Jump to content

annamk

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,297

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by annamk

  1. annamk
    It seemed that Shklyarov had left the Mariinsky for Munich but then, according to a recent interview with Shklyarov, Gergiev called him and asked him to consider working at both theatres so he is dividing his time between Munich and St Petersburg although he has mostly danced in Munich so far this season. He is dancing in St Petersburg on NYE (w Novikova).
  2. annamk
    Terrific performances in the rehearsal today from Takada/Hay today. She: on the music, beautiful phrasing, technically entirely secure, strong but dainty and delicate. Him: elegant, attentive, generous partner, and he delivered a pretty classy variation. They look good together.
  3. annamk
    Personally, I find that rep reasonably appealing given that a tour is always going to focus largely on box office winners and at least their Swan Lake is more attractive than the dreadful Bolshoi version. It's the casting that worries me. IMO there are very few world class dancers in the top ranks of the company than previously or than currently at the Bolshoi. I'm offering prayers that Shklyarov and Novikova come.
  4. annamk
    They are all gone before Supporting Friends booking too
  5. annamk
    I love Shklyarov and was really excited that he was moving to Munich but casting just isn't published early enough to be able to buy cheap flights :(
  6. annamk
    I totally agree, although the RB does seem to have improved in this regard recently - is it me or does Reece Clarke not stick out quite as much as he once did ? The choice of male soloist Cavaliers in Nutcracker yesterday was curious - I mean why would you put Dyer with 3 much taller men ? I thought the same in Anastasia I think with Zucchetti ? Having said that, my criticism of yesterday's cavaliers was as much to do with poor technique and ragged individual finishing as with lack of synchronicity.
  7. annamk
    Hayward was lovely in what was I think her first principal classical role ? She was not technically perfect but I didn't care because she has the most appealing stage presence. Campbell partnered & danced well, although I've seen him dance better - not all his finishing was tidy. Unfortunately too that costume is ghastly on someone with a less than perfect ballet physique. Both Hayward & Campbell seemed to flag slightly by the coda. Anna-Rose's Clara was delightful, she danced absolutely beautifully as indeed did her partner, James Hay. The four cavaliers (Dyer, Ball, Clarke, Edmonds) were not impressive and three of them will need to up their game considerably for their debuts in the lead role. Yasmine Nagdhi made easy work of the Rose Fairy & didn't let an uncharachteristic slip throw her off course. The corps in the snowflakes looked great - much more together & homogenous than they were a few years ago, coaching has clearly improved here.
  8. annamk
    I sat at the back of the First Circle row M on the side and the view was fine although I haven't seen it from elsewhere so I don't know whether it's much better in the Second Circle.
  9. annamk
    I absolutely agree with you re second-viewing & narrative clarity. I saw the rehearsal which was terrific, and much better than I'd anticipated on the basis of some of the reviews which I mistakenly assumed were on the generous side. However, after the matinee (Oliveira/Bufala) yesterday I thought it was one of the most powerful new works I've seen for years. The final pdd was emotionally devastating; it's a long time since ballet in London has left me feeling like that. How different from the all the dispiriting and expensive new commissions seen at the RB in the recent years.
  10. annamk
    Leaving aside the difference in choreographic quality, the story of Anastasia is rooted in reality whereas Nutcracker & Swan Lake are clearly fantasies. Nonetheless, if the story telling/scene setting in Acts 1 & 2 gave you any insight into the characters to make you care about them in any way then the poor choreography might be less of an issue. Act 3 lost a good part of its impact after the mind numbing tedium of the first 2 acts. I only saw the rehearsal and the heroic efforts of the dancers to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear could not save it for me. Surely the RB could have come up with something better than serving up yet another dull as ditchwater offering a la Raven Girl, Strapless, Frankenstein.
  11. annamk
    I remain optimistic that Sergei has some memorable performances to give .... he is still very young and his talent is too rare and special for me to lose hope yet
  12. annamk
    I saw the film this eve as part of the London BFI festival. It's full of fascinating video footage of Polunin's childhood, interviews with close friends and plenty of dancing clips. I thought it was a sensitive, touching portrayl of a hugely talented young man and the emotional price he & his family have paid in their pursuit of a better life for him. The footage reminded me that Polunin had everything: incredible technique, terrific stage presence and a beautiful physique.
  13. annamk
    But no casting yet for 19th which was the date Zakharova originally put on her website but has since removed .....
  14. annamk
    I give up .... my laptop keeps switching from the live transmission to the Charlotte MacMillan interview ! It was mildly interesting the 1st time but not by the 5th ! Tried clearing my history but to no effect. Hey ho. Just noticed that DaveM seems to have the same strange problem .... at least it's not me going mad.
  15. annamk
    Perhaps all three Sim ..... My friend went to Cadogan Hall to hear the Mariinsky orchestra under Gergiev playing Prokofiev. It's not a huge venue & I would have expected it to sell out but it seems to be have been half empty on some evenings.
  16. annamk
    The poor ticket sales seem to be across all the performances although the Friday matinee is worse. It's hard to believe that there are so many unsold amphi seats for Osipova/McRae next Wednesday - the stalls have sold better but only since they were discounted to £40 ? I've never seen so many ticket offers from the RoH at the same time and with such a high level of price discounting: Fille, Il barbiere, Cosi fan tutti. It can't be the start to the season the management will have been hoping for ......
  17. annamk
    ..... Alyona joined straight from Vaganova school and has been cast as the lead in Diamonds next month (her partner is Vladislav Kozlov also in the corps, joined the company in 2013). Looks like one to watch.
  18. annamk
    Has anyone heard which cast is dancing the FGR tomorrow ?
  19. annamk
    Thank you for reporting on the performance Angela. Will you go to Shirinkina/Shklyarov on Sunday ?
  20. annamk
    There are some casting changes ..... The matinee performance on 25/9 will be danced by Osipova/Gouneo and the evening performance by Shirinkina/Sklyarov.
  21. annamk
    Except for Osipova/Polunin this casting has now disappeared from the Munich website. Zakharova has put on her own website that she's dancing Bayadere in Munich on 19th October.
  22. annamk
    Ah thank you Vanartus, at least I can stop looking for the time being.
  23. annamk
    No sign of any casting yet I can't even find the dancers listed on the company website but I may not be looking in the right place.
  24. annamk
    Curious as to the basis for your assertions that Ismene Brown has a strong dislike of Russian ballet & no understanding of the Russian aesthetic. Just to pick totally at random 2 reviews ..... her last http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/08/in-her-final-column-ismene-brown-salutes-the-bolshois-real-stars-the-corps-de-ballet/ and this from 1999 http://www.ananiashvili.com/reviews/donquixote/bolshoi99_donq_dt080299.htm She clearly doesn't like it all but what's wrong with that ?
  25. annamk
    Well only up to a point surely ......
×
×
  • Create New...