Bruce Wall

Very interesting and direct interview with Le Riche here. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2492930 NB: Need to translate from Russian.

Wonder if this is prompted by a relatively imminent curtailment of lease at Markova House or the ENB School facility? While Lambert Smith Hampton are looking wouldn't it would be grand if ENB could have a developmental performance space/media unit of their own committed in the designated property as well. That may, of course, be a pipe dream but ENB are in just such good stead at the moment. Surely they deserve all they can get to best serve Ms. Rojo's inspired vision on the behalf of us all. Perhaps they will join the proposed Sadler's Wells' 500 seat performance site plans and move into the Olympic Park facilities. That could but enhance the Olympic legacy surely ... especially with so much money having already been invested in the development of effective transport links and vast sways of new housing stock opening up with the additional glint of yet another dedicated and supportive ENB audience/educational pool. As popular London expands so deservedly too should ENB's remit on behalf of the nation as a whole.

It has been reported that Polunin will appear with the Stanislavsky as a "guest artist" in the future.

Vis a vis the matinee .... thought the orchestra and its very fine conductor a DEFINITE plus to the overall proceedings. That was a HUGE improvement on the tiny recorded music of last season's RUSSIAN SEASONS; output. However, how they afford the loss (both the balcony AND upper circle were completely closed) is BEYOND ME!! Charity must, methinks, begin at THEIR home. In that sense we are in their debt. (Must confess: Missed the Petrushka as was at the RBS performance at the ROH. Glad I was present for that second act ... There were some truly lovely ideas being suggested in Scarlett's CLASSICAL SYMPHONY.)

Wonderful. Nicolas Le Riche went out with that same class he has so long graced us all with .... and a huge helping of that savoir faire that has always been hallmark to his uniquely generous state of play. We will not see his particular like again. Merci beaucoup.

Agree. For me WINTER'S TALE brought this fine performer into a refreshed focus.

If that IS the case I'd love to throw my dibs into the proverbial ring for the artist that is Obraztsova. She was so lovely as Juliet opposite McRae ... and has in the past been a radiant Covent Garden Aurora.

Interesting that repeated guests are brought in for McRae, e.g., Salenko for Don Q and Obraztsova for Swan L. I wonder if the 'universal they' at the RB are on the hunt for a permanent new 'smallish' female principal for him to specifically partner. Seems Osipova now largely transferred to Golding in preparation for Acosta's departure a year hence. Nice to see Takada being given the SL opportunity after a largely shinning SB and the Cuthbertson/ Muntagirov combo should be an exciting partnership in both SL and O surely. Osipova I'm confident will make a thrilling Tatania and Oneign is one role that should definitely suit Golding. .Only wish they'd found a way to squish in a performance by Jason Reilly again ... He was so fine as a last minute replacement in the Cranko the last time round ... It would be grand to have him honoured with a dedicated performance of his own ... and I would imagine that he and the aforementioned Osipova might well be as electric as he and Cojocaru had been. Certainly much to look forward to ... (now if they could just come up with a different SL production ... as Kevin O'Hare smilingly suggested might well be on the future cards ... ) Certainly the Dowell lifts the RB coffers every bit as much as Seigfried does the cardinal's red cassock ... both now in blushing face of the now reduced ACE grant.

Interesting to read in today's link concerning the Stanislavsky's Manon of Polunin's (now almost expected) no-show at rehearsals and dismissal. Perhaps even the magic of the Zelensky mentorial touch is not having as keen a positive hold now in Polunin's personal regard. Wonder if it may be safe to now assume that Polunin won't be following Zelensky to Munich when he takes over as AD of the much admired Bavarian Ballet. Somehow not surprised that this particular 'dismissal' has not received the same kind of public outcry that his sudden departure from the RB did. Even the media can only call 'Wolf' so many times it seems ... certainly before it loses interest. Perhaps for this young man's sake it is best that it be but tossed out as an FT review's aside (see below). Perhaps it is just a case that this particular 'fifteen minutes' of fame' - albeit long extended by the ever heightened fervor of some British tabloids and certain of their balletic followers - has now well and truly elapsed/played out. As with all matters, time will tell. As with Mayerling, the Stanislavsky acquired the ballet partly for Sergei Polunin. Before his infamous exit from the Royal Ballet in 2012, at just 22, he’d had time to make a noted debut as Des Grieux, and anticipation had been building in Moscow ahead of the premiere. Ballet’s rebel without a cause didn’t feel compelled to come to rehearsals, however, and was subsequently dismissed. On a more positive note it was interesting to read that Lendorf was the replacement. He has shone in just so many such instances. His artistic maturity speaks well of his gifts. Interesting too to read the critic's comparison with the RB men as seen in Manon late last month in Moscow. Polunin was replaced by a guest artist from the Royal Danish Ballet, Alban Lendorf. His sturdy build doesn’t lend itself naturally to “white tights” roles, as the princes and naïfs of the repertoire are referred to, but his is a rare talent, nurtured in the subtle Danish ballet tradition. His first variation, an almost instant declaration of love to Manon, was presented with more finesse than the Royal Ballet men demonstrated in June; his partnering is mostly light and assured, though he occasionally blends into the corps de ballet.

