annamk

For sale SCS D19 and D35 £15 each. D19 is a physical ticket, D35 an eticket. Message me if interested. 

1 hour ago, Bluebird said:

 

You say that you're not surprised at this change.  Can you explain? Have you heard that Skorik is injured?

Sorry yes Bluebird I should have said. She's been injured - I'm not sure what exactly but she hasn't danced in St Petersburg for a couple of months. 

Casting change. No surprise that Skorik is replaced by Tereshkina in Swan Lake (w Parish) on 27/7. No change yet to Skorik's other performances. 

26/7 spoken for 

Selling

25/7 SCS D2 and 26/7 SCS D52 both £15, message me if interested. They are e tickets.

It sounds fascinating - sadly there are no copies of that magazine on eBay and nothing else comes up in a search. If anyone happens to know where back copies might be had perhaps they could post on here. 

Wilton's are only selling 1/2 the tickets - I rang and asked them why all their tickets were on one side of the theatre and they said the RoH were selling the other side. 

34 minutes ago, Bluebird said:

 

Not all the Mariinsky programmes.  He's been replaced by Xander Parish in Anna Karenina:

http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/anna-karenina-by-alexei-ratmansky

Ah thanks Bluebird I hadn't picked up on that cast change. Anna K is not a favourite so I can give it a miss now. 

6 hours ago, Sim said:

Another wonderful, passionate performance from Osipova and Shklyarov tonight.  Wow!  Such chemistry, and such luscious dancing from both.  I would love for him to come back and dance with her some more.

 

Sergei who??!!

Me too Sim they were both incredible. Unlike their first performance I was completely convinced by Osipova's interpretation, she was a devastating Marguerite. As for him, on the RoH stage Shklyarov, with his beautiful lines and Vaganova deportment, looks as though he comes from a different ballet planet. Add to the mix that he can act & partner & what a combination ! It would be fantastic if he could guest with Osipova next season, I haven't seen such a perfect partner for her. 

At least we haven't got long to wait to see him again - he's dancing in all the Mariinsky programmes. 

6 hours ago, Sim said:

I thought Osipova and Shklyarov were superb tonight.  Yes, they are young, but that gave a kind of ardour to the physical side of the dancing that translated into the emotional aspect.  I couldn't take my eyes off either of them, so my binoculars were swinging wildly from side to side the whole time.  His 'entrance solo' did have a couple of wobbly bits, but I put this down to the passion of his dancing.  He hit the ground running, and this laid down the gauntlet for the rest of his performance, which I loved.  I found Osipova totally mesmerising, especially in the 'leaving' pdd.  She knew this was it, her first and last real love being denied her, and her pain was clearly evident.  I felt that she was forming a physical and visual photograph of Armand for her to keep with her and remember when he was no longer hers.  It was visceral and heartbreaking, as was the last scene.  I can't wait to see it again.  Shklyarov was a wonderful partner for her, emotionally and dramatically, and I too would love to see him come back and dance with her again.  

 

Morera was once again a wonderful Titania, with the right combination of comedy and imperiousness....and we all know what a great Ashton dancer she is.  I quite liked Alex Campbell, but Steven McRae is a very tough act to follow and of course this is Alex's first go at this most difficult of roles.  I would call it a work in progress....and he has great potential.

 

SV was the same cast I commented on above, so suffice to say that I really enjoyed seeing them again.  

Sim you put this all really well & I agree with it, I didn't intend to sound down on Osipova ! As someone else remarked she didn't overdo it at all. I just couldn't get Ferri out of my head and the way her older face with life etched on it seemed to infuse Marguerite with a deeper tragedy than I've seen before. 

True also re McRae/Campbell. 

Such an interesting evening albeit one that has left me with mixed feelings about the performances. 

Morera was outstanding in the Dream but unfortunately Campbell had neither the stage presence nor the steps to convince as Oberon. The lovers comic timing fell rather flat, well short of the first cast and Acri's Puck probably suffered from being seen too soon after Yudes. 

Symphonic was a delight especially Nunez, Muntagirov & Hay. 

