Nina99

2 hours ago, MildConcern said:

Every moment between Rudolf and Larisch was sublime and so rich in unspoken communication between their characters - Muntagirov and Kaneko have eons of chemistry. It’s interesting to have a younger Larisch who is still equally arch. 

I agree with this and I really hope that if Manon is revived in the 23/24 season, that they are partnered together.  That would be a performance I'd travel a long way to see - luckily I'd only have to come from South London!

There was just so much to take in and enjoy last night, especially having never seen Mayerling live before, I really can't wait to see it again on November 11th. I'm sure the cast will be even better, if that's possible!

Totally agree with what everyone has said. Great performances all round but for me Vadim was an absolute revelation. I was on my own and there was a lady sitting beside me also on her own who agreed that he was brilliant. I think that the coaching Vadim had from Irek Mukhamedov must’ve really helped him find his ‘inner Rudolph’ as Balletfanp calls it. 
 

i’m so glad I’ve got a ticket for the 11th of November. Can’t wait to see it all again!
 

After making three unsuccessful attempts to subscribe to the stream, I’ve now had three emails confirming my subscription, so I guess it’s back to the box office for me. I still haven’t heard the promised call back from the friends though.

However, the stream is now working perfectly for me, and there are several items, including rehearsals that I haven’t seen before so I’ll be happy to watch them. It is to be hoped that new items will be added from time to time, but if not I’ve only signed up for a monthly subscription so it will be easier to cancel once I’ve seen everything.

Not long after I received the friends email I tried to sign up for the stream at the reduced rates and having entered my details, when it came to confirming the payment, all I got was an error message telling me to contact the box office. I duly did this and some helpful lady promised to get someone from the friends to ring me back but so far I haven’t heard anything. 

5 hours ago, Suffolkgal said:

Given his mother’s love for the ballet - she so often just used to come in to performances as I’m sure we all recall - I wonder if the Prince or maybe Princess of Wales will take the Royal Ballet companies? There would be a synergy there

I remember seeing a picture of the Princess of Wales (or Duchess of Cambridge as she was then) in 2019 at a rehearsal of the Two Pigeons  with Vadim Muntagirov and Lauren Cuthbertson.  Not sure whether they are regulars at the ROH though.

I was at the gala yesterday as well and can only echo what’s this been written by others. It was indeed very fitting that the men were given a chance to shine, especially the ‘jumpy men’ such as Muntagirov and of course Corrales who did sterling double duty and showed that he has a great stage presence as well as amazing virtuosity. I would love to see him in Don Quixote.

Having seen all these superb male performances, I’m very much looking forward to the Men in Motion gala at the London Coliseum in November.

Interesting mixing of partnerships there – is this is the first time that Marianela Nunez has danced with Rioichi Hirano? Certainly a couple of very interesting programmes which I would love to see.

I’m surprised that Fumi Kaneko is apparently not performing in the gala. I wouldn’t have thought she would miss the chance of a trip home. Still, she’s appearing at the end of July in the Ballet Under the Stars weekend at Hatch House with Vadim Muntagirov.  I’m sure that Vadim’s Japanese fans will be disappointed he’s not appearing.

I also got the impression from Stephen Macrae’s IG that he was joining the trip to Japan as well.

In the interview Vadim did with Amanda Jennings for Dance Europe magazine Vadim expressed an interest in doing ‘darker parts’.  Amanda suggested Rudolph & he didn’t say no!

1 minute ago, MJW said:

 

I'm very sorry to hear that Alison - I know from experience how much poor audience behaviour can impact on one's enjoyment of a performance. Personally, I felt that the audiences for my two trips were better "behaved" and more attentive than usual. Certainly they were incredibly appreciative.

The audience was fine where I was sitting in the stalls circle until the end of the pas de deux in Rhapsody, (beautifully danced by Cesar and Frankie) when somebody’s phone went off just as he was carrying her off the stage, which rather punctured the mood! ☹️

Apart from this it was a magical afternoon and I am very sorry that my unprecedented three visits to the ROH in four days have now come to an end.  As well as his full-length ballets, I really hope that we get more Ashton triple bills in 2023/24 and beyond. 

I tried this morning to post about last night but fell victim to the intermittent bugs on the system today which caused my post to disappear.  I won't bother to reconstruct it but will merely concur with others that it was another fantastic night of ballet with particularly outstanding performances by Morera and Muntagirov who were both wonderfully convincing in their roles.  I had a seat about half way back in the stalls and so was able to see all their expressions.

Talking of letting Kevin O'Hare know our opinions of the triple bill I notice that the very short survey that comes after each visit to the ROH does invite people to give more detailed feedback to customer services if they wish.  How much notice is taken of any comments is another matter, of course.  .  

I tried to post about the triple bill last night but following an error message it disappeared and then reappeared when I came back later. Then an error message came up and when I finally managed to get back on the forum the post had completely disappeared.  

