Linnzi5

Yes. Just noticed I had been emailed the casting. Very interesting. Two of the performances I booked have casts I’m particularly interested in. The other two I’ve booked I’ll think about.

If tonight's performance is even remotely like the one I saw on 15th March, then I hope you will be as thrilled as I will be. I'm looking forward to see you and other forum members later - and comparing notes!

No!!! I have a ticket for 4th May

I am! I cannot wait!

Yes. They certainly are colourful! I had seen photos of the costumes hanging up on Instagram recently and was surprised, but actually on the dancers? They are original!

I agree!

I have never heard of the work 'undercrackers' either. Love it! I definitely need to use that! I cannot understand why. It makes no sense to me. Someone in my row on Friday night kept checking her phone - surely, nothing can be that important that you need to constantly check it?

🤣🤣 I love autocorrect when it makes corrections like that! Basin??!! I could work out who you meant though. Almost as funny as the subtitles on YouTube that go alongside the RB Insights. They absolutely crack me up! 🤣

Reading this made me very sad. I've always found the staff very personable and to be made to feel the way you did is awful. It sounds like you were unlucky with the staff you spoke to - not that that is an excuse or acceptable in any way. I mean, surely, the staff member could have flicked through the programme his/herself with you looking at it if there was a concern you would accidentally damage it? I don't think it's unreasonable to check if the programme is the same as the last run's. I have given up buying programmes I already have from previous runs. Why? Because they are usually identical to the ones I have already! No updated photos of rehearsals or new articles etc. So, I always feel cheated and a bit cross when I do buy and it's the same from 2+ years ago! I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here, but the Cinderella one was new and quite honestly, I thought it was dreadful value for money and was full of silly flower pictures! I did not buy a Swan Lake one on Friday and as I bought one two years ago, I'm really glad I didn't! I understand why you feel disappointed (I would feel the same way) but do hope this doesn't mean you won't enjoy performances in the future

I knew it was a performance the general public couldn't go to. Thought it was a schools' performance but I do remember now it was a Welcome one.

It was a schools’ matinee and Bonelli was ill so Will stepped in. I only found out this was the case when I said exactly the same as you - how did I miss it?!!

Well, what I got from 'non-idiomatic emotionalism' is that it's an emotional response from what is literally just seen - there is no underlying complex narrative/hidden meaning to decipher to experience the emotion? So, when I watch the corps dancing in SL, I get an emotional response from the beauty of that - there's no great hidden narrative I need to untangle to feel emotion. Of course, I am probably 'barking up the wrong tree' 🤣

I'm not sure I would like the latter ending. I mean, it is interesting, but I'm not sure it would work for me as I can't imagine Siegfried would do that after losing Odette, but I'm sure it would be interesting!

It's interesting. I have loved the productions ending where Siegfried and Odette ride off in the 'swan boat' together, united in death but I also like Scarlett's ending too. I can understand why some don't like the prelude and the ending in RB's present production but I like both. Out of interest, are there productions where they both survive? I don't think I would enjoy that as much. The only thing I would say is that when they both die, I didn't find it that sad - as they were together in death. Whereas, when Siegfried is the survivor it is sadder and tugs on my heartstrings a bit more. Odette returning to her original princess, human form rounds it off nicely for me. I take your point about the downbeat ending though. I also must add that when watching SL, I do not want to cry in the same way as I would when watching Manon or R&J. It's a different sort of feeling. I think @Sim hit the nail on the head for me - it's just so beautiful, in parts, that it makes me feel a part of it and emotional because of the sheer beauty (alongside that incredible, iconic score). I didn't cry last night, in fact, mostly, I had the biggest, warmest smile on my face as I soaked up every minute - I honestly felt joy. I did feel emotional, of course, but not in the sad, heart-wrenching way I did when watching Manon.

I love the score. It's one of the reasons I love SL so much. Though, perhaps somewhat controversially, I did prefer Gavriel Heine at the baton as his interpretation of the score was very much how I like it. Personal taste, I think.

There are some stunning photos on Instagram on Fumi's and William's accounts. The photos were taken by dancersdiary and are actually from last night's performance, if anyone is interested. I wasn't aware photos were usually taken at performances, so that's interesting. It also is quite sobering to read on Fumi's account her saying how quickly this performance had been put together (after Lauren was unable to dance). I have to say, I'd never have known this pairing hadn't been rehearsing for weeks.

That's a lovely way to describe it!

I do too. I think the white acts are so elegant and the sheer beauty of the corps' movements, so wonderful to watch. I love the corps in SL and Giselle, particularly. I also love the Act II PDD though. It is breathtakingly beautiful in the right hands (and feet!) and I love the corps in that too. One of my favourite corps bits in SL is the Act II Coda - I just love it! I do take @Dawnstar's point about Fumi Kaneko being a surprise as Odile. I knew she'd be absolutely stunning as Odette, but her Odile was a revelation - I loved her characterisation. In fact, I think it's fair to say I enjoyed Act III more than ever last night (I do love it, of course, but sometimes find the princesses dancing a bit tedious, then all the dances - I'm not overly keen on the Mazurka usually - seem to go on a bit before we get to the exciting bits and I didn't feel that way last night. I thought all of the dances were of an outstanding quality and I was really engaged. Then when the fireworks erupted, I was loving every second!

