DoctorDerry
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Everything posted by DoctorDerry
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Well in summary. I did not like the music I disliked the story. I found the choreography indifferent and the dancers I saw did not impress me. Sorry
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- Royal Ballet
- Kenneth MacMillan
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Royal Ballet - Swan Lake 2024
DoctorDerry replied to Linnzi5's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
How I wish I was. Lucky you -
Just a quick review of last night’s performances ,but before that a ‘Thank You’ to forum members for your erudite and helpful previous discussions about Different Drummer, much needed to follow the story. We found Dances Concertantes great fun, really well danced by everyone,the costumes are certainly eye openers and must have been quite astonishing in the grey years of the 50s. Could not stop thinking of the teletubbies unfortunately. I really disliked pretty much everything in DD and although I would have preferred to see the first cast I suspect they would not have rescued it for me. Never again. Requiem was glorious We agreed that if they did it again we would be back asap wonderful ensemble work and beautiful duets, plus some of my favourite music. Heaven Thank you Dawnstar and Silke for your photos
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Manon, Royal Ballet Winter 2024
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
Such a disappoint for you, but enjoy the cinema and hope trains hold up for your last ‘ go ‘ at Manon live- 996 replies
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Not an answer to your question, but we ate in the Piazza restaurant last Saturday and it was very enjoyable.
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Manon, Royal Ballet Winter 2024
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
How much do you think he needs😂🤸♂️- 996 replies
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Manon, Royal Ballet Winter 2024
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I am not often lost for words but last nights Manon has almost achieved that As we left the Royal Opera House my husband, who is not really a fan, said ‘ that is simply the best ballet performance I have ever seen ‘ I completely agree, and that follows my history with Manon,I have never really liked it ,despite the wonderful choreography, successive viewings have never changed my personal view of the ballet as a whole. This time I had a whole new vision of how this story evolved. It began for me with that amazing lyrical solo from Will Bracewell, his elegant lines and stillness told us about this young man on his way to a seminary having a Damascene moment. Seeing Manon, loving her before he knew her, and knowing his life was changed for ever for good or ill I was so convinced by Yasmine’s Manon, discovering she was desirable and revelling in this new power she had, having previously been powerless. Then again I was blown away by Luca Acri’s Lescaut, first rate, nasty , manipulative, a bully,but a man who loved his sister enough to die for her. Great interpretation and dancing. The performance just got better and better .Phenomenal pas de deux.The spin lifts ,the heartbreaking and utterly believable ending Best ballet night ever, remarkable cast. So sad it is not recorded Thank you Will ,Yasmine,Luca and all- 996 replies
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Manon, Royal Ballet Winter 2024
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
Really enjoyed reading his review. Thank you for posting- 996 replies
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RB Nutcracker Dec/Jan 23/24
DoctorDerry replied to Ondine's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
Thank you for posting. What a lovely enthusiastic review of a great show. -
RB Nutcracker Dec/Jan 23/24
DoctorDerry replied to Ondine's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
So glad to hear others were able to enjoy a largely incident free broadcast. We went to Cineworld in High Wycombe for the first time but never again! we were told on entry that the picture was not ‘ quite right’ and we could have a refund. Having driven a long way we thought we would try it 😂😂😠 Not quite right was hardly the description. The picture was elongated and squashed. Very like those mirrors you have in fun fairs making you look short and fat. Darcy B was as wide as she was high😠 We lasted 10 minutes then opted for a refund Avoid this cinema at all costs for live relays -
RB Nutcracker Dec/Jan 23/24
DoctorDerry replied to Ondine's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
“ you know what” sounds a bit like “ he who must not be named” in Harry Potter. Must use it whenever possible.😂😂 -
RB Nutcracker Dec/Jan 23/24
DoctorDerry replied to Ondine's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I really agree regarding the forthcoming Swan Lake with Francesca Hayward. I saw her in the preceding run and was underwhelmed and disappointed. On reading the reviews some were rapturous I felt they must have seen an entirely different performance ,I was so happy later in the run to see Lauren Cuthbertson in the role ,it was quite beautiful. Will B was Siegfried on both occasions. been -
The Dante Project, Royal Ballet Autumn 2023
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I was so glad that I (We) made the effort to overcome my lack of enthusiasm for Wayne McGregor and did go to see Dante.This was largely as I am not sure when I will see Will Bracewell and Fumi Kaneko dancing together any time soon as I am not going to a RB nutcracker. Nonetheless it is a bit of a curates egg, and I too preferred hell to heaven So what did I like most? The musical score was really special, despite some repetitive areas, but I generally loved it. The acting was outstanding ,the thing about WB is that his absorbed stillness when not dancing, so most of the time in Purgatorio still draws your eye to him, more than the lost souls he is watching. I am not sure how that happens. When he did get to dance he was sublime. However I remember someone saying up thread , in praise of Will “ is there anything he cannot do” Well I have the answer.. even he cannot make that dreadful costume look like anything other than a cast off of Nora Batty’s from Last of the Summer Wine The dancing throughout was of the highest order,and so nice to have so many principals and first soloists to enjoy in one show. I was really struck by the whole company of outstanding male dancers, not that the women were not good, they were, but goodness me what a richness of male talent in the current company. Moving on to what I did not like, the truly dreadful costumes!,those black dusty leotards are beyond awful in inferno, please take pity on us audience, the challenge of recognising anyone ,male or female was beyond me. Then the video in Paradiso was IMO so poor, I have seen much better from GCSE art projects .When you think of the glorious views available on deep space telescopes why make paradise so bland and uninviting ,ditto the majority of the choreography in this Paradise.I am not sure what McGregor is trying to say about heaven but it is not good. Despite costumes, video ,train disruption, small child without a ticket sleeping in an empty seat next to me (a first I must say) I and my husband really enjoyed the matinee.However I do not think I will ever need to go again when it is next wheeled out- 190 replies