1 hour ago, Ianlond said:

Fantastic evening at the ballet yesterday with standout performances from Marcelino Sambe in Rhapsody, in a role that very much plays to his strengths as a charismatic performer and technical powerhouse, Matthew Ball, Marianela Nunez and Anna Rose O’Sullivan in Month with Matthew Ball demonstrating some superbly controlled pirouettes as well as great characterisation and Marianela Nunez putting her heart and sole into the role. 
What to say about Scene de ballet? Truly, it’s a marvel or construction and technical precision with beautiful dancing from all involved (Calvin Richardson looking particularly strong as part of the male quartet). Sarah Lamb brought her icy, intelligent glamour to what, to me, is one of her best roles while it was simply a privilege to watch Vadim Muntagirov dance; such technical precision, beauty of line, musicality and nobility it made each moment sing. 
Looking forward now to this evening’s performance! 

Absolutely agree Ianlond.  It was a real treat for me, a relative newcomer to ballet, to see three such wonderful ballets.  I had never seen any of them before and I loved them all, different as they are.

I think my favourite was Month in the Country, and I now realise why Vadim Muntagirov used Mozart's 'la ci darem' as background music for his skit on Month on his IG last year. I heard someone behind me describe last nights performance as 'just the most perfect ballet',  and I certainly wouldn't disagree with that.  The ending reminded me of Giselle.  I thought that Ball and particularly Nunez were  both superb and I must mention Anna-Rose O'Sullivan who was excellent in her role.  I look forward to tonight's performance both to see Morera and Muntagirov and to hear that gorgeous music again.  

As for the other ballets, I enjoyed Scenes more that I thought I would - I loved the geometrical precision of it and as Ian says, the wonderful dancing by all involved.  I think I need see it again to fully appreciate it - luckily I'm going to tonight's performance.  I also very much enjoyed Rhapsody especially since it was accompanied by one of my favourite pieces of music. Marci Sambe got just about the biggest cheer of the evening and certainly gave a firecracker of a performance.  

7 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I was thinking that earlier. I can imagine some of the Principals, particularly those who are more clasically inclined, could be doing a fair amount of guesting elsewhere next season.

I think this is already happening. As an example, over the last six weeks or so,  Muntagirov has done 11 full length performances but only 3 (Swan Lake) have been for the RB, which seems a bit of a waste of his talents from the RB’s point of view.

The ROH instagram still says that  Muntagirov will play Siegfried.

5 hours ago, Mary said:

If anyone can do it, he can.

Absolutely - I read somewhere that Vadim has danced in 14 different productions of Swan Lake, so I'm sure he can deal with 4 different Odette/Odiles!  Even so it'll be a unique experience for him.  I wonder who came up with this idea? 

I'm a bit upset that so little notice was given although It's fantastic that it sold out so quickly. I do hope they release more tickets  

8 hours ago, Sim said:

My only change here would be Hayward as Nikiya; I can't imagine it somehow.  I am not sure if you were attending last time, JNC, but in that last run Nunez/Osipova swapped roles in the same cast, so one night they were facing up to each other in one role, and in the next performance as the other.  It was fascinating!!  I really liked Yasmine Naghdi's Gamzatti and would love to see her, with her beautiful classicism, as Nikiya.  Am also thinking Mayara Magri as Gamzatti.

 

Having said all this, I am fearful that it might be a while until Bayadere returns, and when/if it does, I hope it isn't butchered to death to satisfy a small but vocal minority. 

I really hope that Bayadere returns soon.  I wonder if the fact that KOH turned up in Brno  recently to watch Kaneko, Naghdi and Muntagirov starring in a gala performance of Bayadere for NDB ballet might mean he is considering reviving it. 

Lovely post from Marianela on her Instagram about last nights show.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca9-5emN_2U/

I see she had bad symptoms even after 3 vaccines, so she did exceptionally well to be able to perform last night.  Such a shame that she was only able to do one performance but that made it a special and unique occasion for those of us lucky enough to be there.

1 hour ago, LinMM said:

Nina99 wishing you many more happy Swan Lake performances. 

Thank you very much LinMM. I have Swan Lake on DVD and have enjoyed watching it and it's good to be able to see their expressions, but seeing it live made me appreciate it so much more.  I hope it's revived again before too long although I feel it will be very difficult to recreate the magic of last night.

2 hours ago, emmarose said:

I feel to even put lasts nights performance into words cannot do it any justice. I feel honoured to have seen them both give that performance, it was a complete gift.

 

There are certain moments in my life when I've had chills and tears  because I realised I was seeing something truly special and the peak of an art. It's rare, I remember once seeing Federer at Wimbledon, when you just know.

This was one of those times. 

 

I think Nela's slightly tweaked her black swan, she seemed to be giving it even more, completely in control of the situation and the prince. 

 

Vadim was flying, literally the person behind me gasped that during the coda, such light landings and holding the arabesques afterwards just to show off what total control he has of his landings. Effortless.

