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annamk

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  1. annamk
    I went, so nearly didn't bother it being a Monday evening with the prospect of getting drenched on the way there or back. It was fabulous, what an uplifting evening, what a great mixed bill to return to the stage with. There was much variety in the 5 shortish pieces each of which was introduced by a brief video clip in the rehearsal room and a few words from the choreographer or dancers. I enjoyed everything, if I had to pick highlights it would be Russell Maliphant's Echoes for the stunning combination of lighting and movement, Stina Quagebeur's funny and warm Take Five Blues, the haunting Dido's lament in Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Laid in Earth and the finale, Arielle Smith's superbly entertaining Jolly Folly. In the recorded clip Arielle Smith said she wanted to make us smile and she achieved that in spades. All the dancers were absolutely terrific, you could tell how much it meant to them to be back. It finished by 9 which included a short introduction from Alastair Spalding and Patrick Harrison.
  2. annamk
    Fille gets my vote too but also I am really hoping that by the Autumn we won't have to wear face masks in the auditorium ..........
  3. annamk
    If only He would be sublime ........
  4. annamk
    I wonder if the Pite is not actually new choreography because the announcement says “two works new to the Royal Ballet” It would be great if they acquired the terrific Seasons Canon made for Paris Opera Ballet but I guess that is not very likely.
  5. annamk
    I can’t see this mentioned anywhere here yet but would be grateful, mods, if you could move this if I have missed a relevant thread. Mariinsky did a live relay of Don Q on 4th Feb 2021 still available on Medici TV to subscribe or rent - for a week - I think. https://www.medici.tv/en/ballets/ Even if you’ve seen many performances of Don Q this is one to warm the heart: superlative artists Viktoria Tereshkina and Kimin Kim at the top of their game in the terrific Mariinsky production. Some fine performances in the supporting roles and the entrance of the matadors is guaranteed to lift spirits jaded by months of lockdown and loss of live ballet.
  6. annamk
    A huge thank you everyone who posted about this otherwise I would not have found it; it looks gorgeous, particularly Act 2 and the dancing is fabulous ! A real tonic.
  7. annamk
    The live stream for the solos and pdd doesn't seem to be working
  8. annamk
    Has anyone with a Sadlers Wells membership tried to book tickets for this ?
  9. annamk
    I watched it too and thought it was wonderful. Fumi Kaneko's Aurora was so lovely she brought tears to my eyes, a poignant reminder of all we have missed these last few months.
  10. annamk
    I don't know .... it maybe the logistics of more live dance were just too difficult to organise at this stage of the lockdown. As for the White Swan pdd I can imagine the dancers not feeling ready to perform that after 3 months out ! I'm more disappointed with the choice of output from the RB than the lack of it : Peter & the Wolf, Metamorphoisis, Winter's Tale, Anastasia, The Cellist, Fille ....... I enjoyed Men at the Barre although that was the BBC.
  11. annamk
    To see the dark and empty opera house was sad and moving in a way that I wasn’t prepared for. I found the pdd for Hayward/Corrales very intense and affecting.
  12. annamk
    Yes the cygnets, swans, shades etc don't embellish the narrative, they are simply devices for dancing but what dancing ! What incredible choreography - truly exceptional and memorable which I guess is why they have stood the test of time. I feel the Cellist is different in that although the characters seem to have been added to fill out the ballet many of them do belong in the narrative but crucially for me they are quite intrusive. So although the problem I have could be more to do with finding their choreography unremarkable, it is perhaps also that structurally these padding characters invade and deaden the central narrative of the Cellist in a way that the cygnets, shades etc don't.
  13. annamk
    I watched The Cellist on youtube and I didn't find it any more appealing than when I saw it live in the initial run. It's too busy, too dark, the score doesn't work, many of the props feel unnecessary (the bar stool ) the choreography for the principal trio is so repetitive ..... sigh. It feels like a chamber piece that has lost any heart and soul in over expansion of time and space.
  14. annamk
    I agree Alison, It was so interesting to see how differently NYCB perform this from the RB and the Russian companies. As soon as the curtain rose you knew you weren't watching a Russian company. I thought the style of dancing was somehow much more relaxed and flowing, as opposed to the grand and mannered Russian execution. I particularly liked Sara Mearns, her partner didn't make much of an impression on me. I thought the corps were not always in sync, the less extreme extensions everywhere are so much more attractive to see. Another big thank you to NYCB.
  15. annamk
    This was one of the best performances of this ballet I've seen. Wonderful acting from all, particularly Vogel and Amatriain: measured, nuanced and never melodramatic. Superb partnering in those challenging pdd, with nothing fluffed the final pdd was OUTSTANDING. Thank you Stuttgart for another superb lockdown offering.
  16. annamk
    Ugh Anastasia, another dire choice from the RB. Of all the major (and minor) ballet companies the lockdown offering from the RB has been the most uninspiring ......
  17. annamk
    I'd planned another trip to Stuttgart to see this in a couple of weeks time so I was thrilled and so grateful that Stuttgart shared this recording of the company premiere. It came across better than I had hoped for on a screen. I love this new production: I find the sets and costumes a hugely successful combination of respect for the period and clean, contemporary lines. It brings the steps into sharper focus. The performances were all magnificent - Vogel superlative.
  18. annamk
    This is UNMISSABLE. The production is stunning. In the performance I saw last year Vogel was simply unforgettable. The entire supporting cast was excellent, in particular Badenes as Mary Vetsera.
  19. annamk
    And this from Stuttgart Ballet Due to the preventive measures being taken by the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg to contain the spreading of the Corona virus, all performances between March 11th and April 19th, 2020 have been cancelled.
  20. annamk
    Oh yes me too, it was so lovely and utterly heart rending. The Scarlett version (choreography and ending) has destroyed the emotional impact of Swan Lake for me - the only good thing is that I can leave after the Black Act and get home earlier !
  21. annamk
    I also very much enjoyed the matinee cast today. Takada was delicate and fragile but technically strong. Bonelli was elegant, he partnered beautifully and he danced his solos well. I can't say I felt either more or less chemistry than the Nunez/Muntagirov performance. I was more central this afternoon and could better appreciate how stunningly beautiful the Act II lakeside scene is. A loud shout out for James Hay's Benno - such effortless and elegant dancing.
  22. annamk
    Echoing all the praise for Nunez/Muntagirov last night - although in my case I skipped Act IV because I find Scarlett's choreographic contribution and the ending unmoving and disappointing. In her recent Auroras and last night as Odette/Odile I feel Nunez has reached astonishing new levels of virtuosity in her dancing and artistry in her portrayals. Muntagirov equally has attained a new maturity and confidence last night showing extraordinary refined elegance and perfect partnering in the White Act, and in the black act throwing off 6 double tours with sheer joy and complete nonchalance. Random other thoughts: I still find the whole Rothbart story line doesn't hang together. Sambe's dancing as Benno a touch forced - and that Act 1 costume is one of the few fails. Kaneko and Magri divine. The costumes for the princesses are unflattering. I have seen better Neopolitan dances than Hinkis/Zucchetti yesterday.
  23. annamk
    Thank you Rob, I have replied to you. Ticket now spoken for.
  24. annamk
    Ticket spoken for.
  25. annamk
    I was also there on Sunday and your review and subsequent comments made me laugh too - you very much echoed my own thoughts about everything - what a depressing experience it was, apart from LD's vocal power.
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