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maryrosesatonapin

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Everything posted by maryrosesatonapin

  1. maryrosesatonapin
    A well-intentioned friend got us tickets one year and I went out of sheer curiosity. And you are correct - it is a kind of cult, @Geoff. They had a number of well-drilled acrobatic-style 'dances' lasting maybe 10 minutes each against an electronic backdrop, with rather garish costumes. I seem to remember there was also some kind of talk and a couple of numbers which were simplistic propaganda against the Chinese government. It was altogether a rather strange and uncomfortable experience which I would not want to repeat.
  2. maryrosesatonapin
    That reminds me of one of the reminiscences during the gala... in the early days, LFB loved going to Liverpool because they saved money on the hotel. The girls would sleep four to a room and the boys, eight to a room!! (By means of putting the mattresses on the floor - two per divan and two per mattress.) Imagine that after a hard day's dancing with the same to follow the next day.
  3. maryrosesatonapin
    Something that struck me about the scenery and costumes for this recreation of the 1940s Sleeping Beauty: it is very pretty but also does not impinge on the dancing. It's a backdrop, a framework. I find this much more appropriate than that of the current production of 'Swan Lake' where the design can be overpowering.
  4. maryrosesatonapin
    This! Firstly - the grin - I'm afraid that is what I felt about Storm-Jensen's expression. It was a fixed grin which I felt was insincere (and I am sure was insincere as the poor girl was struggling with the steps at times). I agree with others that she was very clear on the mime though. Secondly - the gym work. I've noticed and mentioned before that RB female dancers in particular seem to have over-developed legs nowadays, with bulging calf muscles which are not as visually appealing and which are very different from the legs of, say, Fonteyn - or indeed, very different from those of many Russian dancers whom I therefore assume follow a different regime (cf Zakharova's legs for example).
  5. maryrosesatonapin
    I received an email a couple of days before telling me that I was due for a free programme, which I duly collected. I wasn't expecting that and was a bit confused! This was for the Saturday matinee. They had loads of cast sheets in the shop, which is where I had to go to get my programme.
  6. maryrosesatonapin
    I've never noticed it anywhere as much as the ROH though. It's almost as though the brass section are ACTUALLY out of balance
  7. maryrosesatonapin
    Additionally, how wonderful for all those young dancers to have the opportunity to be part of this great event - something that I feel sure they will remember for the rest of their lives.
  8. maryrosesatonapin
    The costumes look so classy. Thanks for the wonderful pics, @Rob S!
  9. maryrosesatonapin
    I've noticed flakes floating down in various different theatres. I always assumed it was leftover snowflakes/confetti etc from a different show. My quirk query is what is it about the ROH auditorium that makes the orchestra sound worse in some areas than others? In particular, the stalls circle seems to receive gusts of out-of-balance brass/wind section instruments. (I'm not joking either.)
  10. maryrosesatonapin
    I'd love them to revive some Bournonville works - not just La Sylphide but Napoli and Conservatoire would be good to see too.
  11. maryrosesatonapin
    Ha ha, I thought exactly the same as you, Dawnstar! And he suddenly looks more mature, in the best possible way.
  12. maryrosesatonapin
    Today's matinee performance was, as others have said, a well-curated feast of ballet delights. I found myself particularly enjoying the excerpt from Akram Khan's 'Dust' which I have avoided up to now as I thought I would hate it! What a surprise. Kaniukova was so light and delicate in 'Broken Wings' and at the other extreme, Mack was athletic and electrifying towards the end of 'Etudes'. He certainly knows how to buckle his swash! I just loved Precious Adams' Fascinatin' Rhythm solo - she certainly has a stage presence. Arrietta impressed also, as did Martin, Frola and many others. It was a celebration full of respect for what had gone before and hope for what is to come. The ENB so, so deserve their wonderful new premises. I took a photo of the final curtain call of the whole company which can be seen here: https://www.extraloudpurrs.co.uk/ballet-pictures
  13. maryrosesatonapin
    At the Coliseum today everyone was reasonably well behaved, even the numerous children (and the performance was a long one!) but the woman next to me did not applaud anything. At all. Even if something isn't to one's taste surely it is polite to at least give a bit of a clap at the end!
