Cescablue

1 hour ago, alison said:

Kudos to the whole company tonight for having to perform under some extremely difficult conditions. What professionals!

 

And best wishes to Ryo Hirano for a full recovery.

What happened to Ryo? I saw he was scheduled to dance this evening, though he pulled out of Swan Lake earlier this month. Thanks 

1 hour ago, emmarose said:

I'm sorry to report that last night I had the worst experience with poor audience behaviour.

 

I was on the front row stalls Circle, the people behind were talking all throughout the first two acts, getting phones ready to video, the usher had to come over right at the end of Act II and have a word. They were also constantly moving one of those sleeping bag coats and making noise with that.

 

In the interval I went over to an usher and asked if maybe they could be more on hand to quieten them. I went to the loo and was told that someone had come over and actually all but shouted at them and threatened to kick them out if there was one more noise.

 

I came back to my seat to the man (father to his two daughters) making these very loud coughing noises. Very strange as he wasn't coughing, then I felt him do it directly onto the back of my head. He had leaned forward to do it and I felt it.

Then he started kicking very hard the back of my chair, like pushing it forward. I obviously asked him to stop, it was so violent the man in the seat next to me felt it.

 

It was truly awful behaviour and I've never experienced anything like it.

I'm so sorry to hear this, sounds awful! How on earth did the usher not notice after the earlier incidents?!

1 minute ago, zxDaveM said:

 

Worth bearing in mind for the future: you are allowed to tap them on the shoulder and politely ask them not to lean forward so much and ruin everyone else's view. I'd say most reasonable, decent people will comply

Yes, I had to do just this at the Nunez/Muntagirov Swan Lake last Monday. I felt a bit bad having to ask as the gentleman involved was simply transfixed by the performances and hadn't realised that he had gradually moved forward! He was quite mortified and very apologetic when I asked him to move though. 

12 minutes ago, capybara said:

We might have ‘lost’ any reference on here but, when Hirano withdrew from other performances earlier in the season, he posted on social media something to the effect that he would be ‘getting by’ with injections/temporary treatment pending a more fundamental procedure during the summer break.

It looks as if that has needed to be brought forward so best wishes to him for any ‘operation’ and a subsequently solid recovery.

Yes, I was about to post to say this (though was concerned in case I'd mis-remembered!).  

I was looking forward to seeing the Lamb/Hirano partnership on 4th May....such is ballet life!  I hope he recovers speedily. 

This was my first return to Swan Lake since the 1990s, when I saw so many I didn't think I'd ever want to see another!

I couldn't resist though when a ticket appeared for Vadim and Marianela as I'd not seen them in person before. 

Firstly, I was struck by the atmosphere - so much expectation and excitement, not to mention the rockstar welcomes they received onto the stage and after the many dancing highlights. It's the first time I've ever seen the audience back in their seats in good time after the intervals, hushed and waiting for the next slice of wonderful dancing! 

The corps - I am no expert, but I thought they were wonderful, so in synch, so beautiful and ethereal but strong, just perfect. Also, so many of them had two or three different parts - the quick costume changes and the change of character must be rather challenging. Ashley Dean caught my eye several times - loved her leading the swans in the almost triangular formation where they are en pointe and moving their swanlike arms in perfect unison, facing the audience (there's probably a more technical name for this!). 

So, the wonders that are Vadream and Nela. I get it now, it was another level. They just seemed so secure in their amazing dancing that they had time and also the experience to luxuriate in the performance. Vadim's double double tours drew gasps in my part of the house.

Nela was just so beautiful in Act 2 that I would have been able to go home happy if that had been the whole of the show! 

Going to be thinking about last night for a long long time!

19 hours ago, Fonty said:

Well, there seems to have been quite a party of ballet forum people there last night.  How come I never seem to find anybody?   Next time I will parade up and down the floral hall holding a huge placard saying "BalletCoForum make yourselves known."  Or better yet, I shall wear a sandwich board with the same message.

 

Anyway, it gave me the chance to finish the cryptic crossword during the intervals, so I suppose that is something.