I agree. We all like different things and have different preferences and that's how it should be. I don't think Swan Lake is as emotionally devastating as Manon, for example, and it's not meant to be. I do, however, love it and really like Scarlett's version (I know I'm in the minority feeling that, but I really do like it). Manon is brutal in parts and horrifying. It ripped me into pieces. I can't say SL does that to me and I wouldn't want it to. They are different beasts but I am glad to have moved onto something a little lighter now. After all the Manons I saw, I really needed a break from them, as fantastic as every performance was - there's only so long that I can be a part of something that is so emotive when it's so tragic, if that makes sense. I like a variety of ballets to watch, I think. SL is fantastical but I really love it (I do not like Sleeping Beauty as much but absolutely adore Romeo and Juliet) - partly because I've played the score so often and it is nostalgic but I love so many other aspects too. I am happily extracted from the swamp for now. It's emotionally exhausting watching all those Manon's! 😢 I don't believe I have ever seen his version - I think I would like it. It doesn't surprise me at all that SL isn't universally loved - I think it is a bit ubiquitous? It certainly doesn't pack the punch of some of the more modern works, I'd agree. I just happen to like it and whether I'd choose to watch a Manon, Mayerling or Swan Lake performance would depend on my mood, I think. There never are many matinèes really, are there? I'm not sure how many there are for the shorter ballet runs, if any, but would it be 5 available to book or so for SL? I always wonder how it's decided who will do matinèes?

I forgot to say, the standing ovation last night was apt, in my opinion, though being on the short side, I'd like to think that's why my photos are out of focus - I had to raise my phone in the air to rise above the people in front of me heads! That's my excuse, anyway! 😜

This made me laugh. My trains were playing up yesterday and I would have walked! I can't go on April 1st due to family commitments (I am going on 28th), but if I were free, I would sell my kidney to go (not that anyone would want it!)

I was so emotional, Sim. They were out of this world. I have not seen as many performances of Swan Lake as many forum members, but this was honestly the most beautiful I have ever seen. (I have, of course, seen many wonderful performances over the years and each has its own merits). So. Review. Where to begin? Let me firstly talk about Fumi, as I have never seen her in a full SL before. She was perfection. It's as simple as that for me. Technically, she was as outstanding as I would expect her to be. Those fouettés! The audience started clapping when she was only half-way through them! They were controlled, ambitious and suited her Odile so much. The control with which she exited them was amazing - that must be so difficult to do. Her Odette was beautiful. Sad and full of sorrow, cautious and wary around Siegried initially. However, when she fell in love (and boy, did we see that!) the joy on her face just filled me with joy. Usually, I find Odette to be such a tragic character and, as discussed with forum members in the interval last night, it was a revelation to see such pure joy and happiness on the face of an Odette when she found that love. The way she looked at Siegried, and vice versa, hers and his body language - sigh, it melted my heart 🥰. Odette's ending was tragic though and after forgiving Siegried for his unwitting betrayal, she was strong and determined, 'I will not let this evil creature condemn me to a life as a swan, I will take control and end this all.' I saw a strength in Odette that was refreshing. Fumi's Odile was a complete contrast. She was a minx, hard, cold, playful, manipulative, showing off her sensuality and so self-confident! The control Odile had over Siegfried was tangible. Technically, Fumi was astounding. I was left amazed (yes, I'm using that word a lot!), thrilled and full of excitement! She really was breathtaking! I love, love, loved her Odile. Secondly, let me talk about Will. Wow! He was as beautiful and elegant as ever, as I'd expect. His Siegfried is layered and his acting wonderful. He partnered Fumi wonderfully - she was always at the forefront of his partnering. I felt his Siegfried's frustration and sense of sadness and helplessness at the burden of his future. I felt him finding a soulmate in Odette. I experienced personally him being manipulated by Odile and then being crushed at the realisation of the deception he had suffered. Siegfried was broken and desperate to make amends with Odette and his realisation that Odette would rather die than be a swan was absolutely heartbreaking; his desperation was palpable. I have to say, Wow! What a difference technically Will showed to the last run. I've watched the 2022 live cinema relay hundreds of times - I know every bit of the choreography for the Principals from that performance. I was absolutely thrilled to see Will putting in those extra 'fireworks' moments in his solos now - I didn't expect it and it's not the most important thing to me. However, his solos were brilliantly, confidently, perfectly executed and controlled and it was lovely to see him 'showing off'! I have to say, he stepped up and I was incredibly impressed - as well as having sore hands from so much clapping! Together, these two have such a rare chemistry and this is a beautiful partnership. I feel privileged to have been a part of last night and hope future runs will include these two together (as well as with others). Other performers were extremely good. The sisters (Sae Maeda, Ashley Dean) were excellent, as were the Big Swans. Annette Buvoli (I'm not sure if this was a debut, though I've seen Melissa Hamilton before, I have not seen Buvoli) was excellent and Hamilton always impresses me in this role. The corps were excellent, though I think I saw one slip, but can't be sure as it was in the periphery of my vision and my companion was no help at all, as he didn't notice much about anything. I don't think Whitehead is the best Von Rothbart, to be honest. I found him a little one-dimensional outside of the costume. The dances were lovely - special mention goes to Madison Bailey and Valentino Zucchetti who were excellent in the Neapolitan dance. Also, in the Czardas - Francisco Serrano stole the show, he is one to watch! Leo Dixon made a good debut as Benno. I thought he was elegant and very likeable. I could see, perhaps, a few totally understandable nerves and felt that sometimes because of this, he was a little tentative. With more experience, I am sure he will be more confident and Benno's character will shine a little more. However, he was still of an excellent standard and I really liked him. The night belonged to Fumi and Will though. They honestly were perfection in my eyes. I look forward to seeing them again on 28th. I say this all the time, but how I wish last night had been filmed.

Ah! That's more like it! Thanks, Rob!

I can only say - wow! I was absolutely blown away by tonight’s performance. I will think what to write later, but Will and Fumi were sublime! Be still my heart! 🥰❤️

Not great quality as my phone camera (and me) are not very good!