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annamk

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  1. annamk
    Definitely; I booked tickets yesterday because it was much more sold than last time I looked.
  2. annamk
    Well that is that for Mary Skeaping's Giselle and as far as I'm concerned it can't come back soon enough. Two weekend matinee performances of exceptional quality ended my run. Saturday with Shiori Kase and Francesco Gabriele Frola. What beautiful dancers they are with impeccable technique and what a strong and believable connection they had. A detail new to me emerged as I was sitting on the left side of the auditorium - after the royal party have retired to the cottage when Albrecht reappears on stage, he sees the necklace Giselle is wearing and a shadow so subtly passes across his face .... he knows trouble is coming. On Sunday the final performance was given wonderfully by the ethereal Katja Khaniukova (what incredible arms she has) and the noble Aitor Arrieta. Interestingly at this performance Katja chose to dance the diagonal - as did Shiori Kase on Saturday. At both performances the pd2 dancers were Ivana Bueno and Daniel McCormick. They were exceptional; he was notable in that difficult, stamina sapping first solo. I wish I had seen his Albrecht and surely Ivana will dance Giselle before too long. The future of the company is in great hands. A final word for the superb corps - no sagging in quality even after 39 Nutcrackers and 13 Giselles. Remarkable.
  3. annamk
    IMO no way was she marking anything at the rehearsal: quite simply she was outstanding and gave a masterclass in how to do Manon.
  4. annamk
    I couldn't resist !
  5. annamk
    Mine says Frola.
  6. annamk
    Do you actually know it wasn't Smirnova's choice to leave Russia ? She was very outspoken about her feelings on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  7. annamk
    I was at the matinee in a packed Coli today. Emma Hawes was an exquisite Giselle, everything was there and so it was impossible to believe it was her debut. Her partner: young, tall, elegant Vsevolod Maievskiy also making his debut, impressed with his considerate partnering, the sincerity of his acting, and that nothing was done for show or effect. Surely he has a very promising future. Noam Durand and Chloe Keneally were excellent in the pdd. Precious Adams Myrtha has the most spectacular jump, hers was an all round terrific performance. Hats off to Gavin Sutherland conducting - no glacial tempo here, brisk and terrific ! I could watch this production over and over and now am wishing I'd stayed for this evening. It can't come back soon enough for me. The wonderful thing about this run is that all the casts I've seen have been immensely satisfying - a tribute to the production, the quality of the coaching and the dancers.
  8. annamk
    Me too ! It's too cold. 🥲
  9. annamk
    Did anyone else think that Marco Masciari was one of the Gentlemen this afternoon and not Taisuke Nakao who is named on the cast sheet - or was it my eyesight ?
  10. annamk
    I thought last night Katja Khaniukova (so lyrical, so fragile and so poetic) and Francesco Gabriele Frola (what an elegant dancer, what a perfect partner) gave one of the best performances of Giselle I've ever seen. Myrtha, her attendants, the corps were all sublime, with notably beautiful port de bras. As I said earlier in the thread, I love the authenticity of this production and the many many little details that make so much sense of the story. In particular watching Khaniukova's interpretation yesterday I felt almost for the first time that I was watching Giselle in the 19th century rather than a 20th century "prima" ballerina giving a technically perfect performance of a peasant girl. Every time I watch this production I notice more marvellous details: the dramatic impact of the moment Giselle realises that Albrecht has deceived her when everyone else on stage is frozen in time; in Act 2 towards the end of the first pdd Giselle leaves the stage and Albrecht runs to her grave and gestures "where are you ?"
  11. annamk
    Oh yes it really was !
  12. annamk
    I think the Balcony has sold out for this evening - I was speaking to someone this morning who is going this evening and is in the front row of the balcony. She said the balcony looked sold out online but she rang the BO and bought 2 very cheap restricted view Balcony tickets over the phone.
