emmarose

I don't really have much to add and I'm utterly exhausted. But I agree with how much of a privilege it was to be there last night and opening night and there's ballet and there's dance but those two are living and breathing art, there is no act, it's all being lived on the stage organically. The ovation was quite moving and you could see they were both moved in the curtain calls and where I was in SC it was a beautiful view of a full Orchestra Stalls all standing up and applauding.

I am going with someone else, but I'd love to say hi to you

I'm so, so glad I asked because this saga did make me giggle (apologies!) Yes, I was hearing and seeing some things on Instagram (even thought we shouldn't) but apparently they were on song yet again and raising the bar so I decided it was a yes if they're dancing. I can't believe the long way around it for you.

Did you come to a decision? I think I'm leaning towards going at the minute.

Thank you for the video, I always like to see them but they make me cry. Well... wasn't that just lovely. What a lovely, humble and generous man he is.

Not really, no, it just says that they delivered an opening night of a worthy (and otherworldly) standard

Just taken an extract from Broadwayworld.com's review... I assume the writer frequents these forums... Prior to opening night, there were murmurings over Principals Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov being once again selected for opening night. The Royal Ballet possesses endless world class dancers who can do an exemplary job with the leading roles, why can’t others get a look in? It’s safe to say such doubts were swiftly appeased with the heartbreaking, exhilarating and technically flawless display the pair put on for the first night crowd.

Yes, this was what I saw as well, you could see he was watching her so closely and she always was in complete control of the pace and her balance

Now that would be a fresh take for the critics!

Also... in the last visual, while Odette was up there on the rock, you could see the rope holding her safely up there...

Oh wow, that is such a coincidence, I don't think I've ever used that quote on any forum before! Have a wonderful time, I'm not at all envious!

I get it, I'm kind of in the mind of if you're bored of life, go to Paris. I never really tire of true art. I used to watch every tennis match Federer played, it was an awful lot and I never tired because it was always art. It's not as if this is happening everyday anyway, like I said it's 4 years since the critics saw them together opening night for SL.

I saw a few standing after the Act III fireworks too! What a fabulous night!

Not really sure what that was all about anyway. World class, some of the finest to ever dance, you don't leave that on the backburner. Anyone who truly appreciates the art form could surely never bore of seeing their artistry. It's not as if they just saw them yesterday, and as I pointed out, Nunez didn't dance on opening night last Swan Lake season, so it's been 4 years.

No, I actually saw that! At first I thought it was a stage hand then realised it was Marianela, she also seemed to push it and check it's sturdiness! Someone obviously messed up the lighting there...

Quoting myself to say this is no shade to the corps. They were on song last night, absolutely stunning movements throughout as swans and their lines were perfection. This was more a testament to how captivating Nela and Vadim were in Act II.

I'm going to hand onto them for now because it's very tempting to go back and see this dream once again. I can't decide if it's madness to go or madness to return the tickets.

I forgot to mention this last night, but they were both so enchanting in the Act II pas. One of my favourite moments in the whole ballet is when the swans having been still for so long come back to life and start their hops around the stage. I love the movement, I love the sound of them. Last night I didn't see it, I was so focused on those two and how achingly beautiful it was, I completely missed it.

I feel the same, I treasure any chance. After what happened last year when Marianela was out, well, I was lucky because I have no idea why but I'd bought tickets for the first night and then on the Friday rush I picked up some for their third night, no idea why. But when she wasn't able to dance the first night I had the third already (it was sold out) This year that was very much in my mind so I got tickets for the first night and the third intending to return whatever one wasn't needed, but now I'm wondering if I should just go and see the magic again...

Just to add, Nunez didn't actually end up opening Swan Lake in the last production, she was scheduled to with Vadim, but she caught COVID and Yasmin stepped in, so this is her first opening night of SL since 2020 (pre pandemic) Having been there tonight and catching her in the one show she did with Vadim last run and previous runs, I can hand on my heart say I could watch her dance Act II every single day of my life and never grow bored. It was truly exquisite. It was telling that after they finished there was a collective sigh and then the applause started. I know a few times I let out small sighs at just the way she was moving through it all so beautifully. They seemed to find even more divine lines within the movements than they have before. They clearly have put in so much work to make it look like no effort at all. Her and Vadim are not just good, they are true artistes. Truly divine.

I agree, he's been underused quite often the last few years and has had quite a few quiet moments where he's not seen the stage for a big space of time, so even though I felt this was very early in his career (especially one that hasn't been impacted with injuries) I actually wasn't at all surprised when I saw this news. It felt inevitable he might look for something else.

I saw on Insta, amazing position for him but sad to see him retire from RB

I've followed the TM site for years, it's hard to believe that it's his first Nutcracker, lovely to see someone coming to it with fresh eyes and enjoying it so much. Thanks for sharing.

Oh this is fun! I don't think there could be anyone by Avis as Drosselmeyer, he has completely made that role his own so that sadly I find anyone else somewhat lacking in the magic of Christmas SPF would have to be Marianela Nunez and her prince Vadim, even though I saw beautiful Fumi and Will and they're right up there, I still think these two are the gold standard Clara, Anna-Rose or Isabella Gasparini, I might just slightly lean more to Isabella, I adore watching her Hans-Peter I'd go for Leo Dixon Rose Fairy Magri, I think it's a role that just sits perfectly on her Just to add in, I think any fantasy Nutcracker would have to include Melissa Hamilton in the Arabian because she's really made that her own too

Just a few quick thoughts... A lovely evening tonight and everyone on gorgeous form, a personal highlight for me was Sae Maeda's Clara, she was a joy to watch. So lyrical and smooth with such a gorgeous upper body. Fumi and Bracewell were beautiful as well.