Don Q Fan

😮Spits tea out say whaaaat!!! Ouch!

Any idea when we might expect the ROH 19/20 season to be announced? I've never known it so late as this year.

I'm still waiting for ROH to declare their season too.

Judging from Nunez's Instagram feed she's doing a lot of away dancing at the moment as has Muntagirov. Presumably they are allowed in their contracts. Nunez has been in Italy Poland and further afield recently.

And Alina Cojacaru dances in Illusions Like Swan Lake on 16 and 18 May at Hamburg - Luckily I managed to get a ticket for 16th can't wait!!

Yes where you sit definitely affects enjoyment I think. I saw the Christmas triple bill from the Ampi and then Balcony it was so much more enjoyable from the Balcony for me. I think the first ballet I sat in the ROH stalls was Coppelia (with Marianela) in row H and I was amazed how good it was but I prefer overall to be high up as I love to see the patterns in the choreography. Just lately I find it difficult to get into any ballets I see, maybe it's ballet fatigue.

I went both times (one was a day trip and the other a week long tour) as part of escorted tours as I speak no russian. Our guides were both very good. On the week tour the guide never really let us out of her eyesight apart from one afternoon - and then with strict instructions to be very careful on the Nevsky Prospekt - only one guest had an attempted theft the whole trip. This was 2004 so not sure if it is any better now but best to have your wits about you anyway. One weird thing was that a young Russian videoed the whole trip and then played the video to guests on the bus ride to the airport it was played on an unsecured fold up table on the bus - not very Health and Safety pc!! Needless to say the video could be bought by anyone who wanted a copy!

I believe there is now a Faberge Museum - the items therein are what were bought from Forbes - I saw Forbes in NYC and it was fabulous so if you like the Russian Imperial Easter Eggs go see!!! When I went we took an escorted tour for safety reasons as I don't speak Russian. Our very efficient guide took us to Hermitage/Winter Palace, Peter Paul Fortress, Admiralty, Yusopov Palace (Rasputin), Catherine Palace (Amber Room!!), Alexander Palace, Pavlovsk, the Peterhof was done en route back to the airport so we got no time to fully explore the gardens plus it was early April and they were only just removing the winter covers off the statues and fountains. It is a huge city with HUGE buildings so hone in on what you really like - the Winter Palace was fab but I didn't get much out of the bits of the Hermitage we saw as the art works were not to my taste for eg. Hotels might have special access too the one we stayed at offered guests access to the Golden rooms at the Hermitage for a fee. At the Mariinsky OLD theatre don't get stalls tickets they're awful as no rake whatsoever and I could not see Giselle as had huge man in front, so get a seat on one of the tiers. We also went to Valery Gergiev's restaurant - just for a dessert - it was lovely the curtain ties were made of pointe shoe ribbon with pointe shoes on the end! An interesting quirk was they weighed the ice cream at the Mariinsky on an old fashioned set of grocers scales when I went LOL!! Definitely try the local blinis with caviar! Enjoy!

I just looked at Les Pats triple out of interest as Arizona has always appealed as a State to visit, but the tickets are SO dear - on a par with ROH I think! Over $100 for the front row circle and $128 at the back wow!

Her Giselle with hubby Sarafanov afew years ago at The Coli was fabulous.

I SO agree about Novikova.

I have Fonteyn's signature in 2 books and that is her signature as above.

I enjoyed the livestream online after the event very much. I adore Jewels and it's one of my favourite ballets. I think I liked Diamonds best when I first saw it, then Emeralds and then Rubies but now I think I prefer Emeralds over Diamonds and Rubies whilst I enjoy it is still my least favourite piece of the three, probably more down to the awkward Stravinsky music. It helps that I now "understand" the ballets a lot more now as well. I think the more you see Jewels the more you get out of it. The choreography is just amazing and I was glad that as the video progressed the cameras tended to stay wide rather than focus in which is what you need for Balanchine. I think if you want to really appreciate Balanchine's work you need to see it from above and in the whole, and also note that a lot of the time left and right stage mirror each other. Quite a feat for the dancers remembering which side and which foot to start with etc.... I was lucky to see 2 performances live in Munich last year, the premiere and the following show. What let this down at the end in Diamonds was that Somova brought her own tutu from the Mariinsky which completely spoiled the look. Munich have beautiful sparkly white/oyster new costumes and there she was in her drab dull almost grey faded tutu. Pfft. Really unimpressed with that! (And Staats Ballett Bayern even confirmed I was right about her tutu to me on Twitter). Her dancing was OK but I've seen better not least from Munich's own Principal Ksenia Rhyzkova whom I would have much rather seen. Bouder was, of course, a total show off in Rubies but then that is what the part is, and I liked Osiel Guneo who had a lot of fun with part. I have only seen Bouder in Emeralds before which was lovely, but she rocked it here in Rubies. Emeralds was lovely too. How I wish I had been there!

Is there any cast info for the Liverpool run?

I understand that the Balcony was closed on Sunday evening, so those patrons had to be reseated lower down so that possibly added to the late start.

I definitely do NOT like tattoos on anyone, ever.

Yes I saw Marian's comments on IG. I was interested to see Kaniskin is married to Cabrera - I had thought he was married to someone else (years ago though)? Not my business I suppose! However I am very envious that you were able to see their cast I would have loved to see that one as it was the only one I think? I shall be over in the new season for Bayadere and Jewels - can't wait!