 

I am really interested to know why people hate Different Drummer so much?  I thought it was very powerful.  I have sat through things that felt far worse, usually new pieces by current choreographers.  

Edited to add could the posts regarding the Ashton triple bill be put in a separate thread?  Or in an existing one if it has already been started.  

To answer your query regarding Different Drummer - I didn't hate it, I was somewhat indifferent to it! I think the most pertinent reason for this is that I couldn't find a way to understand or empathise with the characters, no idea why as I usually enjoy MacMillan.  As a result I wasn't invested in it at all and to be honest just wanted it to end. 

I wasn't a fan of the religious imagery, and really hated the grotesques - but I think that it probably just boils down to personal preference. It just wasn't for me! 

3 minutes ago, Sebastian said:

Different Drummer is based on what was once very well-known source material, the play by Büchner. Over the years it became almost as ubiquitous a story as Faust or Romeo and Juliet. A useful list of just some of many versions is given on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woyzeck#Adaptations 

 

Back in 1984 MacMillan may have assumed his audience was familiar with the stark outlines of this drama and so felt free to work variations on it. Some of the comments here - and overheard after the performance - suggest this is no longer the case. Seen in the correct context it is a shattering work, among the most successful of his later creations, as indeed I felt it to be yesterday. 

I did my homework before going to the rehearsal yesterday and indeed read the very outline you reference here and other overviews of the source material. 

Somehow though I could not find a way in to the emotion and tragedy of it and I'm at a loss as to why, as I usually find MacMillan choreography convey both of those things and more. 

6 hours ago, zxDaveM said:

Danses Concertantes - charming, witty, a bit dated. Isabella Gasparini was wonderful

Different Drummer - an occasional nod to his brilliant pdds; otherwise - ghastly! If I'd been told it lasted 2 hours I would have believed them

Requiem - startlingly beautiful, emotionally evocative, and something I don't think I'd ever tire of watching. Had I been told it lasted 15mins, I would have believed them

After the rehearsal, I have to agree with all of the above! I tried I really did, but I could find very little to enjoy in DD - all we could say in my section of the auditorium was 'amazing dancing, but I wouldn't want to see it again'. 

Requiem though - that music, the sublime dancing - all of the dancers just lyrical and focussed and wonderful. How do they do it after weeks of Manon and Swan Lake? I'm in awe of their skill I really am. 

6 minutes ago, Rob S said:

I need a dose of Symphony in C after all that 🫣

Yes, felt similarly after the first two parts of the triple at the rehearsal..... Requiem seemed to soothe most of us! Am interested to hear further thoughts from those at the opening night when you emerge later!

1 hour ago, Roberta said:

think Requiem's revival will be adored by audiences. Very powerful and moving work. 

That was certainly the case with me and those I was sitting with at this afternoon's rehearsal!

1 hour ago, Silke H said:

This run Poodle was shared between Lukas BB, David Donnelly and Giacomo Rovero

Yes, I've heard that name mentioned! Thanks for confirming who has danced in this run, Silke, much appreciated!

2 hours ago, FionaM said:

I noticed Lukas BB was the client in green who does most of the lifting in the ballroom scene where the clients keep Manon aloft.  In all the previous shows it has been David Donnelly.  I wanted to  recognise and applaud both these dancers for their strength and confident partnering.  It is a considerable supporting role.  This role is also the 4th man in the card game with Des Grieux, Lescaut and GM.  
 

Later as the party really gets going I got distracted by Lukas partnering his real-life fiancée Mariko Sasaki (she was 1 of the 2 fighting courtesans) in the waltz with the sliding splits  They were having so much fun together!   Wonderful ❤️

At all of the performances I've seen the client in green has been Lukas! I was beginning to wonder if anyone else had danced the role - and you've answered that question, thank you!  (Though I had thought that at least one other person must do as he has been the gaoler in some casts!)

Lukas and Mariko caught my eye dancing together too!

2 minutes ago, LinMM said:

Just watched the video @lady Emily that was very heart warming ❤️

incidentally who is the dancer in the red skirt standing near Lesley Collier? 
I thought it might be Akane but too tall for her? 
 

