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ellyb

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Everything posted by ellyb

  1. ellyb
    Haha I really shouldn’t, it’s mean – and obviously not at all representative; I don’t intend to take awful pictures, I just have a horrible talent for making absolutely anyone look like a drunken ogre! It’s rather depressing when I get to the train and eagerly grab my phone to see what I’ve captured… ☹
  2. ellyb
    I have one - and one of Vadim looking like sulky toddler. There's a reason I don't post photos!
  3. ellyb
    Oh, I hate them almost all the time! The only times I believe it acceptable is either at the retirement show of a much-loved artist or at a performance that is so completely outstanding it quite literally moves you (Vadim's Rudolf was the largest I've witnessed, that was quite something); as yet, I've not quite been there but I completely understood why some people felt the need last night, especially as this run may be the last outing of Marianela's Kitri at the ROH. Aw, now I've written that I rather wish I had stood up!
  4. ellyb
    When I said I enjoyed the beggars I meant their centre-stage activities, I don't think I noticed them much in the background? There was one girl in the background who was doing very exaggerated movements in Act I which I did find slightly distracting, but otherwise it felt about the right level. I'm pretty unobservant though!
  5. ellyb
    Well, that was quite special - what a noisy audience! There's not much to say about Nunez or Muntagirov that hasn't been said, they really were on top form and they got better and better as the night went on; I've never witnessed a standing ovation mid performance before but the wedding pas de deux was that spectacular that a few people leapt to their feet! Marianela in particular looked absolutely thrilled at the response, her smile even wider than normal if that's possible. And Vadim's jumps... just how??!!! There were so many wonderful performances alongside the leads, I'm too tired to run through everybody (and I'm sure some others will be along to honour them far better than I can) but special mention goes to Annette Buvoli for making that terribly difficult Dryad variation look simple, and Sae Maeda for a fabulously light and foot-perfect Amour. I also personally really enjoyed the beggar boys, I wish they were credited as a couple very much stood out and I'd like to know who I was looking at. I feel bad not mentioning anyone else as there were really some wonderful performances, but I really must try and get myself to bed. I had to cancel this pair on their first performance because of train strikes and because of the incredible reviews on here (and because it may be my last opportunity to see Marianela in this iconic role, though she certainly doesn't seem to be slowing up at all!) I decided to snaffle a return for this show, and boy, am I glad I did.
  6. ellyb
    Surprised they used Viola Pantuso for the relaxed performance, I would have thought someone who was experienced in the role (or even being in a solo role full stop) would have been a better choice; it must be very distracting to have noise, lights up etc, I would think she'd have enough to focus on in her debut! Very best of luck to her though, extremely excited already to see her progress. Was actually a bit surprised she wasn't promoted last season. Glad I'm not the only Grinch who hates post-Christmas Nutcracker! I guess they do them as it'll be too much to ask the dancers to prep for a new shows over the holiday, but if they alternated Nutcracker with something else (like a triple bill (including Les Patineurs for example as I've never seen it!)) they could move to a few more performances of that post Christmas before launching another big production, giving them a nice relaxing start to the new year.
  7. ellyb
    I always assumed that the Royal Ballet was paid for use of its stars, do they not receive an income though lending the dancers out? I figured that it was financially beneficial to have many principals who only do a couple of shows at home and most elsewhere, plus of course the added benefit of keeping the dancers happy and building their reputations, and the reputation of the RB. I may well be wrong though!
  8. ellyb
    So unhappy, had great seat for last night but cancelled due to train strikes. Have rebooked for 16th so hopefully they can recreate some of this magic! Sounds like the company is in very fine form.
  9. ellyb
    Thanks all, I went for Takahashi and Hawes; I found many very enthusiastic reviews of the former's Giselle, and there may not be many opportunities left. There weren't any seats I wanted for Oliveira/Frola Swan Lake so that made it easier! I also found a very convincing review of Hawes' Odette, and I think it makes more sense to book for Odette than Siegfried. I may try and sneak in another Giselle, though most of my ballet money is earmarked for Manon so I'll see what the bank balance looks like after I've booked that.
  10. ellyb
    Does anyone have recommendations for specific Giselle and Swan Lake casts? I don't get to see ENB often and when I do I've always booked before casting so don't know much about their dancers - other than everyone raves about Frola! Date wise Erina Takahashi would work but wondering whether to go for Khaniukova or Frola instead... also torn between Hawes and Oliviera for Swan Lake. Can only afford one of each unfortunately
  11. ellyb
    Ah, I hadn't noticed the cast changes sorry, I've not been following things closely and am a bit out of date! It will certainly be interesting then to see what happens when Corrales returns, or for things like R&J which I know they've done together elsewhere. I also wonder if the men get as much of a say as the women? Would McRae for example have as much input into his partnerships as Osipova? All very interesting, but unlikely to ever know for sure - do think it must be a tricky job for poor KOH though, having to take everyone's personal preferences into account when casting along with suitability, availability, cost etc!
  12. ellyb
    I'm certainly no expert but I imagine it depends on the principal; Osipova and Nunez probably have a great deal of say (I believe I've read that it was Osipova herself who chose Reece Clarke to be her partner when he was still fairly junior rather than KOH, though I have no idea if it's true). I expect the newer principals have little to no input - I've heard Mayara Magri talk about how much she would like to dance with her real-life partner Matthew Ball and they collaborate a lot away from the RB, yet KOH never puts them together. It also probably depends on the artistic director - Viviana Durante famously wasn't allowed her choice of partner so left; I get the impression KOH however generally tries to be accommodating to his dancers, especially the big stars.
