Don Q Fan

Fingers crossed they do come I am so looking forward to the Mikhailovsky! Looking forward to seeign Polina as well as Natalia, Ivan, Leonid and Denis.

I too echo the welcome to Barry - great to have a maestro's point of view and insights here! I for one was more than happy with the performance on Saturday, bravo I say!

Have just returned from my New Year Paris trip. On another thread I said I felt that the Don Q was dumbed down - I stand by this. I must say upfront that I adore the Bolshoi version of DonQ and will go and see every performance of that whenever it shows here and that is the standard against which I am judging so yes maybe I am a spoilt DonQ fan!! To try to explain myself - compared to the Bolshoi version -and the Mariinksy as well for that matter - I felt that the choreography did not make the most of the music at all - pieces where the Bolshoi would be dancing their hearts out just had very easy moves nothing too strenuous. It just was not as exciting. I saw it a few years ago at POB and I think I felt the same then. I notice that the music has been rearranged for the Nureyev version - again not to my liking either a pity as the Minkus score is wonderful - the music seemed to be played rather slowly without the usual gusto and I felt that the timing between orchestra and dancers was right off too - with many missed final flourishes - maybe the conductor had not done a ballet before!!. There was no Mercedes or Queen of the Gypsies - those are such impressive pieces of dance in the Bolshoi version that their absence left a gaping hole in the production and Espada had minimal input as well. What dance there was, was well done and the costumes were lovely, but it was just not in the same league as the Bolshoi or Mariinksy and I think the Bolshoi is the definitive version. Muriel Zusperreguy danced Kitri well and unusually she changed her pointe foot several times during the fouettes - I have not seen that done before. Chaillot was Basilio but the choreography for him was not very exciting - he was put to much better use the next day in "In The Middle Somewhat Elevated" at the Garnier. I feel that the Bastille Theatre is perhaps too big leaving many viewers too far away to be properly in on the action. It would have been better to have DonQ at the Garnier and the modern quad bill at the Bastille though I think that may have been a tough one to sell at the Bastille! Don Q was an acceptable production but it was just lacking oomph given my experience of other versions, that's all I am trying to say.

^^ I would confirm this - do NOT by front row seats as you cannot see the dancers' feet - what's the point of going to ballet if you can't see the feet??!!! I learned the hard way - Alina and Johann in Fille no less how annoying! I was told by a dancer once to always get seats about 10 rows back in any theatre to get the best view for ballet. Others will disagree but I think it was good advice. To see dancers close to go in the Stalls, to see choreopgraphy go up higher. Enjoy!

Yes they did a swan meringue with chestnut creme for Swan Lake I could not get a reservation to try it out!!

Meringues or choux pastries made like Swans?

A little late to the party = I enjoyed Saturday's matinee very much - Firebird and Raymonda were my favourite pieces. I then carried on across the Channel to Paris and now after seeing a rather dumbed down (Nureyev) DonQ and an interminable Forsythe/Brown Quad Bill (apart from Middle) it made me appreciate what I saw on Saturday all the more. I'd love to see it again but I think the run is short and sold out. Pity that Marianela was out. I agree the hand claps in Raymonda should have been a lot louder - BRB do it loud and it is much more effective. As usual stunning costumes and sets at RB.

Oh dear what a mess Mikhailovsky seem to be in I was so looking forward to seeing them as I have missed them. I am not fussed on anything the Bolshoi are bringing this year such a lost opportunity - I was very disappointed with FoP (Osipova/Vasiliev) when I saw it in Paris so won't be bothering with that whoever "dances" it. There are plenty of other offerings in July as well - ENB, Carlos Acosta and Boston Ballet etc... so we won't go short whatever happens.

Any news on the Mikhailovsky - they are due March April but still no tickets on sale at eno.org? They are leaving it a bit late - are they still coming?

I agree with Aileen and NinaG - and anyway isn't this precisely why we're on a forum - to debate! Personally I thought Kish was a bit of a dish when he partnered Zenaida in Swan Lake the other week and came across as lovely in the interviews... Re the sweetie tubs I am sure they'd give you one if you asked even if you had not bought sweets - let's not be too picky on the detail it's only a paper cup not a golden goblet they're giving away LOL!!