Also Alex surely has to be the GOAT for partnering! 

It's Fumi Kaneko. 

3 minutes ago, lady emily said:

Not even sure what to say. So very sad but so very privileged to have been able to enjoy such an incredible artist for so many performances. 

I think that in time it will feel like a privilege, but now I'm just sad! Saw his Lescaut earlier in the run too and thought he was brilliant. I know it's supposed to be good to retire at the height of your powers....but it feels like a bit of a waste! 

9 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

Well, I'm not sure if I was teary eyed in the final pas de deux from the beauty of the dancing, the pathos in the  music, Des Grieux's despair, Manon dying, or the thought that this was Alex's last pas de deux on this stage.....probably all of the above.

 

Lovely to see bouquets for Alex brought out after Francesca's, and a long stemmed rose from each of his balerinas (Nunez, Lamb, O'Sullivan, Naghdi, Cuthbertson, Kaneko, Takada, Morera, Hayward) fellow principals (Hirano, Ball, Corrales, McRae, Sambe, Muntagirov) coaches Collier, Chapman, and wife Claire, and Kevin O'Hare with flowers and magnum of champagne. Right, we need @lady emily or anyone who recorded the speeches.... 😀 . Standing ovation for Alex of course. (Apologies to anyone I missed out in the flower parade!) 

It was all of the above for me @Emeralds! 

1 minute ago, capybara said:

I think I was the only person clapping and I my small hands  make very little sound.

 

I'd have joined in had I heard you! That said, I hardly ever notice Des Grieux making his entrance!

No Yuhui!  Must admit to being a little disappointed given her history of performing with Alexander.

2 x SCS on website for tomorrow pm if anyone still looking.

7 minutes ago, Mary said:

Was it not asterisked on the cast list?

It isn't on the online cast list.

The website seems to have some issues again this morning..!

Would be interested to hear from anyone who went how last night was. I saw someone on Insta suggest it was Ryoichi's Des Grieux debut?!

I'm thrilled for him, but am surprised - I thought the quality of his dancing at the Saturday matinee was fantastic (not that I'm an expert at all!). I'll miss him!

20 minutes ago, Texan said:

It was my first time to see Sambe in a principal role this afternoon, and it definitely would not be my last. I always knew he was technically strong, but I did not know he could act and convey that much. Some male principals, to my eyes, overdo (or overreact) in Manon's death scene; Sambe's somewhat subdued response in the final scene really made sense to me. He was a very earnest young man in agony. His extensions in his introduction variation in Act 1 were very beautiful and strong, with very minor wobbles, and of course he can jump and turn.

 

Everyone knows how perfect Franky is as Manon, so I would not need to repeat.

 

My question after seeing today's performance. Why wasn't Mayara given a chance to perform as Manon in the current run??? I know the Royal Ballet has too many female talents to choose from, but still, I felt she should be given a chance already.

 

I apologize for my random, unorganized comments above, as I am typing this on my phone in transit.

I agree, Texan, Marci is so wonderful at conveying emotion subtly and beautifully (I can comment with no authority on technique, but thought his variation declaring his love for Manon in Act 1 this afternoon was wonderful!). I was fortunate enough to see his Mayerling (again with Frankie) in the last run and found him very moving. 

I also second your comment about Mayara being given a chance at Manon now - she is a wonderful Mistress (and I've seen her in the role quite a lot!) and now I'd love to see what she would make of Manon.

Alexander Campbell was the best Lescaut I've seen - very funny, without overdoing it, in the drunken Pas de deux.  Also convincing as a player who would pimp out his sister and wallop poor Mayara (I really didn't like him at that point!). @Sim you were quite right, I was very impressed!

Thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon - though not sure I can take another (booked for Friday) - it's quite difficult to enter the world of Manon where women are treated so poorly, even if the dancing is wonderful!

I would love to be able to go but my trains are so severely affected by engineering works it would be virtually impossible to get home! Just looked at the box office and there appears to be a shocking number of seats unsold....

Putting this on hold for a few days as now unsure if I can make the date (and I can't delete the post as far as I can tell!).