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The Dante Project, Royal Ballet Autumn 2023
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I met a lovely lady on Saturday lunchtime who was very excited to be coming to the ROH to see the ballet, she has a friend in the orchestra who on Friday got her a stalls circle seat for £12.50 So that is how they fill the seats. I was a bit jealous,we were in the Amphi,but she was so excited. I really hope she enjoyed it. -
DON QUIXOTE - ROYAL BALLET AUTUMN 2023
DoctorDerry replied to capybara's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
Just returning to the wonderful Don Q performance on Friday rather than the speculation on celebrity visitors to a later performance. How special was that evening! I have to confess to being a fully payed up member of the Will Bracewell appreciation society, and an absolute devotee of Fumi’s diamond bright technique.Nonetheless I was concerned that this casting for Will was against type, I have imagined Basilio as being a short bouncy dancer more like Marci Sambe or Stephen McRae, not an elegant danseur noble type role. How lovely to be wrong, this Basilio was such an engaging and slightly goofy young man who could hardly believe his luck when the village beauty actually chose him. This is a very special partnership in which they seem to draw something extra and unexpected from each other, on the stage they are in love and nothing and no one else matters.They dance out of their skins because they must. How I wish this was filmed I could watch it over and over. On a slightly different note still think I prefer the BRB version, although enjoying both but I would like to do without a lot of the urchins/ beggars/ villages et al who just clutter the stage IMO So many thanks to wonderful Fumi , Will and James Hay for a special evening with my own love of 56 years…but who is counting . -
English National Ballet's Our Voices
DoctorDerry replied to Irmgard's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I have finally found a few minutes to add my thoughts and feelings about last Thursdays matinee. When I first booked the tickets I sold it to my non ballet fan husband on the music on offer. So for different reasons we both looked forward to the performance ,although having read the earlier reviews here it was obviously a programme that seriously divided opinion . I am so glad we went, it was fantastic, very thoughtful triple bill. I really enjoyed Theme and Variations, the corps could have been crisper but a lovely start ,short enough that my lovely husband did not fall asleep . I was utterly baffled by Les Noces, the notes really didn't help,I found the so called story line frankly daft, but it did not matter .I really enjoyed the dancing and ‘ well done’ to the chorus it must have been very difficult music to sing. We we’re both enchanted by the Dawson ,the glorious singing.What a voice! and the truly beautiful expressive choreography, I could not have asked for more. Thank you ENB and Aaron Watkins, it bodes very well for the future and hopefully will allow some more London visits. I had begun to lose hope that the RB would ever put on more than one or two ballets a year that I would like to attend.- 227 replies
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English National Ballet's Our Voices
DoctorDerry replied to Irmgard's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
Thank you for the photos I was there for the matinee today and thought the tutu’s beautiful- 227 replies
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Cesar Corrales…..missing in action?
DoctorDerry replied to TurningPointe's topic in Ballet / Dance news & information
Updating my previous post. Cesar has been replaced on the program by Marco Masciari … apologies if I have spelt his name incorrectly -
Cesar Corrales…..missing in action?
DoctorDerry replied to TurningPointe's topic in Ballet / Dance news & information
I think he is appearing at Hatch House with his partner Francesca Hayward this summer -
Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker, Winter 2022/3
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I saw the live stream from a rather elderly cinema in Penzance, usually it would be at home in Cheltenham at a modern CineWorld multiplex or live at Covent Garden. we were delighted at the numbers in the audience all having a marvellous time, it was great to be among them and share their joy. Having seen innumerable Nutcrackers including last years live stream with Yasmin Naghdi and. Caesar Corrales, this one was a standout for me even without my first choice Drosselmayer ,wonderful ensemble, lovely Clara and Nutcracker and the absolute best SugarPlum fairy and Prince. we thought the orchestra were in fine form as well. Thank you Royal Ballet, such a treat after all those Mayerlings, not a ballet I ever want to see again. Personal Preference is just that, not my cup of tea. Roll-on the rest of the season.- 572 replies
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Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration
DoctorDerry replied to MJW's topic in Performances seen & general discussions
I have enjoyed reading forum friends many and varied comments, and having generally enjoyed the evening at the cinema, apart from the second act, felt I had nothing useful to add. Then I read the Gramilliano review and felt I might have been to a totally different production , he loved the Toonga etc. shows how we all have such very different tastes. It did make me wonder if this selection had anything to do with Arts Council funding, trying to be ‘ more relevant’ and ‘ appealing to young people’ and moving away from a classical repertoire, Just a thought. The discussion on costumes really resonated with me, they were awful in the new works, did they save on everything else then splash the cash on Prima, which looked OK as long as they stood still. Very catwalk! On a totally different topic..someone mentioned fear of catching Covid in a full opera house, I watched in the Cinema in Cheltenham together with 9 others in an auditorium which holds two or three hundred. So no risk of virus Infection but not boding well for continuing productions being shown live from ROH