Rachel H

To me, an 'appropriate moment' is before or after the show, or during the interval!

At the matinee of 'Swan Lake' this afternoon, the couple next to me started humming along during act 2! I shushed them, and the woman looked at me as if to say 'what's the problem? This is jolly isn't it,' and started humming a bit louder. They got another 'shush' from me, which did the trick. Mind you, she was also a finger tapper as well. They behaved a bit better during act 3 thank goodness! I know the conductor was good, but I would rather listen to his interpretation of the Tchaikovsky score, that their off tone humming, personally!

I’ve just got back from seeing this bill, and found I enjoyed the evening more as it went on. Always good to see ‘Les Noces’ anyway 🙂 

20 minutes ago, FionaM said:

Such interesting casting … @capybara thank you for sharing

 

Hermione - Cuthbertson, Nunez, Lamb*, Kaneko

 

Leontes - Corrales*, Ball*, Hirano, Muntagiriv*
 

Polixenes - Richardson*, Braendsrod, Donnelly*, Dixon*
 

I thought Claire Calvert performed Hermione before?

I definitely remember seeing Claire Calvert as Hermione.

I was also there for the Thursday performance, and it was just what I needed after a rather fraught journey (cancelled flight from LCY, and a dash to Heathrow to catch an alternative one). I enjoyed the whole thing, and thought Olga Smirnova was fabulous in act 2 in particular. It was interesting to see Jacopo Tissi again after he guested a few years ago with the Royal Ballet as Romeo, and enjoyed his performance last night very much. Loved the pas de quatre in act 1, where we are used to seeing the pas de six in London. Also good to see Nina Tonoli as Monya in act 2 - I think I remember noticing her from her time at the Royal Ballet School. I agree the company was looking in good form, and I also noticed the orchestra seemed to be positined higher than we are often used to.

The last time I had a drink before a performance, it was when the Bolshoi were at the ROH, and were dancing 'Spartacus.' A late friend's birthday coincided with a double show day, and we went for a drink (or couple!) between shows to celebrate. 'Spartacus' after a drink is quite an experience! (Best way to watch it, some might say). I nearly jumped when that bombastic music started up, and thank goodness I didn't sing along. 😆 

I was given a physical cast sheet with my programme both shows I attended in Hamburg earlier this week. I got the feeling they didn't have a lot of them, but still lovely to have one, and keep it as a souvenir etc. Managed to see 'Tales of Hoffmann' (opera), and 'The Glass Menagerie.'

Mobiles being used during a performance is a great bugbear of mine, and I have had many a 'heated debate' with culprits. People look so surprised, and rather offended that I am daring to pick them up on it, or that they might be annoying someone.

Trouble is, I think people are just too self obsessed and in their own worlds for it to occur to them that they are being a nuisance (to put it politely) to others. Why spend all that time and money on attending a performance, if you are not going to watch what you have paid to see? Put your blinking phone down for 40 minutes, and watch the stage.

Rant over, but boy, it annoys me.

20 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

There are photos on Twitter from several people in the audience at tonight's Salome that show the curtains with black patches over the EIIR monograms.

Indeed. It felt very fitting. There was also a minutes silence, and the National Anthem was also played before the performance.

I've just been to the matinee of Programme A (Swan Lake etc), and loved them, as always. I particularly enjoyed 'Nightcrawlers - what a hoot! 🤣 (Very well danced too as well of course).

I can't wait to see Programme B nest weekend.

My first Rudolph was Stephen Jefferies. A terrific first performance (for me) 'Mayerling.' I would agree with all Sim's choices for Rudolph, adding Jefferies to my list too.

4 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

Just a query - is Michael O'Hare (of BRB) the only dancer who has performed Colas, Widow Simone and Alain?

He was certainly the first, but I think I have also seen Stephen Jefferies perform all three roles as well. No complaints from me with either dancer 🙂 

Picture 3 definitely looks like Bruce Sansom to me too.

1 hour ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

Over the years I have noticed that young dancers are not necessarily able to dance young and sometimes it takes the benefit of experience to be able to dance young.

 

Not Aurora, but I have never forgotten the one performance I saw of Marion Tait dancing Juliet.  It was right at the end of her principal career so she would have been at least mid-40s and to this day she is the most convincing 14yo I have seen!

 

Ditto Leanne Benjamin. In her late 40's when she retired from the stage, but one of the most convincing teenagers I have seen, both as Juliet, and Mary Vetsera in 'Mayerling.'

4 hours ago, alison said:

 

Absolutely not.  I not infrequently complain about it, as it tends to trigger my migraines.  I've lost count of the number of dance works where I've had to sit there with my eyes shut because of it.  The worst one was an Alvin Ailey company number I saw (or rather didn't see) which, to judge by the audience reaction, was absolutely stunning.

As someone who also gets migraines, I have the same issue with 'Infra' and that pixelated walkway. I have come out of that piece feeling distinctly nauseous, so I tend to sit 'Infra' out when it is programmed.

Great survey!