How does the saying go? 'Too little; too late' .... Something like that.

Great pics!

To begin with ENO offer a truly shocking service (marketing and otherwise) to ANYONE (including ENB) who rent their facilities. In this regard, their partial withdrawal of ACE funding was more than justified. Just look at their website ... and see how many pages you have to actually go through to get to THIS WEEK's performances. I'm not surprised in the slightest that ticket sales for the Russian Seasons programme have been a tad more than sluggish. I'm amazed somehow that they actually chose to return knowing as they must what the circumstances are in the Coli's regard.

I believe this will be free and, barring any regional black-outs, should HOPEFULLY work. One can, as they say, but try. Fingers crossed, Aileen. At least there are two links to seek as options.

The Opera de Paris has confirmed that star Nicolas Le Riche's farewell performance will be live streamed worldwide on www.operadeparis.fr It will also be streamed on Arte Concert: http://concert.arte....lopera-de-paris It appears that Sylvie Guillem will be appearing at some juncture in this evening's celebration of this great artist who has been with POB for 30 years. Wednesday 9 July 2014 à 19h30 (18.30 GMT) Programme Les Forains (Roland Petit), Excerpts from: Bal des cadets (David Lichine) Raymonda (Rudolf Noureev), Caligula (Nicolas Le Riche), pas de deux from Appartement (Mats Ek) LAprès-midi dun faune (Vaslav Nijinski), Le Jeune Homme et la Mort (Roland Petit), Boléro (Maurice Béjart).

I agree. I wonder what the justification on that was.

Look forward to seeing this in the LIndbury next year

And another clip with the same cast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO8LTV3aLSM and the curtain call for good measure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWDOsh-QNlo

Produced by Indianapolis PBS featuring a host of dancers from Iana Salenko (much favoured by the current RB administration) to Tiler Peck; from Marcello Gomes to Robert Fairchild (who will be featured opposite RB's Leanne Cope in Wheeldon's upcoming American in Paris). British born ABT corps member Thomas Forster also appears. There is effective commentary by many principal dancers from a range of companies. http://www.wfyi.org/programs/a-perfect-balance/television/a-perfect-balance Enjoy.

Thought some hereabouts might be interested in taking a peek at video STELLA AND TOM with choreography by ABT corps member Gemma Bond. Thomas Forster (a fellow corps member at ABT) and Bond are both British born and RBS grads. Bond was formerly a RB member and it is reported in Forster's ABT bio that he has danced with RB, BRB and ENB. http://www.timeout.com/newyork/dance/time-out-new-york-exclusive-gemma-bond-and-john-resner-unveil-their-brand-new-dance-film There is a brief TO article before you come to the video immediately below. Enjoy.

in celebration of World Music Day ... http://www.medici.tv/#!/genre-ballet Includes a goodly number of items associated with RB. Enjoy ...

Vis a vis the Don Q, in a way it appears odd to me that they are bringing Salenko back in to dance with McRae. (If there were clear commercial incentives for such I would certainly be understanding.) I would have thought after their success in MND that RB principal Morera might have been given a try. To my eyes the latter two looked very good together and I certainly believe that Morera has the toolkit required for this specific production.

Noted in the programme information are B. Stix-Brunell, M. Golding and L. Cuthbertson as well as former RB principal, A. Ferri who is scheduled to appear in RB's 2015 premiere WOLF WORKS http://www.vvf.org/content/events/vail-international-dance-festival.aspx

And now of course there is the RB electronic touring with their Opus Arte cinema relays (albeit with frequent repetitive offerings) and sometimes tv offerings be they on the BBC or Sky Arts 2.

Bless you, Katherine. Just sold me another ticket for the Sunday matinee ..... I can make it a cheap day trip with a coach there and back .... and with the value of the pound just now it is excellent value Merci beaucoup.

Bless you for letting us know DonQfan. Your words come as a generous relief.