I think it is nerves that starts the coughing chorus as soon as the music starts - people are so "worried" about making a noise that they DO! Also the tickets are so expensive I dare say people don't want to waste them if they are ill - so we all suffer as a result! As for sweet papers - unforgivable. At least at Birmingham Hippodrome they now give out paper tubs for you to decant your sweets into BEFORE the show starts but quite why people have to munch their way through a performance is beyond me - they only have to do without for max 45 minutes before thay can stuff their faces again!

Dave - wonderful photos - they really have whetted my appetite for next Satruday - can't wait! The costumes look a-ma-zing!

^^ I would have been had I not been away in - PARIS!! Not sure about Light I think they are newish player in the cinema world. The cinema is brand new and very nice. Will be going for Alice and maybe La Boheme.

Paris Opera Don Q is on at The Wirral Light cinema Tuesday at 6.30pm

Congrats to Vadim!!!

I tried to see the Nutcracker at a Vue cinema but got there to find it was sold out - that'll teach me to pre book!!! Fantastic for ballet and ROH but I was SO disapoonted for me to have to miss it - sadly there is no repeat either which I beleive there is in some cinemas. On a happier note thought I have found a cinema even nearer to me that is now showing all the ROH opera nad ballet ( althought hey did not have Swan Lake or Nutcracker so maybe just signed up?)and they have the Paris Opera Don Q on Tuesday - just a pity I am in Paris on that day and will have to miss it typical LOL! I think it is great that the cinema viewings seem to be catching on. Great pics Dave - thank you !

Thanks for the update Tim. I am going on 30/12 to the matinee and was disappointed that no etoiles were dancing (although the new year's eve triple bill promises plenty of etoiles) - but as is usual the casts change with POB right up to the last minute so you never know. Pity Frousty is "out" from the sound of it. Thanks too for the info about the Viennese dancers - I wondered who the odd names were on the "distribution" cast list.

13th will clash with ROH/Royal Ballet Nutcracker in cinemas bother!

All went OK for me at lunch time much better, didn't "quite" get the exact Mayerling seats I wanted but they'll do!

I saw the Saturday matinee yesterday - I was expecting to see Delia Matthews and Tyrone Singleton in the lead roles but when we got there the cast had changed again to Elisha Willis and Ian MacKay - I think they are the No1 cast upon which the ballet was created? Anyway despite Ms Willis not being my fave dancer she did a good job. Carole Ann Millar was just brilliant as Dumpy her comic timing is just perfect and Samara Downs played a very brat like Skinny all overseen by the matronly Marion Tait as the Wicked Step Mother! Victoria Marr was a lovely Fairy Godmother. The 4 seasons were a delight - my favourite dancer there being Momoko Hirata - she is just beautiful but all 4 were great to watch and the costumes were perfect. I loved all the frogs and the mice and the Corps de Ballet stars what can I say - GORGEOUS! The dancers in the opening scene of Act 2 at the Prince's Ball were lovely as well and I thought overall the dancers kept time well and all seemed to enjoy the performance. Ian MacKay safely executed the "Bolshoi Lift" in Act 2 and generally looked every inch a Prince is his lovely costumes and his dancing was lovely too. The costumes, sets and props (Cinderella's carriage and the clockworks) in this production are just stunning I really cannot stress this enough - truly fabulous. The orchestra were pretty good too! Well done to BRB - 11/10 from me

What a disappointing rep for the Bolshoi. I saw FoP in Paris = didn't like it much even with Osipova/Vasiliev. No Bright Stream, no Esmerelda, no Pharoah's Daughter, no Don Q, no Spartacus.....If that is all they are offering it will be a cheap summer then I think I will be patronising the Mikhailovsky in the Spring instead.

I didn't see the cinema version but I DID see it in London in 2006 with Natalia Osipova dancing the top role as she was just coming the the fore. I loved it! I have the DVD with Zakharova but it was not the same as the live with NO.

^^ Thank you!

^^Oh no what a pain. Can't think of anything else other than if you tried googling for an answer - maybe there will be a boffin somewhere with an answer. How frustrating.

Got a ticket for the event so can't wait!