Suffolkgal

The BBC is so far out of touch with its viewing demographic it's unbelievable. This is a terrible idea. I remember there was a popular uprising that saved BBC6 music - maybe something similar can be achieved here. But I recently forked out £159 for an organisation that seems to despise me and everything about me!

That moment when Petrushka’s ghost appears to terrifying music does it for me. And Rite of Spring

You’re right - I was trying to be positive but seems like some very odd decisions to me ..

Yes have to agree Tebasile but i think Bracewell will get his chance next time around - maybe at the moment he’s just considered TOO boyish! Whatever- can only wish them all well - what a company.

That’s some synopsis! I received it as promised with my e-ticket. Not sure how many casual audience members will wade through it but keeping a very open mind and looking forward to it ...

Apologies if this should be elsewhere or already mentioned! Just been watching a lovely short piece on BBC Wales about their first principal. And listening to what he has to say - someone do a full-length version of Maurice for the RB! If you watch it you’ll see why ...

I thought there had been! Thanks for that it’s always good to know when something is nagging at the back of your mind.

Yes she was a very interesting person- very sad life overall. Again in Vienna you can do a tour specifically about the cult that surrounds her. They compare her to our Diana as well and there are similarities. I think a ballet about her would be a great idea. She was a Bavarian princess and apparently Ludwig II (a cousin I think) wanted to marry her when they were young. Another candidate for a ballet!

Forgive me for this but it always makes me think of The Slipper and the Rose! “Charming little thing, doesn’t speak a word of Euphranian!”

Just out of interest on the real Rudolf - his tomb at the Kaisergruft (royal crypt) in Vienna is always covered with flowers - so clearly despite being a very troubled man there is still affection for him in Imperial Austria. And of course he was young - 30 I think? His utterly brutal upbringing explains a lot. Anyway the crypt is the most extraordinary place in an amazing city. it’s a troubling and disturbing ballet but I do love it and I can’t wait to see a new generation of dancers bring their own approach to the role. And the women- there are four great female roles as well.

Has anyone ever read Woody Allen’s ballet tales? The Swan Lake discussions reminded me of his take on it - she was half woman half swan. Unfortunately right down the middle. It has always made me laugh!

I love that we all have strong opinions what’s the point of the creative arts otherwise? It’s very Hamletian this production don’t you think? Grieving damaged young Prince, mother paying far too much credence to another man, and why isn’t Siegfried on the throne anyway? This is surely a 19th century patriarchy? Ghostly apparitions and all that ...

Just responding to some of the comments higher up in this thread ... Liam Scarlett, like Gary Avis, were/is Suffolk lads and both responsible for so much support for ballet in the county. (Ashton’s county!). Liam is a great loss and a tragic one, but I still don’t like some of the decisions in the production. For me it is best ended with the Corps folded up like powder puffs as the music ebbs and the lovers, united, sail off in a great big swan boat! The current ending is so weird and doesn’t really make sense as has been said. Mind you in about 1990 I was in Leningrad as was watching the Kirov as was, with Altynai Asylmuratova as Odette/Odile. Everyone lived except rothbart! (We are Russian and like a happy ending said our guide which is one of the oddest things I’ve ever heard). Not that I haven’t really enjoyed seeing several performances...

Yes I do, it’s a lovely theatre and city

It all started up a steep and very narrow stairway as the song goes! At about 4 years old - and parents who took me to theatre and ballet at a very early age. In my head the RBS used to perform at Richmond, near where we lived, plus there were trips to London. We moved to Suffolk when I was 10 but still travelled up to see ballet in my mother’s dinky MGB. At that time LFB now ENB and SWRB now BRB performed in Norwich regularly so used to see them there. Fonteyn came with a troupe including Desmond Kelly, Lynn Seymour, David Wall and Alain Dubreuil. I have the programme! Memories especially of Nureyev Festival. And dancers yes Paul Clarke and Jonathan Kelly among others. So many dancers I admired are gone and so tragically. Bless them all. Then in 1981 I went to university in London mainly so I could go to theatre and ballet (life was much cheaper then and much more generous for students!) Up steep and narrow stairs to the slips and rear amphi - fantastic ballets, amazing dancers. David Wall I followed until one night for R and J he was injured. and flying on to the stage came mr eagling and that was that till 1994 though of course I saw many other dancers as well. I also met a group of fellow admirers with whom I spent many freezing hours at the stage door - Wayne had some great mates hence we met George Harrison! Those friends remain I am glad to say I was back in Suffolk for work for a few years but up and down to town (like now) but having seen Mukhamedov with the Bolshoi a number of times when they came, I knew when he came to the RB I had to see as many performances as possible so I moved back to London! Left in 2004 to care for parents but kept on coming when I could for ballets rather than dancers so lost touch a bit with the company. the days of supporting debuts of people like Michael Nunn Ross macgibbon Fiona Chadwick Wendy Ellis etc etc and marking departures and so on long gone. but more recently I have engaged more with the dancers and the company and rediscovered the utter joy of watching dancers excel and develop. So do your worst unions. I’ll get there somehow!

Why Thankyou! It’s a great place to be ..

After a good few months enjoying this forum so much, I thought time to join and join in! It’s been so interesting and informative. As far as this thread goes, so delighted with the promotions. Happy to nail my WB colours to the mast! I would like to see his Colas, Albrecht and of course Des Grieux. But when I watched the Ashton Insight, and Hamlet and Ophelia, i did think - now there’s a Rudolf ...