A few pics from the curtain call - the light was very strong so they're not great, but this one is everyone bar the ENBS students. Zagrebin, Khaniukova, Gomes, Robichaux, Ball, Conductor, Magri, Putrov, Kowroski, Angle, Ganio, O'Neill, DeLuz Hannah O'Neill and Mathieu Ganio (Paris) Katya Khaniukova and Dimitry Zagrebin Maria Kowroski, Tyler Angle, Mathieu Ganio, Hannah O'Neill, Joaquin DeLuz, 2 ladies of the ENBS

Absolutely loved this show. Fabulous to see such wonderful dancers that do not normally grace a UK stage too. My stand out was Ivan Putrov's Ashton solo he was so beautiful. But everything was great a million times better than last week's Russian Icons. Had the privilege to meet most of the dancers after and thank them personally. They all seemed delighted to be here too. Ivan was so grateful to fans as well and hopes we'll all come again! Too right!

I didn't like the costumes too much, but I remember the Prince's jacket was more grey, I think it's the light.

I was lucky to be able to do a short trip over to Berlin on 21st March to see the opening night of Onegin. Onegin is pretty much a staple for Berlin however this evening's show was to be the debut for 3 of the main characters namely Ksenia Ovsyanick as Tatiana, Daniel Norgren-Jensen as Lensky and Vahe Martirosyan as Gremin. Marian Walter played Onegin and Krasina Pavola was Olga, with Barabra Schroeder as Mme Larina. Ovsyanick played Tatiana very well, although I felt that as the ballet progressed she settled/grew into the role and she really owned the final Act. As the young Tatiana we see the young girl infatuated by the handsome and enigmatic Onegin culminating in the passionate bedroom pdd, only to see her infatuation brutally thrown back in her face when Onegin tears up her love letter later on in the ballroom scene. Earlier in Act 1 though, Olga and Lensky perform the wonderful double run across the stage closely followed by all the peasants with the girls all leaping - it's one of my favourite pieces in a ballet and SBB didn't disappoint. It was quite the spectacle and received huge applause. Moving on to the second Act, Onegin of course cruelly rebuffs Tatiana's attentions returning her letter by tearing it up into her hands leaving her distraught, however despite Tatiana's infatuation for Onegin, Prince Gremin arrives and is introduced to Tatiana. Onegin then proceeds to deliberately wind up Lensky by dancing with a rather willing Olga. Lensky eventually threw down the gauntlet (glove in this case) and the duel is accepted by Onegin. Norgren-Jensen was well partnered by Pavlova and he seemed to suit the role of the rather more gentle character of Lensky. Pavlova was a lovely Olga and played the part very well. In the Duel Scene I did find the actual gun shooting part of the duel a little lacking in drama as it was performed at the rear of the stage behind a scrim - not sure if I remember that in an Onegin before I seem to recall it is usually mid stage? Anyway Ovsyanick and Pavlova played the sisters begging Lensky not to go through with the duel so well and conveyed their desperation very clearly and of course their sorrow after the inevitable happens. Act 3 saw Tatiana happily married to Gremin and this is where I felt Ovsyanick came into her own. I could really feel her love for Gremin and when Onegin turns up you could feel her distress that Gremin was going away. The big pdd with Gremin was lovely and then this was followed by an equally good pdd with Onegin and Tatiana finally giving Onegin his comeuppance was rather satisfying. I liked Martirosyan very much as Gremin he was a good solid dancer and took to the part very well. I am not so sure I liked Walter as Onegin he was good don't get me wrong, I have admired him as a dancer for years, but I think I prefer Kaniskin (or Soares if in London) who has a bit more "bad boy" about him which is always good for Oengin! For a debut I thought Ovsyanick did really well. The corps de ballet were on good form and danced all the ballroom scenes beautifully with all the lovely formations which I could see so well from my lofty position on the 3rd tier. The orchestra and their music were great under the baton of Paul Connolley. I was just sorry I could not see the cast of 5th April as that is with Kaniskin as Onegin and I do have a soft spot for him as Onegin as I mentioned above! Overall a really solid performance and very enjoyable evening at the newly renovated Staatsoper Unter den Linden - do go if you get the chance -it's quality dancing at a very reasonable price in a beautifully renovated, and comfortable, theatre. Cast with Paul Connolley, Conductor Ksenia Ovsyanick and Marian Walter as Tatiana and Onegin Krasina Pavlova and Daniel Norgren-Jensen as Olga and Lensky Vahe Martirosyan as Gremin

Absolutely agree and Simkin's nude pants too!! The way the lighting was you would have thought he was stark naked on stage! My mother hates these skimpy costumes so its a good job she was not with me LOL!

Vienna Opera and Ballet announced 19/20 season today. https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/staatsoper/news/detail/news/the-new-season-2018-2019-at-the-wiener-staatsoper-copy-1/ Full brochure here https://issuu.com/wienerstaatsoper/docs/sv_kern_19_20_dramaturgie_low_einze/160 Ballet starts page 43 and full calendar at the back. Highlights for me Jewels (new to rep) and Onegin.

ROH seem to have a knack of putting very few dates on for Ashton triple bills. It's almost criminal. I got one loose seat for the matinee thus avoiding an overnight stay but my train is likely over £70 as well. I didn't really want the Osipova Hallberg for Month as I'm not keen on them but I'll have to grin and bear it. So sad there were not more performances put on as it's surely a lot of effort to stage just a measly 6 shows. As for the new website it's dire! Duly awarded it 0/10 on the survey although I was done and dusted by 9:06am.

I thoroughly enjoyed both the matinee and evening shows on Saturday. Such a happy sunny ballet and what a debut for Magri! A few curtain call pics from both:- From the Evening Show