  13. ellyb
    I would think this would be the case, it's hardly likely he needs the work or the money and I wouldn't have thought he'd want to take a role that would encourage people to say he was past it!
  14. ellyb
    Ah, thank you - it feels like it was a long time ago, but I guess a lot's happened since then!
  15. ellyb
    That would be good... I'd rather like if it wasn't Kaneko or Naghdi as I would prefer to see their full performances and my conscience would insist I return the full ticket if I saw the rehearsal! Anyone know who did the last one? I think Hayward was the one before that and I was overseas last time, though I wouldn't swear to it - and I have no idea if that makes any difference anyway.
  16. ellyb
    Another one very excited for Naghdi and Kaneko - hope the website behaves this time, looks like there might be a scramble for tickets! Slightly wish Naghdi was with Ball as I do love their partnership, I've not seen her with Bracewell but hopefully it will be a special evening. I'm tempted by Bolle and Nunez, even though I would've thought he really is getting on a bit for this role and I wasn't blown away with her Manon cinema showing... but I did love their Onegin and they are such icons I feel I should! It may well be the last time after all. I've seen Hamilton before and she was superb, I could be very tempted to see how she's grown into the role - same with Hayward who I liked before but I've not been convinced by her partnership with Sambe previously and though I'd really like to see him, I don't think De Grieux is a role worth booking to see specifically. Campbell was a wonderful De Grieux and I've never seen Takada live so that could be an option... can only afford max three so have some thinking to do! Any guesses on who might do the rehearsal?
  17. ellyb
    What an absolute nightmare this morning! Over half an hour of screaming at my computer and ended up with far worse seats than I planned. Got a wonderful stalls circle seat for Nutcracker rehearsal, which it then removed from my basket when I went to pay. Then there was an error for the next ten minutes or so, and then I was informed I had exceeded my ticket allowance. Finally it let me in to book and I am now the proud owner of a seat high up in the gods. Same with Don Quixote, planned two stalls seats and one front amphi, ended up with three high amphi. Even that told me I had exceeded my ticket limit - for Don Quixote?! At least it's saved me some money I suppose, and with a service this poor I begrudge giving them a penny - very annoying they hold the keys to the Royal Ballet... how can they be this bad...?!
  18. ellyb
    Sorry, I did see your recommendation on the other thread but for some reason read it as though you hadn't tried them! I have an NT property nearby so may pop in and have a look at those. If they aren't available I'll try the ROH ones; it looks like they are Helios ones that I can get for a lot less than £50 and I feel reassured that they'll be ok for even the furthest seats. Thanks everyone, all very helpful!
  19. ellyb
    That's interesting, thank you; I'd discounted them as they didn't have great reviews... but they only have 2 reviews so it's not much of a sample size! They're only a 3x magnification though and I was wondering whether that would be enough from the amphitheatre? I'll pop in and have a look when I'm next in town.
  20. ellyb
    Thank you but unfortunately none of the ones listed are suitable, or the links don't work. There is mention of a previous thread but apparently it was lost at some point unfortunately. Just hoping for ideas of what sort of spec to go for and figured there would probably be a few here who were old hands at watching ballet specifically from the ROH amphitheatre and had done the trial and error already!
  21. ellyb
    I'm not sure if this is the right place but I'm thinking that with the combination of price increases and lots I want to see next season I'm regularly going to find myself a long way up in the gods... My binoculars aren't great so wondering if anyone might have any recommendations for an upgrade? Ideally suitable for upper amphitheatre, so pretty powerful - and preferably not too expensive! TIA
  22. ellyb
    Ugh, wanted to see Osipova's Kitri live as may be my only chance, now I have to decide between Sambe and Clarke! I've not seen Sambe do it but would guess he'd be very good? Not sure I can really see Clarke as Basilio but he seems to have been working a lot on the bravura side of things, and looks good (on instagram at least, not seen him in person for a while). Plus he's her regular partner so they already have the chemistry... Decisions, decisions! Am very happy Magri's doing the relay as can't afford much ROH this year and really wanted to see her. Is it odd that Cesar's doing the cinema in his debut run? Guessing he's done it many times away from ROH though, definitely a role I'd expect to suit him.
  23. ellyb
    I'd be very interested in this too actually, would think it a perfect project for the Linbury - I think some at least were built for a smaller stage, and likely others could be adapted. They did do a video on the progression of ballet (available on YouTube) which I found fascinating, I'd love to see a few full performances.
  24. ellyb
    I can obviously only speak for my (female) self but I attend ballets because I like them - the music, choreography etc. I personally don't pick which ones to attend based on the creator's genitalia, or their skin colour, sexual orientation, disability etc. I don't feel offended by the 'patriarchal hegemony' in ballet, in fact I confess I never think about it at all. If a woman created a ballet that interested me I would watch it, so far I've not been interested in any of the recent female-made ballets so haven't bothered but I would of course decide on a case-by-case basis. Maybe one will pop up that catches my eye but if it doesn't, I don't really care. I don't tend to have much interest in most modern works anyway so there's certainly a chance I'll be solely supporting the 'patriarchal hegemony' for evermore. Would you genuinely sit through any old nonsense purely because of what's between the legs of the choreographer? I do find that odd to be honest, and actually rather sexist!
  25. ellyb
    Be a while yet, usually just before top tier sales open I think so late June.
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