maryrosesatonapin

17 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

id anyone else think that Osipova looked like she was really, really enjoying herself?

Yes!  She always puts her heart into whatever she's dancing but she really seemed extra inspired on Monday, beaming hugely, flirting with the audience and reaching great heights (literally in her jumps).

38 minutes ago, JennyTaylor said:

Really underwhelmed by the Sleeping Beauty pdd and solos.  Vadim was hampered by the stage size, but nevertheless, his usual self.  However the Grand pdd for me seemed underperformed, too slow, hesitant and lacking in any sparkle whatsoever. Natascha Mair seemed to perform only the simplest of steps.  Is this me - or did anyone else feel this? 

 I agree, Jenny. I thought Cote's dancing was uninspiring and wished that Marchand or Louvet had been able to make it - but of course, it was good of him to step in at the last minute.  And as for Natascha Mair - why ever was she chosen as Muntagirov's partner?  Pedestrian doesn't cover it. These were the weakest links in an otherwise brilliant evening, for me.

On the subject of disappointments, I have to mention Naghdi's fouettes - I don't think I have ever seen a dancer travel so much!

On a happier note, I was imagining how Marianna Tsembenhoi must feel dancing alongside such great dancers as Osipova and Choe in the pas de six from Laurencia.  But although very much the junior of the trio, she looked completely confident and danced beautifully.  That girl will go a long way.  (Ella and Ikarashi were very sharp and well-rehearsed too.)

Monica Mason looked very good for her age, but I thought her voice sounded as though she had a cold....???  

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  Standouts for me were Makhateli/Ivenko in the Gayane pas de deux (please excuse lack of accents, I'm about to go to bed).  Both dancers absolutely oozed character and charm.  And Frola/Praetorius in Flower Festival in Genzano.  In fact, the substitutions were actually improvements IMO - this is not an insult to Emma Hawes, but Ida Praetorius had a near perfect Bournonville dancing style and both she and Frola were full of charm and beauty.  Cojocaru was exquisite as always - what a treat for me to be seeing her twice in one month!  And although in general I feel Sambe is a superior dancer to Corrales, Cesar's two appearances tonight (Laurencia pas de six/Corsaire pas de deux) suited him down to the ground and he outdid himself in bravura, I would say rather Bolshoi-like, style.  He is an absolute show-off and in roles such as these he is unbeatable.

So all in all a memorable gala, and I'm off to bed now with a happy smile on my face!

Included in the information is that you should expect a fair amount of walking, so it sounds like a behind-the-scenes tour.

I did think of letting my sub lapse during lockdown but decided they needed support and am glad I continued.  Little did I know how much .... poor Dancing Times.  It's the end of an era.

18 hours ago, capybara said:

But, apparently, Pite didn’t want anything else on the programme. If that is true, she needed to make a ‘full length’ work.

Only time will tell, I suppose………

On the ROH website it is described as a 'full length world premiere'.  So if people go expecting 90 mins + of dancing it sounds as though they will be disappointed.

7 hours ago, FLOSS said:

Given Kauffman's record of not turning up and apparently demanding a new production as part of the price of his appearances in Bow Street I would question whether it is worth hiring him at all.

 

 

 

 

I must admit Kauffman did sing beautifully in Fidelio but I would generally rather spend my money supporting Welsh National Opera whose productions are usually very satisfying.

3 hours ago, Tango Dancer said:

 

Do you mean the National Ballet or the State Ballet?  The National does more Georgian folk dance which is amazing but not traditional ballet.  It's wonderful and I'd recommend it having seen it in Tbilisi.  The State Ballet is a lot more traditional ballet.  I saw them a few years ago (pre-Covid) doing Swan Lake and they were really good

I agree - worth travelling to see either group - they are utterly amazing.

Oh no - that's horrendous.

13 hours ago, LinMM said:

I feel the same that there is not much info around about it as I wouldn’t have known about it at all if it wasn’t for the Forum.  There are definitely very good seats for less than £150 though! 

I agree - my comment was in comparison with the top price of 69 Euros in Amsterdam.

So proud of BRB giving the costumes and scenery for free.