In Marguerite & Armand the weight of expectation on Shklyarov showed in a slightly nervous first solo. Once that was out of the way we were left in no doubt about his quality.  He has the most beautiful lines, terrific charisma and is a superb dancer & partner. Osipova did as much as she could for a relatively young ballerina cast in a role that probably should be the preserve of a considerably older dancer - or maybe I just saw her too soon after Ferri.  

Nonetheless, I left thinking Shklyarov is about as perfect a partner as I can imagine for Osipova & in my dreams he will come to dance at the Royal Ballet where I think, at least at the current time, there are better vehicles for the two of them than M & A : just for starters Romeo & Juliet, Manon, Giselle .....

I'm interested in the pair if they are still available have sent you a pm.

Thoughts from the matinee and first night.

Lots of debuts in the Dream. Takada I thought was exceptional in dance and characterisation, Hayward was charming if slightly less assured, Sambe powerful and charismatic. It's a pity that McRae's outstanding dancing and reliable partnering isn't accompanied by the charisma and warmth of Sambe's Oberon. Zuccetti's Puck although very good was rather outclassed dance wise by Yudes astonishing debut, from all the mime was very clearly and satisfyingly drawn. The four lovers Ball, Calvert, Mock, Mendizbal were terrific, spot on comic timing. The lead fairies and corps were well rehearsed, very satisfying indeed. 

Both casts of Symphonic were a delight, at last three men with different physicality demonstrate that it is possible to take off and land at the same time ! A horrid costume malfunction this afternoon was admirably dealt with by Reece Clarke. Huge congrats to the ballet masters as well as the dancers. 

I was against the Royal Ballet inviting Ferri to guest but I have to admit that having seen the rehearsal and the matinee today I now regard it as inspired casting. It was a deeper emotional experience to witness the desperation in the far from young Ferri - more real life and less of the the beautiful tragedy it often is. Although Bonelli is no youth himself he still has the look of a 20 something year old and whilst his initial solo was a bit ragged thereafter he was dancing like a young man and partnering perfectly. Add to the mix terrific chemistry and you have an unbeatable combination. From a rather miserable mid season with those poor Anastasia performances Bonelli has roared back. I'm intrigued to see what Osipova/Shklyarov will make of M & A on Monday - knowing Osipova I could well be eating my words about older women. 

£8 each. Etickets. Message me if interested. Anna

Has anyone heard whether a flower throw is being organised for her last performance on 7th June ? I am wondering whether the Opera House would do it because it's a I've relay ..... 

4 minutes ago, Beryl H said:

I don't think he danced with Diana Vishneva, was that Konstantin Zverev? He might have danced the next night with Uliana Lopatkina, I saw it and can't remember but I was disappointed with the Mariinsky M and A anyway.

 

 

It was Zverev who danced Armand - Shklyarov was supposed to dance with Vishneva but there was a late cast change. He hasn't danced Armand here. 

Shklyarov oh YES  couldn't be happier

On last night ....

I enjoyed the second cast of Vertiginous. It's such a busy ballet I find most of the time it's easier to pick one person to watch which in my case was James Hay and I thought he was tremendous, I love how he elongates every movement and yet is totally on the music. 

Naghdi & Zucchetti were excellent in Tarantella but I still think the piece belongs in a gala. 

I couldn't being myself to watch Strapless but when I returned from my extended interval I was shocked at the number of empty seats that had appeared in the stalls circle. I can only assume it was a reaction to Strapless and if so I think that's a great pity because Symphonic Dances was terrific. Laura Morera was outstanding and the different physicality of Morera/Rovero gave a different shade to their pdd. The corps men looked fabulous & the effect of their greater physical homogeneity made the choreography with the red skirts incredibly powerful - Donnelly and Richardson were particularly eye catching in this section, as were Ball and Rovero in the pdds with Morera. The only awkwardness came in some of the entrances which seemed oddly abrupt and more like Mcgregor's style than a neo classical work and I found the choreography for the women corps generally weaker than that for the men. 

I only saw the rehearsal so far ..... Vertiginous is an incredible piece, there's so much going on it's hard to know where to look ! Tarantella is fun but feels like it really belongs in a gala. I hated Strapless last time and without serious revision I can't watch it again so I sat it out in front of the screen and what struck me was how dreadful the music is ...... 