  13. annamk
    According to ENB website Frola is dancing this evening with Khaniukova ......
  14. annamk
    Ticket spoken for.
  15. annamk
    Message me if interested.
  16. annamk
    I absolutely LOVE La Sylphide and ENB have a great version. It was the first time I really sat up and noticed Aitor Arrieta. ENB could field some fabulous casts - just imagine Frola as James !
  17. annamk
    Having missed seeing Frola on Friday evening I just couldn't resist a late ticket to the Sunday matinee once it was confirmed that he would be dancing and it was absolutely worth it. IMO he is one of the best dancers in the world at the moment and we are lucky to have the opportunity to see him in London. There is nothing he can't do to perfection in terms of steps AND he can act. His performance on Sunday was immaculate in all respects Fernanda Oliviera was a superb Giselle; everything perfectly judged, nothing fudged or hurried - she seemed to create so much time. It was sad that she was unable to finish the performance but Erina Takahashi was a terrific replacement who delivered a superlative performance at impossibly short notice. Alison McWhinney was a formidable Myrtha. As far as the production is concerned: I love the additional pdd for Giselle and Albrecht, it makes their relationship so much more meaningful. I find the changes in lighting level incredibly atmospheric; I love how the low level lighting creates an eerie medieval atmosphere in the forest and mimics moonlight. I know that the entrechats are a bit of a trick but I do miss the sense they give of Albrecht truly dancing himself to death, somehow the chorepgraphy here just doesn't quite get there but that is a small gripe in what is a truly marvellous production. Last but absolutely not least huge thanks to @Irmgard for all the helpful information.
  18. annamk
    I have 2 tickets I can’t use if anyone can get there at short notice DM me.
  19. annamk
    Has anyone seen confirmation of casting today yet ? Does no confirmation mean it’s the scheduled cast ?
  20. annamk
    I’m surprised and disappointed that the opportunity to dance Lescaut has not been given to one or two of the soloists rather than dancers doubling up and dancing Lescaut and Des Grieux. There are few enough meaty roles in the rep for up and coming dancers.
  21. annamk
    As others have said this production is stunning and indeed I’d forgotten just how incredibly beautiful the second act is. It really is an absolute treasure and the best production I’ve seen. I think Aitor Arrieta and Katja Khaniukova are naturally understated actors/dancers so nothing is performed with big gestures and showmanship but in their quiet way they draw you in so you care very much for them and their story. Arrieta is a beautifully elegant dancer and a considerate partner perfectly suited to Khaniukova’s fragile Giselle. Bravi to them for stepping in last night and giving such excellent performances. The supporting cast was strong; in particular Emily Suzuki’s Myrtha was terrific as were Ivana Burno and Zulma, Francesca Velicu as Moyna and Adriana Lizardi in the Peasant Pdd. Looking forward to other casts.
  22. annamk
    There are quite a few encore showings on February 1st.
  23. annamk
    IMO there are plenty of fabulous dancers (and casts) this time so I don't think it's impossible at all but quite likely !
  24. annamk
    I really really enjoyed watching this; very grateful to Munich Staatsballett for making it available. I need to rewatch to make any considered comment but I agree with posters above about the dancing of Shale Wagman, Antonio Casalinho and Osiel Gouneo. For me the costumes, lighting and staging could perhaps have been more attractive/striking/interesting but I found the choreography incredibly appealing - rather the opposite of Wayne McGregor.
  25. annamk
    Some of the reviews of MaddAddam make it sound as though it has the same shortcomings that I find in other McGregor work, namely (to paraphrase), the choreography is outclassed by the staging and the score. But what really depressed me most which I mentioned some time ago on another thread was this comment in The Globe and Mail that the ballet "features one of the more horrific scenes you will ever see onstage, and it defies a call for choreographers (most of whom are men) to stop staging gang rape in ballet." On the basis of what has come to light so far for the 24/25 season I may as well cancel my Friends membership.
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