB filming Nov 5...with Vadim&Osipova Ummm! Hot!

Opps! Sad, I picked out Kurzak simply because the data is a bit more suitable for me. I may consider to exchange the tickets. Anyway I went to 2 performance of Traviata with Plácido Domingo Jaho and Castronovo. So not that enthusiastic this round...

Traviata has so many casts and performances. Don't know which to go... I felt a little disappointed by the winter. Overall less bills but just schedule many many performance for one opera and huh soooo many Swan Lake... I have no problem with Swan Lake. But can't we get a little bit something else!

Talking about weather. Russian- or pan-Siberia weather is quite interesting. Spring is almost non-exist or just one week. One week ago you still have your fur coat and then suddenly lads walk outside topless... But in general, Moscow or St P are not really that bad and cold. The most annoying time is when the snow is melting. But in the city it is much better. If age over 80, maybe some WWII sites also worthy a try. I have not personally been in Moscow, but talked with many Asia friends who had visited there. It is slightly more difficult than visiting UK or Germany where English scene is everywhere. But not "that" difficult as long as you do the homework ahead. The young generation speaks English a lot and hire a local guide maybe also useful.

Agree with you. As I said in the other thread, I think that Anna Tikhomiromova's case is largely due to her baby in mid-2017. Maternity leave always delays a promotion and in ballet it is even more crucial... I hope that she will get to the leading level soon. She danced the street dancer on the opening night. I attended both Thursday&Friday performance because it was Vasiliev scheduled for Thusday and Lantratov for Friday. I compared the 2 casts. The Thursday supporting cast is more "star-shinning" with more senior level soloists than Friday's. Although I am happy with many fresh faces on Friday, certainly Thursday performance has a stronger supporting cast and executed a bit better. It made Margarita Shrayner looked worse than she actually was... There was a press table reserved on the ground floor on Thursday and I guess that Bolshoi really bet a lot on that performance. The result? 3 stars in Telegraph... Well I actually think that it worth 4 stars for the brilliant corp and supporting soloists on Thursday night. Ruslan Skvortsov's Espada was very good. I don't think that it is fair to compare Ryoichi Hirano's Espada with Skvortsov's because Boishoi's has much less stage time. But I think that Skvortsov is a bit more/equally impressed to me (or at least no less).

Raymonda act 3 will be cast Osipova/Muntagirov for screening. It is not a full ballet but truly very classic. I suggest it may be a time to try some new channels like broadcast some ballets though paid Youtube Live channel rather than cinema. Renting cinemas are expensive. And we may broadcast more and make our dancer more exposed. Russian audience often film the performance (I don't support that) and upload online. It certainly brings a lot for their dancers...

Actually UK treats short term visitors same. You need to pay before getting treatment unless it is emergency. (But maybe it is always free for UK citizens even if they are not resident. Compare to US it is calculated by your residency not citizenship. I guess the reason may be US grant citizenship to everyone borns there. ) For non-EEA visitors to UK, they are required to get travel insurance when applying for Visa (Since US visitor does not need a tourist visa so they may not be aware about it). "If you needed NHS hospital treatment, you'd be charged at 150% of the standard NHS rate, unless an exemption category applied to either you or the treatment. Health insurance would cover this charge." Unlike you may bargain with US hospital for a cheaper rate if you pay cash (same treatment may cost much more though insurance), here in UK you are charged 150%. But consider UK price is relatively cheaper than normal US hospital, it is not too bad. And same like US, you may pay weekly/monthly if you don't have so much cash in floating if you are proven to be "trustable" or get some family to co-sign the bill. GP here is very busy in London. So when my parents come and want to have a test, we just go to private. It is okay for just one single visit. There are many different kinds of insurances in US. The one I used to have when I lived there has some foreign country supporting. They may reimburse some medical cost if I travel to a foreign country. But some cheaper plans, maybe not have such coverage but you pay much less per month.

Anna Tikhomirova has danced Kitri but not in London. I think that her baby in 2017 delayed her promotion process. Otherwise she should made to the leading soloist level...

