Bruce Wall

Wondered if anyone had received their tickets in the post. I booked all of mine last Tuesday and still have to receive them. Usually I get them in a few days. Just curious me.

Mixed feelings about this session .... Got on fine ... Booked everything I wanted but with - as John said - far too many errors appearing for anyone's comfort or good health - (I can imagine many would be scared off by this - but perhaps that is the ROH's motive). One curious thing - usually I receive the email in confirmation immediately after I make the booking. I have not received it as yet for this booking .... so printed out the on-screen notation which I don't usually do - saving trees and all that ...

What was it Johnson said about London?????

Oh, I forgot to add their potency ... 10 x 50 .... I swear by it .... If it's not too rude to type that!! All good wishes, Marieve ... It's a BEAUTIFUL name.

Forget opera glasses .... I use FIELD GLASSES ... have for yonks ... As far as I'm concerned they are opera glasses for the poor ... but, of course, rich in spirit. (Blessedly they still have not taxed these ... and I have, I must confess, worn out more than a few pairs globally).... ENJOY YOUR LIFE IN THE THEATRE, MARIEVE.

Bless you, Angela ... BLESS YOU ...

I just wondered did Vasiliev and Osipova actually do their Sleeping Beauty on 9th April in Munich ... If so and someone saw it ... would love a report. I am having withdrawal symptoms I think from NOT seeing them. Cheers, Meunier

And Ann, you're not the only one needing new glasses. The only thing that Ismene Brown seemed to like in Carbon Life was "an attractively spun duet for Sarah Lamb and Edward Watson." I missed that though there was one for Lamb and Steven McRae. All these chaps with slicked-back hair do look rather alike. Especially when they are both redheads!

Were the two new ballets truly as dispiriting from an artistic perspective as the Arts Desk review suggests?

As, I believe, Mr. Murdoch is wont to do ...

Well, the RB have just come up with another marketing ploy .... Send a note out to all ticket buyers telling them that some elements of the new/upcoming mixed bill may well be a tad scandalous in taste ... (e.g., semi-nudity, violence and BAD LANGUAGE!) I have just had mine today ... I wonder if the ROH BO will be especially hot tomorrow?

Alison, I think it is a matter of tradition and experience. You look at New York City ballet and the audience that was BUILT to support the regime of constant mixed programmes. It took three goes before the company really grabbed hold ... Third time lucky as t'were. (The education department does a wonderful job giving free information and free docent lectures at all performances. The NYCB guild also give in-focus programmes which cost a fraction of those at the ROH. This has led to the creation of an audience hungry for diversity. This is not, I think, a British tradition - and, as a result, companies based in or striving for this particular kind of ethic struggle in London. (Some struggle even when doing substantive narrative ballets, to wit BRB's recent Coppelia, etc.) NYCB, for example, are free to do much more diversely mixed programmes in Paris than they were in London. Still, that was probably for good reason, as even hedged bets failed in that instance (true, the enormous seat cost was another MAJOR factor). Just think of the wide Balanchine rep that Londoners (unless well travelled) will have NEVER seen. It is such a pity, especially as you can NEVER buy those audiences back ... and the opportunity for change in audience perceptions simply recedes.

I don't know if this has been posted before .... (here's hoping not) ... but below please find the link for a very entertaining article about the Canadian National Ballet's orchestra over the past sixty years ... Most amusing ... Most telling too that British founder, Celia Franka, was a gifted pianist ... as well as having been a gifted dancer at Sadler's Wells in the ballet's early years. http://bit.ly/GXwvIZ Enjoy. I did.

I would love to see Osipova/Vasiliev ... or Ashley Bouder and Tyler Angle in practically anything ... True artists .... and all very refreshingly young ... Hope for everyone's future

I agree he should stop. Anyone who wants to help him in this regard will, I assume, simply ignore such notices and let him get on with his own life. He will, I'm certain, find his own way.

I very much hope people will leave this lad alone and give him time to grow up for himself - much as he has expressed a desire to do, which is, I think, only natural. He will grow up; He has to. What will be, will be. It has always been thus and forever I'm certain it will be.

Better now ...

Is it just me ... or is it very dark?

All SFB programmes and the Johan/Alina Slyph DEFINITELY ...

Thank heavens .... There is some sense still left in the world ... Good luck to him I say ... I only now pray that the rest (on his ballet front) be left in silence ...

Petulant is the word that sprung to my mind. If he really is so eager to 'move on' then I think he should just get on with it ... and if he REALLY wanted to go quietly - as he himself - perhaps he should refuse all requests for interviews simply stating the he wants the memory of his work in ballet to be remembered for itself. Of course, everyone sends him their best interests and, of course, all will look forward to reading with interest as to his his future pursuits. The card - seemingly now signed by the world - has now been handed and out the door he smiling can go unto new adventures.

At the Coliseum tonight .... THIS PROGRAMME WAS AN UTTER JOY .... YOU COULD FEEL THE RAPTURE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE ... BRAVI BRB

I debated going ... but then remembered (with joy) that we saw Osipova and Vasiliev here live in the Bolshoi Corsaire a couple of years ago ... and even on another occasion in that same run had Vasiliev dance the soloist role. Moreover, it was a lovely day .... and, for that reason alone, I don't blame the younger folk at all for not joining thier elders in a darkened room ... In fact I joined them ... 'The sun, mother. The sun!'

Much thanks for the update, Angela. Greatly appreciated.

Daft? The ROH ticket practices ..... Surely not .... Surely you jest, Alison ... LOL ...