 

Nela was in a form of her own. Complete control over all her movements, holding everything that bit longer, we had an applause during her balance in act 3, she was still holding it, no wobbles. 

 

Act 2 PDD was so slow and controlled, simply perfect, it was a thing of beauty, I wish I could've bottled it in some way or made my brain video it. I felt like right then I was seeing something special.

 

They both made it all look so easy, as if this is just expected, simple. No force anywhere, just ease.

 

Of course the whole show was amazing, the corps were wonderful and there were some great performances, Isabella Gasparini was lovely and charming and Gina was excellent in the Spanish dance (such a lyrical back she has). But it was really difficult to see past those two because they eclipsed everything else.

 

 

Everything I've just said is worthless, because it cannot do justice. It was a rare moment of perfect beauty and artistry combined and given by two artists in complete control of their powers. 

 

 

Wonderful review emmarose, your words are definitely not worthless but an eloquent summing up of a unique and special occasion!  You certainly summed up my feelings perfectly and I really don't feel I can add anything to your post except to add my appreciation of the orchestra who were on fine form.  

Totally agree with all the above. It was my first time seeing SL live and what an outstanding performance it was!

It’s odd that so far Marianela hasn’t mentioned on her IG that she is not performing tomorrow. If it is an injury I hope she has recovered by the 10th when I’m due to see her.

1 hour ago, capybara said:

Melisa Hamilton was scheduled to appear with Roberto Bolle and Friends this week in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but some participants/staff tested positive and couldn’t travel so the show was postponed.

Therefore, what she was dancing this week must have been as a result of covering for others.

Vadim Muntagirov posted a couple of stories on IG last week showing himself and Fumi Kaneko doing a couple of rehearsals, one in full costume, of the PDD from Don Q. I wonder if this was for the same gala in Dubai. The show has now been postponed to February apparently, which might clash with Vadim’s rehearsals for Swan Lake in March

19 minutes ago, Dawnstar said:

 

On second thoughts, am I misinterpreting the Act I backdrop? Because if its getting light at 4am in Act II then it must be summer, unless Albrecht & Hilarion waited about 9 months to visit Giselle's grave, which seems unlikely.

 

Other Giselle queries that are still puzzling me after 3 viewings:

Why doesn't Giselle wear wings when all the other Wilis do? (I mean, I can see it makes the pdds easier but is there an in-story explanation.)

Why does Giselle first drop the 2 branches of flowers for Albrecht to pick up & then drop a whole load of flowers over him?

I suppose that Giselle doesn’t wear wings because she hasn’t become a fully fledged Wili yet, and when she saves Albrecht she never does.

Another thing which I wondered about is why does everybody run away at the end of Act 1 apart from Giselle’s poor mother who is left to mourn her?

1 hour ago, James said:

Perhaps this will help on the issue of the horizontal lifts and variants.

 

Actually on their second performance Nunez and Muntagirov did another variation which was like the traditional lift but with Nunez left leg pointing down as I remember.  This was surprising especially after Dancer's Diary had posted a clip of them rehearsing the lift in the traditional way.

Anyway it's fascinating to see the different variations of the lift over years.

11 hours ago, oncnp said:

These lifts in Act 2 (sorry - don't know the proper name but here is Dancer's Diary's https://www.instagram.com/p/CWLWhTWgJWf/ lovely slow motion) were different tonight.  Is one or the other "right" or can the dancer's chose whichever they want? 

 

I was surprised to see the lifts done that way especially since Dancer's Diary on IG had posted them rehearsing the lifts in the traditional way.  Not being a ballet expert wouldn't know if the ones they did last night were easier but if so I wondered if maybe Muntagirov has a slight injury and he's saving himself bearing in mind the three Nutcrackers that he and Nunez have coming up in quick succession.  

Otherwise I thought it was a really sublime evening with great performances all round and it confirmed my opinion that this is my favourite of the classic ballets.   I agree with JennyTaylor that Lukas BB was excellent as Hilarion and in fact I think that the choreography and the music in Act 2, where he is being danced to death by the Wilis is one of the most effective in the whole ballet, especially when viewed from a more elevated seat. 

The corps were superb as usual although this time they weren't applauded in the middle of  their hops in Act2.  Otherwise the audience was very enthusiastic and in fact Muntagirov's big moment in Act 2 was almost hijacked when the solo that Nunez did beforehand got such huge applause that, after he ran on stage Muntagirov had to wait before he could perform his variation - which he did, very beautifully.  

Since it's been discussed before I paid special attention to the music and I agree that it is lovely although I still think that it could be more evocative in parts especially the music for the Wilis and Myrtha at the beginning of Act 2.  My only other criticism was that the tempi, especially in Act 1 seemed rather slow at times. 

Thanks for that link LinMM. I too had no idea that it was by Adolf Adam. It’s one of my favourite carols and very beautiful, especially when sung by Kings College choir.