Christine

Until Sunday 24th Jan, 10pm CET / 9pm GMT.

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Yes, I did rather like the Le Jeune Homme too - not at all a bad performance for a young dancer (Ciro Ernesto Mansilla from Argentina) who actually hasn’t been with Stuttgart Ballet that long. He only joined the season before last. Since then he has impressed the local audience as a very lively dancer who really puts his heart into the role, never mind the occasional overacting or unusual step. But then, he is still young. and this was the first night. I thought the casting very successful with Hyo Jung Kang, a very experienced and strong first soloist as the femme fatale, a truly fiendish seductress. Between the two of them they developed a lot of drama. I also enjoyed the two Jiri Kylian pieces: Falling Angels, too with its driving percussion and subtle shifts of movement in the music and the choreography, but perhaps that one’s more to the German taste, at least it always seems to be quite popular here. Petite Morte I really admire though, and thought the PDD with Elisa Badenes and Jason Reilly outstanding. Only the lighting was a bit dark. Or was it because I was watching on my laptop computer? Anyway, I couldn’t really make out the black dress half-shells against the black background at the end.

Thank you for this tipp Angela. I'll be watching.

Sorry I am responding to this so late, Jeannette. Yes, I did watch it, live, three times, actually, as this was the last chance for the next couple of weeks if not longer to watch live performances in Stuttgart. I loved Resonanz, too, it really seemed to be the most positive piece of the lot, with the second part evoking some of the melancholy reminiscent of DAAG (if you can forgive the comparison with an absolute masterpiece), in the sense that it brings up memories of better times. I admired the tension of the PDD of Giaquinto’s Aedis where the couple very imaginatively dance with a table. And, upon the third viewing I really grew to like the last piece, Mehlberg, too, with its cartoon character like movements. The last performance I saw was with another cast and the piece worked very well, if not even better, on this so very different trio.

Yes. Isn't it sad? Just when things started to get going again. Let's hope it will only be for the one month! Saying this here makes me feel bad bechause I know that theatres in the UK have been closed down and without an audience far longer. Anyway, I do hope that the dancers can practise together, whether as pairs or bubbles of dancers, and will not have to return to the spring regime when only households were allowed to dance together.

Yes, I do, Alison. Quite often, in fact, as I live very close to the Staatstheater. Stuttgart ballet reopens on 17 October, but with much fewer seats available, it's much harder to obtain tickets. I also watch Gauthier Dance performances.

So wonderful to be watching a full-length live gala again, even if only digitally, and what a great treat this programme was after so many barren months. Loved the wide range of the selected pieces and how it was knit together. Ending the evening on such a colourful and uplifting note with Elite Syncopations with all (?) dancers on stage – what a fabulous idea; as was having the stalls cleared for the orchestra and inviting students and nursing staff. Having said that, as a keen follower of ballet myself I do feel for all you Royal Ballet fans in the UK who surely would have much preferred to be sitting inside, as would I in Germany on an occasion like this. What I liked best of all, perhaps, was the sheer joy, happiness and, in some cases, exuberance the dancers radiated on their return to the stage. I am really sorry to hear that so many have had technical difficulties last night – I do hope the ROH will be able to sort them out soon.