  14. maryrosesatonapin
    Oooh, delicious! Thank you @MJW. Makes me wish I had a ticket to see Hayward/Ball/Osipova/Clarke now as well as the Soares one I have booked.
  15. maryrosesatonapin
    Just got home from the cinema. Well, that was a mixed bag! I thought Kaneko and Bonelli looked good together. I did feel nervous during the dreaded adage, but Kaneko got through it and blossomed as a believable, charming teenager throughout the rest of the ballet. Well done her! Bonelli was elegant, refined and very princely. I also really enjoyed Pajdak's Fairy of the Crystal Fountain and was just restraining myself from making a fool of myself by accidentally applauding her when Magri took over the stage as the Fairy of the Enchanted Garden and fully engaged my attention. How does she manage to project her personality so strongly even in a small part? Anna Rose O'Sullivan was a lovely Fairy of the Song Bird too. There was lots more to enjoy but - oh dear, I agree with the comments above about Storm-Jensen. She should never be cast in the role of any fairy, let alone the Lilac Fairy. (I saw Kaneko in that role last autumn and she was perfect - so dainty, beneficent and ethereal.) Technical issues apart, Storm-Jensen looks more like a viking warrior goddess. This isn't meant to be an insult - as a woman she is imposing but as a fairy she is simply mis-cast. Being patriotic, I felt embarrassed to think what the alleged watchers from abroad must think about our ideas. However, the last-minute changes that were unfortunately necessary were well coped with and our prince and princess left the audience happy and satisfied. I was very pleased to note the warm reception Kaneko got at the beginning, and the mountain of flowers that were laid at her feet at the end. I do hope poor Cuthbertson makes a rapid recovery - she must feel terrible about missing this performance.
  16. maryrosesatonapin
    I've booked to see this and their Sleeping Beauty too - how pretty Belonogova is! I hope I get to see her. Thank you for the write-up, @Don Q Fan
  17. maryrosesatonapin
    I'm really, really happy about Clarke's promotion - I just couldn't understand why he wasn't promoted before. Better late than never! And I also firmly believe that had Muntagirov danced Onegin he would have been capable of making the role his own in an entirely convincing way.
  18. maryrosesatonapin
    I loved the music and thought the overall production was fresh and engaging!
  19. maryrosesatonapin
    Ha ha, I know what you mean - he is such a sweetheart through and through. I was pleasantly surprised by how he acted the part of naughty Franz but he is much more suited to the role of a fairytale prince!
  20. maryrosesatonapin
    Oh, I completely agree! I was thinking ahead to future possible films... in that dancers we love on stage might not look as good on film as Hayward et al unless the casting was careful, as it was here. And for me, Ball stole the show looks-wise both in his personal appearance and beguilingly menacing manner.
  21. maryrosesatonapin
    I agree that every point of the story isn't clear, but the kind of people who would choose to watch a ballet film whether at the cinema or at home, yet were not normal ballet fans, would very likely know the story either from school or previous films. And if they missed some of the detail but were receptive to the overall beauty and tragedy, maybe that is a price worth paying for a reasonable length of film. Many would be happy to watch for 90 minutes but not have the appetite for two hours. I think we have to accept that a 'realistic' ballet film will trade off clarity of choreography for intimacy and naturalism, and we need to think of it as a different type of event altogether from an ROH performance. It is still a very small film in a big film world though and I wish it had more exposure and a bigger audience. People don't know what they are missing. I would add that although there were many good performances in this film, its charm relied heavily on Hayward's appearance. With the close-ups expected in film, you can't get away with older-looking or less beautiful dancers playing the part of young heroes/heroines even though they might look fine on stage.
  22. maryrosesatonapin
    It has been and will be on iPlayer since 24th December for a remaining 22 days. I live near London and could see it so not unavailable to those down south!
  23. maryrosesatonapin
    I use a desktop computer and am THRILLED with the new calendar. What a relief.
  24. maryrosesatonapin
    Wrong thread, but I am so in agreement with you here that you are more than forgiven It was a very very special evening.
  25. maryrosesatonapin
    And of course, they can't ask dancers to repeat and repeat exhausting moves as they could actors merely speaking lines.
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