Don Q Fan

Anyone got any opinions of the Champs Elysees Theatre - reasonable views comfy seats?

Casting changes have been announced on ROH.org.uk - and Sat 8 Matinee we now have Marianela and Thiago replacing Alina and Rupert. Judging from the comments above I'll be in for a treat! Hirano also replaces Bonnelli on 3rd I think.

I wonder if one could set up a private gallery ie where you have to be a member and sign in with a password to view the photos much like a private blog? I would think that ROH could do little about that as it would not be in the public domain like an open gallery/blog. Just a thought.

Such a shame Vienna are at Chatelet I really disliked the that theatre with its bad sight lines (interrupted by metal cross bars) and extremely hot/uncomfortable in the Paris summer.

I don't think Mayerling or Manon suitable for children. Maybe 14/15.

What a sad day for ballet if ROH insist on pushing this stupid new policy through. Where is the harm? I'd love to have a few words with whoever dreamed up this idea. Bottom line - do they want people to come to the ballet or not?

Tickets do not seem to be on sale online at present.

I nearly fell off my seat £120?! They must be VIP tickets/meet and greet or something. The other tickets are "normal" prices £85 being top and down...I'll think about it - if Sergei is dancing then maybe.

Is the RB Ashton Bill not being shown widely in July? Seems such a shame that it seems to be on limited release especially as it was trailered at the start of Alice.

Woohoo for Matthew Bournes Swan Lake - hope it tours too!

I saw all 3 DQs at the Coli and saw no cameras -sorry!

I am glad you that 3D has been mentioned as I was unsure whether to book the 2D or 3D version of the Kirov Swan Lake as both are running concurrently at my local Vue and I guess the 2D will be the one for me! I think the Light is only 3D but need to check. Must check where Ashton Bill is on - fingers x'd for a local cinema too!

Haha nooooo! Got the deal on ENB as was in London for Mayerling anyway so hard to resist as not often we get a chance at a 2-4-1 deal coming from up north eh?!

I have booked all 3 perfs in Liverpool - I certainly expect them to be as good as any other touring company no reason to doubt as far as I am aware. Even if the sets and costumes are "rammy" that doesn't mean the dancing will be - look at Cuba NB - terrible costumes - falling apart in some cases - and the Kirov SB ones are not up to much either but the dance surpassed all that!!! I love a good costume but at the end of the day I am there to see the dance so fingers x'd it will be good.

I saw the Matinee of E&D on Friday 19/4 - need only say that ENB were fabulous! I think it beat Mayerling which I saw that evening!

That was a good article but some of the comments were even better LOL! Our audiences thread comes to mind.

I am shocked to read Roberta Marquez was boo-ed. She's a lovely dancer and lovely person this is unbelievable for ROH. I agree that the traditional baddies - Carabosse in particular and maybe Rothbart may get boo-ed and boos are testimony to their good portrayal of the role! If a production is as bad as I am reading ME was, then I'd just leave at the first opportunity.......

Well this is good news about Natalia Osipova joining RB although I didn't like her with Acosta in Swan Lake - I hope they partner her with someone else - taller. Thiago would be good in Don Q but I had hoped to see him with his wife after their wonderful Onegin! Have I missed something but where is ROH casting published - I haven't heard from the Friends - maybe my mail is late?

^^ DVD is due at the end of the year - on my Xmas list!

I think most of the cast shuffles in 2010 were down to the fact Zakharova went on maternity leave.

I have several pairs of signed pointe shoes that I bought at NYCB and The Trocks - no such agreement was in place - they were selling them as fund raisers! Much as I would love to own a pair of Natalia's shoes, looking at most of Natalia's shoes in photos I reckon they will be pretty battered - her Don Q shoes were certainly battered and marked compared to Oksana Bondareva's which were still looking rather more shiny and pink LOL!

So pleased to hear from MAB and Aileen that Sabina Y and Oksana B were good in Laurencia both lovely dancers!

Ah thank you Aqualia I thought Saturday's Queen looked more like Borchencko and as the review says it was an unannounced cast change.

Thank you Caspermil -I have checked it some good casts, still some performances awaiting (inc 2 of mine!) I'll keep checking.

I saw Giselle on Friday with Novikova and Sarafanov - a lovely Giselle indeed. Leonid did 34 entrechats and the last being as good as the first OMG! Fantastic! I agree that Osipova and Vasiliev have kind of stolen the limelight here. I saw all 3 Don Quixotes. The 2 Osipova/Vasilievs full of flash and bravura as expected but not quite as many fireworks as their last 2 performances with the Bolshoi at ROH in 2010. For a more "pure" performance the matinee was just the ticket with Oksana Bondareva and Denis Matvienko. I have seen Denis many times but Oksana was new to me and what a delightful young elegant dancer she is. Fouettes were mentioned - yes Natalia whipped them off in fine style, but equally so did young Oksana with beautiful triples and doubles thrown in- absolutely gorgeous. I really liked the production and costumes and the rest of the company were great too. Just a couple of points of detail I wonder if anyone can help me with - the Queen of the Dryads on Saturday evening - was that definitely Kosheleva? I didn't think she looked the same on Sunday night? For the Matinee we were treated to Borchenko, very nice. Also on Sunday evening Kosheleva I didn't think she did any Italian fouettes - as I think they were not very good on Saturday night if it was her dancing then too so I think she changed the steps - did anyone else notice? Borchenko had no such problem with her Italian fouettes. I was very sad not to see Sabina Yapparova dance Cupid on Sunday - she was replaced at the last minute Viktoria ??? as she is lovely dancer but I did enjoy her as one of Kitri's friends in the first 2 performances. I went to stage door after the Saturday performance - no large Police presence when I arrived - 2 Bobbies walked past, and the mounted division were around earlier in the evening when I was going to the show, there was just a small group of ballet fans - it was so cold we were allowed inside the foyer of the Coli and we were rewarded with signatures and photos by Natalia and Ivan well worth the wait and no bun fight like at ROH in 2010. Yes there was drunken man shouting what were people waiting for but he was moved along and disappeared into the night, thankfully. ------ As regards the RB forthcoming production I would like to see Roberta Marquez with Steven Macrae as K & B I think they would be great and Marianela with Thiago surely? Alina has danced Kitri with ABT so she would be good, presumably with Johann? However of the upcoming dancers I think Valentino Zuchetti could be given a chance he has the character to be a good Basilio I reckon. He was good in Voices of Spring and loves to jump so the role of Basilio is possibly right up his street.