Symphonic was terrific for the first 10 minutes. The steps fitted the music and the dancers (Sambe & Acri) perfectly. The dancing of Zanowsky with Hay and their relationship  intrigued me and at this stage the costumes & lighting were mesmerising. But then it was as if Scarlett ran out of interesting ideas - the choreography felt largely derivative and the staging monotonous. And what is it with red skirts for men - I've seen so many in the last year.  

Message me if interested. I'm not there tonight but it's an e ticket. 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

McRae is such an astonishing technical dancer that none of Rudolph's choreography, even the most extreme partnering, seems to cause him any difficulty at all, itself a remarkable achievement, especially given his relatively modest high and slight stature. It was a real pleasure to see solos which have caused other distinguished dancers executed with such ease, and an ease that doesn't bring superficiality

I know what you mean about the pleasure in seeing those solos danced exceptionally well (although I only saw McRae at the rehearsal) but in every other respect McRae just does nothing for me and so I'd choose a less perfect technique and a better characterisation. 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

 

I don't think all his choices convince me: the strutting walk in Act One seems petulant,

That's an interesting observation ..... I think McRae has a strutting walk in every role which is unusual and surprising for a dancer in a classical company because it's very unattractive both visually and in terms of what it seems to say about character. I have wondered if he does it to make himself look taller ? 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

For me, the most satisfying cast was Bonelli with Morera and Cowley, Two superb dance actresses (with Morera seizing a late chance so strongly that it made it all the more surprising the opportunity had not previously presented itself) and a natural Prince showing an unanticipated flair for dramatic presentation and created what was for me the most rounded portrayal of Rudolph (all the more remarkable in a debut).

The most satisfying cast since Cojocaru/Kobborg and in fact, more satisfying for being so unexpected. 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

 

 Am I alone in finding Watson's actual dancing less satisfying and his portrayal almost too one dimensionally haunted and angst-ridden? 

No, I feel like that too. I also dislike how much Watson distorts his body and the steps. 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

 

Favourites? Campbell as Bratfisch brought the most humanity and maturity to the role and seems incapable of making a movement that doesn't convey character but the other three were all terrific too.

I preferred James Hay - I thought he nailed the pathos in that final solo as well as dancing superbly. 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

 

Mendizabal just edged it for me as Larisch (even over Cowley and Lamb) with the greatest variety of expression, the most vivid involvement and a sense of scheming brought out of desperation to maintain control.

I didn't see all the Larisch but I loved Cowley. 

3 hours ago, Jamesrhblack said:

 

Yanowsky rises effortlessly over the others by sheer strength of dancing and personality, as well as having a pained, haunted quality all her own (which can be seen in her son too)

Yanowsky was exceptional. 

9 minutes ago, zxDaveM said:

I agree - Akane Takada was sensational as Mary Vetsera. Just lately, she seems to have the knack of turning everything she dances into a platinum rated performance. And she couldn't have gotten in that much rehearsal time after poor Sarah Lamb damaged her foot so recently.

I totally agree with you about Akane and I'm truly gutted not to have been there last night   

Tx going back to the BO 

Just to throw in a contrary opinion last night didn't do it for me at all. It was my first time seeing this cast and possibly if I hadn't such a recent memory of those two searing Morera/Bonelli shows I'd have felt differently. I found Yanowsky exceptional, what a star she is and how we will miss her.  Osipova was crazed in the final pdd in a way I haven't seen anyone do before but it mostly fell short of my expectations. 

3 hours ago, capybara said:

Sarah Lamb has posted that she will not be on stage for several weeks. She says on Facebook (I am not a 'friend' so it does not appear to be confidential) that she "slipped very badly on the floor in the studio and crashed on the outside of her foot. An X-ray later revealed a small fracture".

 

Poor Sarah.

 

It will be interesting to see who replaces her in Vertiginous and The Dream.

I feel really sorry for Sarah Lamb  I was thinking only recently how often she's on stage - she danced two different principal roles in the Jewels bill and now two in Mayerling. I guess it's tribute to her versatility but what a workload. Wishing her a speedy recovery.