Working in a school, means I have to fit my holidays round term dates. I was fortunate to be able to fly to Madrid 2 years ago to see the RB dance 'Swan Lake.' It might not have occured to me to go otherwise, plus the dates fitted perfectly for me to catch the last couple of shows. It was fascinating to see the company perform in a different setting, and to a new audience. It seemed to be very well received 🙂

I was also able to see 'Jewels' in Berlin 3 years ago. As the RB were performing it in London at the same time and it was great to have the opportunity to compare how both companies performed it, and it definitely added to my experience, and enjoyment of the piece!

On 23/06/2020 at 23:39, Irmgard said:

Unfortunately I had no idea, as Khan's version is  far removed from Mary Skeaping's production which I look after.   However, I have asked my good friend Stina Quagebeur, who created the role of Myrtha in the Khan version, and she said  Khan wanted them to have weapons as they seek revenge and he thought that holding them in the mouth made them belong to another world, not the real world.  Of course, the need for them to have weapons is completely contrary to the original legend of the Wilis, who were meant to ensnare their victims with their beauty (which is why in the Skeaping production designed by David Walker the Wilis look beautiful and feminine).  Personally, I am not at all fond of the ladies having to hold bamboo poles in their mouths as it cannot be good for their teeth! 

Whatever the dramatic intention of the bamboo sticks might be, they always make me flinch, as they remind me of the time I needed root canal! Having said that, I have enjoyed it both times I have seen it, and the dancers have performed it brilliantly 🙂

I thought this was pretty fabulous! I watched between the online marking I am doing, working from home. Lovely to see so many of the dancers, and it definitely put a smile on my face.

16 hours ago, annamk said:

Oh yes me too, it was so lovely and utterly heart rending. 
 

The Scarlett version (choreography and ending) has destroyed the emotional impact of Swan Lake for me - the only good thing is that I can leave after the Black Act and get home earlier !

I also loved Dowell's version of act 4.  Good to know it wasn't just me :-) It was one of the things that got me hooked on ballet as a kid.

 I must confess to ducking out after act 3 on the first night the other night, even thought the whole thing was brilliantly danced etc. Too tired, and am not keen on the current act 4 at all (to put it mildly), although I do quite enjoy the current act 3.

2 minutes ago, Sim said:

That definitely sounds like something he would say, which is why I never buy programmes with his lengthy explanatory notes in them.  

That reminds me of one my favorite memories of recent years. One of the group I was sitting with had brought a programme.  Before the show started, we were sitting there, trying (and failing) to decipher what on earth 'his lengthy explanatory notes' actually meant!

I'm really enjoying this run of 'Coppelia,' and what a terrific run of debuts etc.  Agree about Tom Seligman's conducting. The music sounded great from where I was sitting!

2 hours ago, Fiz said:

Is it me or is people’s behaviour in public getting even worse than it was? It seems that some of them go out of their way to be as rude and hurtful as possible. I’m so sorry for those who have experienced it. It leaves a sour taste to what should be a great experience.

You're right - I've often felt the same recently. Some people are in their own little bubble, and only concerned with what THEY'RE doing, and their own needs. They are then furious when politely challenged.

15 hours ago, zxDaveM said:

 

what a nightmare! Were they on drugs or something?

Shame you couldn't have reported them during the interval rather than the end of the show, and got them slung out!

I did wonder if they were on something! At least there was a wonderful performance going on to try and take my mind off it, but still.........

I had a classic this afternoon.

I was sitting in Lower Slips Left, on an aisle. During act 2, just as 'the doll' comes to life, a bloke came and stood in the gap, which is against health and safety guidelines etc. I whispered 'Oh, that's not a standing place' in a calm way. Off he went. Fine. About a minute before act 3 started, his companion appeared. I put my hand on the rail, as she appeared in a very intimidating way. She then was virtually yelling at me about how rude I was, so I repeated, 'that's not a standing spot.' She then started yelling at me about my bags, but off she went. The bloke then reappeared, and started having a go in a loud voice, saying I was rude, I against health and safety, and making personal remarks about my weight (I am on the large side). It's not like he was exactly a pixie himself!!!' Other people along the row form me were gobsmacked at how rude the couple were too.

Needless to say, I reported both of them after the show to both the usher on the door, and the supervisor in the Amphi. Sad really. It's a shame, as it was a terrific show.

I'm looking forward to the 'shake 'n' vac' variation now 😆

Regarding phones, I had a classic exchange at the proms in the summer. A woman sitting in the row in front of me had her  phone on, texting whilst the music was playing. I asked her politely, but firmly to 'turn you phone off please.' She ignored me, so I asked her again. She looked round at me furiously, and replied in no uncertain terms 'mind your own business!' She carried on arguing the toss, so I made sure she saw me reporting her to the stewards during the interval. Good as gold after that, although I think my mum had a similar exchange with the same woman at a prom a couple of nights later. Likewise, she was reported, and apparently started arguing the toss with the steward!  Unbelievable!

We also had someone reply 'why?' when we asked to turn her phone off. As she left at the end of the performance, let's just say if looks could kill, I don't think I would be sitting here now typing this!