EVWS

Fantastic performances all round this evening, there was no telling that Yasmine & Anna Rose were put on with short notice…I actually quite liked it when they both hit the floor with a bit of a bump - added to the drama/tension whether it was intended or not!

It definitely was the King and Queen tonight - from what I could see it looked like they really enjoyed it! 

I think Gina Storm-Jensen put a photo up on her Instagram this week dancing with him - maybe they were in the Hirano/Hamilton cast? 

And Anna Rose O'Sullivan is replacing Meghan Grace-Hinkis (can't remember if that had already been announced or not)

Few thoughts from me after last night:

• Fille – loved this, thought that Anna-Rose and Alex were fantastic. Bit of a shame that they didn’t do the full PDD with the ribbons, but any Ashton on the ROH stage should be taken a bonus at the moment!
• Manon – fantastic. Fingers crossed that Calvin is given the opportunity to dance this next time round
• Qualia – first time seeing this and I really enjoyed it which was surprising as I’ve not really enjoyed anything that McGregor has done recently. Maybe this earlier piece felt a little less contrived?
• For Four – really enjoyed this, great to see all 4 dancers on top form, showcasing their different styles/strengths. Shame about the costumes though especially the tops which I thought were hideous!!

•  See Us!! – really didn’t like this, felt like a A Level dance showcase. I wasn’t sure quite what this was doing in a ballet programme for a ballet company. All I could think was what a waste of beautifully trained ballet dancers. I think it was trying to be a bit like Crystal Pite which in my mind isn’t ballet either just dance. I might be in the minority but when I go to see the Royal Ballet, I expect to see ballet!!
• Dispatch Duet – at least this could be called ballet! I think it started off ok, but then ran out of steam and ideas very quickly. Still, it was lovely to see William Bracewell at least
• Concerto pour Deux – very forgettable but I suppose was marginally more enjoyable than the previous two pieces. The costumes, especially McRae’s were interesting…
• Prima – finally a piece which appreciates and utilizes classical ballet and classically trained ballet dancers!! Really enjoyed it, especially after seeing For Four which I felt this piece was a tribute/mirror to. I hope that we get to see more of Zucchetti’s works on the Main Stage – I think (if he wanted it) the Resident Choreographer role should definitely go to him when the position next becomes available. Sadly another ballet with appalling costumes that did absolutely northing for the dancers!

• Diamonds – Fabulous. Marianela being Marianela putting my faith back in ballet after the (mostly) depressing second act! I agree with the height difference between Reece and Marianela, but their partnership worked really well and both looked to be really enjoying themselves – as did the rest of the cast. The audience applause when the curtain came up at the start did make me smile – perhaps everyone was thinking, finally something that will definitely be ballet!!

So overall, loved the first and third Acts. With the exception of Prima, it would take a lot to make me see the second Act again.  

1 hour ago, maryrosesatonapin said:

Talking of whom, I look forward to Francesca's interpretation of Mary Vetsera - has anyone seen her in this role before? Usually she is one of the most convincing dance-actors for me. She seems to deeply transform into the character she is playing in a quite magical way.

I think it's her debut in the role this time round. I for one am very excited about seeing her dance it! 

5 hours ago, Scheherezade said:

Having seen Bracewell's performance as a tortured Hamlet in the Linbury some little time back (a calling card for Rudolf if ever there was one), I can't wait to see him take on this role.

In the typed up report from his recent interview with the Ballet Association, Bracewell mentions that he's covering Rudolph this season, so fingers crossed for when they next do it! 

I could access it to book as a Young Friend today - first night looks to have sold well, only tickets left are in the amphitheatre unless they're holding some back for when general booking opens? 

Also uploaded is Marianela's variation from Grande pas Classique - it's on both Instagram and YouTube.

I hadn't realised that it will her debut dancing this! 

Overall I enjoyed it and thought that the story was told very well - but you needed to have read the synopsis. All the dancers were on top form particularly Francesca Hayward and Laura Morera. The scene where Tita and her mother have their fight leading to Tita’s breakdown was very good. 
 

I liked the choreography for the most part but also came away feeling that until the final pas de deux, there hadn’t actually been much dancing throughout the evening. I felt that the end of the scene with O’Sullivan and Corales was very unsubtle - but then again I ride horses so find any insinuation like that very narrow minded and lazy. 

My biggest problem was with the music and set design. Both were too similar to both Alice and The Winters Tale I thought - there was even a big tree in Act 2. It did feel at times that they had got the scores and set designs for both their previous ballets, changed a few of the notes and costumes and that was that. If you aren’t familiar with either of those ballets then I don’t think it would bother you like it did me and my companions. The music for Mama Elena’s ghost and her huge costume could have been transplanted directly form The Queen of Hearts in Alice. 
 
I would definitely like to see it again and I think it’s one of those ballets that with repeat viewings will grow on you as you notice different things happening in the very busy scenes. I do feel though that while the the trio of Wheeldon, Talbot & Crowley work well together, maybe it would have produced a more standout piece if Wheeldon had worked with a different composer and/or designer. 

Edited to add that I also found it disappointing that they didn’t acknowledge the Queen or the Jubilee either. It’s the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet etc etc. I know it started late but the national anthem is hardly a long piece of music and it was the first day of the Jubilee Celebrations 

I thought they were looking into developing and expanding their streaming platform. Back in (I think) November last year I was asked by the ROH development team if I was available to take part in a demo to see what the site might look like / how it would work. Annoyingly work commitments got in the way so I wasn't able to take part. 

