annamk

Yes second time lucky - I didn't let the basket out of my sight Thank you for posting the offer !

I'm also having a problem with the website - you put tickets in your basket and then the basket vanishes and there doesn't seem to be any way to get it back.

D46 still available.

E-tickets, message me if interested. Anna

Best memories Cojocaru/Caley Manon (Milton Keynes) Muntagirov/Lamb in Winter Dreams - above all Muntagirov but most of the cast deserve a mention (Mendizabal, Naghdi, Avis, Bracewell) for such a detailed, masterly performance. Bonelli/Morera Mayerling - should have been filmed. NDT in Pite's The Statement - so original. Performances involving these three terrific RB 1st soloists: Bracewell, Corrales, Hay - wishing the latter 2 an injury free 2019.

I hadn’t focused before I went to the live relay that this production and choreography were by Yuri Grigorovich. Perhaps it was unfortunate to see it barely 24 hours after Sir Peter Wright’s beautiful version for the RB. Obviously, it follows the same structure: Clara, her brother, Drosselmeyer, the Nutcracker, dancing toys, rats, soldiers etc etc but it doesn’t bother to make it into a coherent, narrative in the way that the RB version presents a family Christmas in a Victorian (?) house. In the pdd for Clara and Nutcracker towards the end of Act 1 they are surrounded by the toys which I found a distraction. The snowflakes are wearing what look like white swimming caps, and carrying cotton wool balls on sticks all of which would have been neither here nor there were the choreography for them not so uninspiring. I’m sad to say that for me mediocre choreography was the big failing of this Nutcracker. The dancers were excellent - although both Chudin and Shrainer had minor wobbles at the end of their Act 2 variations - but IMO the choreography was simply not worthy of them.

Loved Patineurs, an all round fabulous cast led by Sambe. His BlueBoy has it all: great elevation, super fast spins and unaffected joy - he truly lit up the stage and lifted the ballet ! The change in mood to Winter Dreams is err quite extreme and although it was warmly received, it was a slightly lukewarm reception - my daughter saw it for the first time and didn't like it at all. The cast was excellent with one caveat in that whilst Soares acted convincingly IMO it's not enough in a role which requires a significant amount of dancing. I'm sorry to say that Soares execution of the steps was fudged at best and that really takes something meaningful away from the role.

A small impression from Friends rehearsal earlier. It's a terrific triple, I enjoyed all three ballets enormously. Have to mention Muntagirov just blew me away in Winter Dreams. He was simply outstanding, dancing of extraordinary beauty, acting of great intensity and passion.

I am still hoping ......

All tx now spoken for.

Only D5 on 20th left.

Tickets for 2nd have gone. D5 & 6 for 20th are still available.

I'm selling all e tickets £6 each 20/12 eve D5,6,7 2/1 D30,31,32 Message me if interested Anna

Bumping this one up in the hope .....

In addition to those already mentioned I think Harrison Lee Harris Bell Stanislaw Wegrzyn Aiden O’Brien Joshua Junker Davide Lorricho Joonhyuk Jun Taisuke Nakao

Most impressive of all was 1st soloist William Bracewell, what great control he has. The second rehearsal was the Nutcracker pdd : Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell coached by Lesley Collier and Gary Avis. It was a terrific event although I agree with Alison about the acoustics.

Thank you Irmgard for taking the time to write such a detailed and fascinating review please keep them coming, I really enjoy reading them and then seeing the casts !

Interesting ...... because I actually prefer them (either individually or together) in those ballets where they don't need to act; there is not a trace of tension in their execution of the steps, they just show us how technically superb they are.

If anyone has a spare SCS please message me. Thank you

I have messaged you Stellar. Anna

Apologies if this has already been mentioned somewhere, but I just noticed on the RoH website that Hay has been replaced by Sambe for his scheduled performances in Nutcracker - towards the end of the run. Wondering if this means he won't be dancing in Patineurs too

Ticket spoken for.

E ticket, message me if interested. Anna

Any takers ?

Bumping this one up.