I have experience both US/UK health system. I doubt a NHS system will work in US but it is true that US health system need reform. A tip for all, make sure you have some travel insurance coverage if you are travelling to US. Being a foreigner and (non-EEA for UK), we will be alerted that we should buy insurance when applying for VISA. But in her case, she is US citizen but living in UK with NHS coverage. Thus probably no one alerts her to get insurance... Actually I think that $10,000 is a nice bargain in US market for her condition because the cost is very high there... Friends of mine living in California also get into trouble like these. Their parent visiting got ill and it was due to pre-existing condition. So the travel insurance would not cover all except the life threatening. ER would only do as much as to save the life then transfer to the hospital. They co-signed the bill to continue treatment and bargained the bill with the hospital afterwards, got a deal with monthly payments.

BTW Thursday opening night performance was originally scheduled for Ivan Vasiliev when booking opens. Although he may not in his peak, he certainly has a great reputation in Basilio. I was under impression that he withdraw because of injury. But according to his personal website, he is dancing at the moment. https://ivanvasilievmp.wordpress.com/next-performances/ I don't quite understand why he is replaced.

I was there last night as well. It is the 3rd production I have seen in person (San Francisco, RB) and most enjoyed one. I had attended 4 RB DQ in this spring. Never get tired of Minkus. And thanks god I can enjoy the music smoothly this time... If it comes to only the costumes, staging and the story-telling, I prefer Bolshoi to RB as much as I prefer RB's Swan Lake design to Bolshoi's. The color blends better. The 2nd act is great. I don't want to be that critical but I really have a feeling that RB's 2nd act is not...in a good shape... DQ in my eyes is the one of the most technical changeling production for the company involves so many difficult solo roles( bayadere is my other vote) and Bolshoi is certainly showing off deepth in the company. I will also go for tonight DQ. I will write more after that. But some highlights of the moments I enjoyed most last night - Anna Tikhomirova and Ruslan Skvortsov! Anna is the true star last night (!!) and the best street dancer I have seen in person. (The young Nela in Tamara's recording is my another favourite). Skvortsov did some very amazing solos. But the audience was lukewarm to him comparing to Anna and the principles. - Gypsy Dance solo! WOW finally I see some production gets the Gypsy Dance mood *right*. I visited Spain several times attending Gypsy performance. And they told me that the flamingo or Gypsy arts is trying to express the feeling, often a mix of depression and struggle with a bit of hope because of their people's history. And a good dance will tell you a story, no matter there is singing or not. Many ballet (and other form, like some Opera) productions just portrayed Gypsy dances straight as a spicy dance without the emotion telling. So I really like this one. - All other Spanish dances! (Again sadly the audience reacts lukewarm if it is an adagio. I tried to applause as much as I could!) - The dream scene! Although I watched recording several times. It is more amazing in person! And the Queen, Cupid and 3 leading soloists really stood out. Good 5 (or 6) Italian fouettes! Have seen Italian fouettes for many times in the past year and half of them failed much or little. So I am very impressed because she is just at artist rank in the company. --Last-- I agree with DanJL. Margarita Shrainer and Tsvirko both danced well and Tsvirko better. I have not got Shrainer that much. She had Kitri debut on the Bolshoi Theatre tour to London in 2016 but I did not see that one. I read in some other places that she is considered as a replacement of Osipova in Bolshoi and even better in figure. This time I saw her in Swan Lake Spanish dance and Kitri. But I don't get any of that idea. In terms of acting and jumping skills, I don't think that she is at the same level as Osipova did when she was in Bolshoi at similar age. She acted sunny and chicky as a lovely Kitri whenever she is not dancing. But when dancing starts, especially her solos, I felt she was not that confident and sometimes not synced to the music in best form. Of course she did some stunning poses but I expect more from her as a first soloist of Bolshoi (comparing to Daria Khokhlova and Anna Tikhomirova). Thanks to the production. Anna, the street dancer only danced a few minutes in Act 1 not like in RB its role expends. Otherwise I fear Shrainer would be shadowed. She is no doubt a promising dancer. But to my eyes many others in Bolshoi deserve a better share of chance.