But I agree, streaming is definitely more accessible than the cinema and it also has the added bonus, if they go for a Netflix/Amazon Prime style, of being able to watch the streams whenever you want. I know that you can do this if you have all the DVDs which I do, but I'm a rarity among my friends (in our 30s) in that I still have a DVD player - in fact my ballet DVDs are the only reason I still have it! 

Definitely 6.45 - very strange! 

Is anyone else going to watch tonight in the Cinema? I've just looked at my ticket at the screening starts at 6.45 (they usually start at 7.15 in the cinema so they can screen the backstage films etc for a few mins before curtain up). I'm guessing that the performance actually starts at the ROH at 7.30, so is the cinema relay actually live? 45 minutes seems like a lot of time to fill with trailers etc?? 

Bloomsbury Flowers, who I think are the 'main' suppliers of flowers for the RB posted a picture the bouquets that they had made up "for each of the 4 pairs of Royal Ballet principal dancers" for the performance tonight, so I guess all will be appearing for the curtain calls at the end 

Matthew Ball has just posted on his Instagram story that he's dancing Act 1 tonight 

According to Ash Michelle Dean’s Instagram, tonight’s performance is being filmed and will be available to watch at a later date.
 

Doesn’t say whether streaming, cinema or straight to DVD though but it’s good to know that they will be releasing it at some point! 

50 minutes ago, Mary said:

I received a promotional email from ROH quoting reviews and audience reaction including one comment which asked : 'Why can't we have more Ashton?'

 

 

That was mine! Very surprised to see that they included it…

7 minutes ago, Lizbie1 said:

Looking through today's links: there's a very strange review in the Independent - Rhapsody nowhere to be seen. Did the critic have to dash off after Month or did it fall victim to the sub-editor?

It's in the 2nd to last paragraph of the review - the page on the website is kind of split into two with adverts which is annoying! Very positive about Marcelino & Francesca 

I know one shouldn’t comment on rehearsals but just to say, I’ve left feeling like I’m in ballet heaven. More & more Ashton please! 

Please DM me if you are interested: 

Scènes de ballet / A Month in the Country / Rhapsody

Saturday 30 April 2022, 7.30pm

Orchestra Stalls, R-7

£85

The Royal Opera House Facebook page has posted a video of Marianela & Matthew rehearsing the pas de deux from Month - so beautiful, can’t wait to see it & the whole triple bill live.

Not sure if the below link will work or not…
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4834702426658700&id=6597757578&ref=sharing&_rdr

10 minutes ago, JennyTaylor said:

Perhaps any ballet which starts with the black screen in front of the stage, rather than the red curtains, should be given a health warning. It seemed so last night. 

I always get nervous when I go into the auditorium and see that!! 

Managed to get tickets - there’s still plenty left everywhere apart from the Grand Tier. Intrigued to see how it will work! 

What a performance. Totally speechless - in a whole class of their own from start to finish 

I’m not sure if this has been previously discussed on the forum but something I’ve been wondering about for a long time is the way that a certain lift is done in the Balcony Scene which the Royal Ballet do differently to most other companies (judging by pictures posted by various photographers, dancers etc. on the internet, social media etc.)

It’s about hallway through the Balcony PDD where Romeo kneels and lifts Juliet up and down three times (sorry don’t know the technical name for this!). In photos of the RB and what I’ve seen in performance, Juliet does not support herself on Romeo’s shoulder but in pictures from other companies she does.

Is the way that the RB does it how it was originally choreographed or is it more difficult/awkward to do at the end of a very exhausting Act 1 so other companies choose not to? Very small thing but it’s always been curious about it!!

Photo’s of the moment linked here: Royal Ballet 1^st pic in this article https://www.london-unattached.com/romeo-and-juliet-royal-ballet-roh-review/ // BRB here: https://www.seeingdance.com/brb-romeo-and-juliet-27062018/ // ABT here: https://archives.danceviewtimes.com/2006/Summer/03/abt10.html

1 hour ago, alison said:

Did anyone see last night's cast, BTW?

I saw last night’s performance and on the whole, enjoyed it. I’ve only ever seen the RB do Act 3 and haven't seen the whole ballet so can’t comment on the changes to the music as I just don’t know it well enough.

It really was a feast of dancing for the whole company, but I do think that Act 1 was overly long especially the scene at the army camp which felt a bit jolly for a group of people on the brink of going to war…(it also started 10 minutes late which might have contributed to that feeling!). I really enjoyed the dream sequence and thought it was lovely to have the men of the company more involved in that as most ‘dream scenes’ in ballet are the female corps only!

I did feel though that the dramatic impact was somewhat lacking across the whole cast which made it hard to really invest in what would happen in the end. Steps were danced beautifully but without much emotional impact if that makes sense?! The one dancer who really stood out for me was Natascha Mair (Sister Clemence), a lovely technically assured musical dancer.

Overall, I definitely think it’s a keeper and a lovely leaving gift to the company from Tamar Rojo.

Edited to add that I think Alastair Macaulay was there last night as well, so would be interesting if he reviews the second performance any differently(!)