12 hours ago, li tai po said:

I see that they are performing Giselle at the Koninklijk Theatre in Carré on Monday 22 August and Tuesday 23 August.  The top price is 69 euros and the cheapest tickets are 29 euros (plus a 1.5 euro transaction fee).

 

When I looked this morning, I estimated that the 7 performances at the Coliseum were just under 20% sold in total.

Goodness, that's a bargain.  I have tickets for the Coliseum that cost £150 each!  The pricing has clearly been messed up if they can't sell them.

Edited to add: But to still see Cojocaru whilst we can, is beyond price IMO.

I chose my casts for Morera's appearances rather than Rudolf himself.  But how can anyone resist this?  Osipova, Morera, Arestis and Hayward on all stage.  Oh, and Rudolf is Hirano.

13 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

I'm not ... as I said higher up the thread it took Northern Ballet over 6 months from David Nixon's resignation announcement to the announcement of Federico Bonelli's appointment.

I think this is because Bonelli was still a (very active) dancer.  If they take on a retired dancer, it could be sooner.  I wait with bated breath.  

I suggest that if anyone isn't already ensuring they go to see BRB, Scottish Ballet, Northern Ballet, ENB, visiting companies from abroad etc at Sadler's Wells at every opportunity, or at other theatres near to them, then do so immediately as the quality is brilliant and the prices are a fraction of the now extortionate RB.  I cannot understand why non-RB companies are comparatively such incredible value.

5 hours ago, LinMM said:

Where are they? 

Suzhou, eastern China - a city with many beautiful features.  She has done a lot of other water sculptures though including a little ballerina with a water-skirt in Wroclaw.

I loved this and wanted to share it with you.  The fountains are designed by Polish artist Malgorzata Chodakowska. 

2 hours ago, PeterS said:

in respect of the gold one piece jumpsuits in the final act of BRB to borrow a catch-phrase these were “an absolute dis-ast-er darling”, being too monotone and thus overbearing on the scene 

I know I'm getting old, but I can't remember these one piece jumpsuits at all!  

5 hours ago, LinMM said:

Which Amour? 

https://www.brb.org.uk/profile/max-maslen

When I watched Osipova/Clarke in Giselle I thought 'it can't get any better than this'.  Then I saw Morera/Bonelli and although they weren't 'better' they touched me in a way that will stay with me for ever.

1 hour ago, Scheherezade said:

... did anyone else think, just for an instant, that Julian Clary had stepped up when Amour took to the stage?

Yes!  I and my companion both thought that.  He was adorable!

1 hour ago, art_enthusiast said:

BRB's Don Quixote was superb and I hope the RB brings it back soon as well.

I actually preferred the BRB's latest version of Don Q.  The RB one seemed to have unnecessarily clunky scenery - although of course looking back to the partnership of Acosta/Nunez is a wonderful memory, never to be forgotten.  They had real chemistry.  I put it down to them both naturally having such warm, 'southern'/Latin temperaments.  I wonder who would be the best Basilio out of the current crop of male principals?  I'm thinking of Cesar Corrales or Reece Clarke maybe.

As this was a new and doubtless expensive production I should imagine BRB will revive it before too long.  I'd certainly love to see it again asap!

1 hour ago, Dawnstar said:

As no-one seems to have posted any curtain call photos from the Sadler's Wells run, here are some of mine from this afternoon.

I didn't think you were allowed to at Sadler's Wells, which is why I didn't take any.  I've seen people getting told off before!  But you got away with it Dawnstar   It's nice to be reminded of the beautiful costumes.

I was at last night's performance when the weather in London felt more like Spain.  Momoko Hirata is one of my favourite dancers of all time but I did wonder what kind of a Kitri she would make, given that she is more Odette than Odile and her best role IMO is Giselle.  She seems so sweet and the nearest thing to a fairy that any human being could be!  However she was a very stylish and flirtatious Kitri who filled the stage in spite of being so tiny.  Other stand-outs were Brandon Lawrence and Sofia Liñares. I thought the windmill scenery the best I've seen.  There was a lot of reference to Don Q's rather lost, pitiable state and although one doesn't expect to get moved during this fun ballet I did feel his character was given more depth than it often is. The audience were very appreciative throughout.

Well done BRB, well done Carlos Acosta (who again was in the audience, not far from us).