Don Q Fan

Just renewed after a short break but after 2 days I still cannot buy tickets online despite website saying online benefits should kick in immediately! Anyone else had this problem? Needless to say I am not amused!

I saw Tuesday evening's performance and it was lovely. Well danced, beautiful staging, costumes and music, what more could you want?

Thank you Janet!

LOL Toursenlair thanks for the post

Does anyone know how long the triple bill might run for - need to book train ticker with fixed time!

Thanks

I am slowly getting tired of theatres now, to the extent I feel like packing it all in. It was no better when I went to Phantom.

Society in general is "all about me me me" and this is reflected in the theatre.

No problem Janet - I did look for it before I posted but I couldn't find it!

Glad to hear that there is nothing wrong with Daria too!

Oooh I am really quite envious of you all seeing Tzu-Chao bet he was fab! Definitely one to watch.

^^ Thank you Anne.

October

Milton Keynes

17 Rojo – Muntagirov

18 Takahashi – Acosta (matinee)

18 Oliveira – Gruzdyev (evening)

19 Rojo – Muntagirov

20 Cao – Konvalina (matinee)

20 Glurdjidze - Vargas (evening)

Liverpool

30 Takahashi –Acosta

31 Glurdjidze - Vargas

November

Liverpool cont..

1 Ovsyanick – Berlanga (matinee)

1 Oliveira – Gruzdyev (evening)

2 Cao – Konvalina

3 Glurdjidze – Vargas (matinee)

3 Rojo – Muntagirov (evening)

Manchester

28 Rojo – Muntagirov

29 Glurdjidze – Vargas (matinee)

29 Takahashi – Acosta (evening)

30 Cao – Berlanga

December

1 Rojo – Muntagirov (matinee)

1 Oliveira - Gruzdyev (evening)

January

Coliseum London

9 Rojo – Muntagirov

10 Takahashi – Acosta

11 Oliveira – Gruzdyev

12 Cao – Konvalina (matinee)

12 Glurdjidze – Vargas (evening)

13 Rojo – Muntagirov (matinee)

15 Ovsyanick – Berlanga (matinee)

15 Takahashi – Acosta (evening)

16 Oliveira – Gruzdyev

17 TBC (matinee)

17 Cao – Konvalina (evening)

18 Glurdjidze – Vargas

19 TBC (matinee)

19 Rojo - Muntagirov (evening)

* Cast may be subject to change

** Cast list pertains to evening performances unless otherwise stated

Were there any tickets left for the Quad Bill in February with Rojo/Polunin in Marguerite and Armand?

I saw the Friday evening performance with Chi Cao and Nao Sakuma. I did not like Act 1 much at all compared to other versions and there were several sections where the dancers were not quite as together as usual for BRB, the men fared better than the women. Things got much much better in Act 2. In Act 1 I found Marion Tate was more a very scary Carabosse than loving mother and Queen - extremely austere indeed! Nao is a total professional and it was upon her arrival on stage that the rest upped their game in my opinion. Nao's Odette was perfect the right amount of nervousness of meeting the Prince and as Odile the right amount of evil and double crossing intent. In this version we seemed to have lost some princesses there being only 3 but no matter Act 3 was as good as it usually is in Swan lake. Chi Cao partners Nao Sakuma perfectly and he put in a good performance as well. The best bit was the curtain up on Act 4 with lake full of mist and the swans rising from the dry ice - fabulous! That is the bit I came to see as only BRB seem to do it like that. The ending was great especially with Benno carrying on a dead Prince at the end super. Some of the the costumes were VERY heavy looking and the poor dancers must have been boiled. I liked the pairing of Victoria Marr and William Bracewell and I would have liked to have seen a lot more of Momoko Hirata.

A good night out, Birmingham next weekend for the Triple Bill awaits!

I'd write via ROH or if you are around when she is performing wait for her at the stage door, she is lovely and always very happy to sign things for fans.

^^ Oh how very very annoying I had a ticket for 5th Nov which up until now was when Svetlana Zakharova was originally dancing now she's changed the dates to those I wanted originally but my flight is booked now. Bother!! Nevermind the silver lining is I get to see Mikhail Kaniskin twice in both Onegin and La Bayadere so I can live with that

Congratulaitons to Ivan. Does this mean he is leaving the Mikhailovsky or is he attached to both companies - I hope so as I was hoping to see him in March at the Coli with the Mikhailovsky and hopefully Natalia Osipova!

Sounds great thank you for the review - as a regular visitor to Berlin, Dresden is not that far so I may have to look at Dresden too to see what is playing!

Am pleased to see Don Q will be screened - just hope FACT in Liverpool have POB broadcasts - anyone know? Will save me a trip and battle on the website for a ticket if it will be on here!

Thanks for the cast lists - thankfully one of my preferred dancers for my performance even if the role has been reversed LOL!

The Dutch theatres I have been to in Amsterdam are pretty good - being a tall race the theatre seats seem to accommodate this as the rake is steep and you don't get a head in the way. The Carre was excellent for an old theatre when I went to see the Kirov and Bolshoi. Have to agree that big heads are a pain and therefore I try to book front seats on circles where possible.

Heavy breathers are another bug bear of mine - Tchaikovsky in Berlin was ruined for me all I could concentrate on was the noisy breathing of a man next to me it was so forced it must have given him nose ache, and a woman at ROH ruined Jewels for me by making THE most annoying clicking sound with her mouth all the way through it was horrible! And jangly bracelets are another pain. I sit there silent which is not difficult! As I've said before women wearing hats is another mystery to me and bouffant hair is a no no too. I've said elsewhere that there should be a Quiet Zone for true ballet fans - if only!

In Venice anyone trying to applaud when I saw Giselle by the Mikhailovsky was told to be quiet by the home crowd so evidently clapping is not the done thing during the performance in Italy - it had the Russian dancers confused though as they usually lap it up at the slightest effort!

Oh wow I am thrilled for Dinu I love him. His performances of Les Bourgeois are fabulous and he's just great in everything he does! Very well deserved and my congrats to Dinu!!

Certainly never ever choose row A at the Royal Opera House you only see from mid calf up - a total disgrace for the money!

Ballet news has another behind the scenes account

http://balletnews.co.uk/ballet-backstage-first-hand-account-of-the-olympics-closing-ceremony/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+co%2FRudC+%28Ballet+NEWS%29

I see it was Wheeldon who choreographed the "ballet" - not impressed. I agree with Janet that BRB's Faster would have been brilliant in this situation it would have been perfect for the occasion!

As for the music where was Spandau Ballet with GOLD or Duran Duran with RIO?!

Beryl H

I thought the audience behaviour was irritating at the 3 performances I went to last week, people in front of me spoilt 2 of the 3 by continually sitting forward, moving about, fiddling with mobile phones , dashing to the toilet mid-performance, etc. Also not much applause, dancers had to hurry off (they got better at this as it went on), and the decision to have a pause only between acts 1 and 2 was a disaster too, they could have made an announcement."

I completely agree - it is the behaviour of other people that is slowly spoiling my attendance at the ballet. Why do they have to do all the above and have rustling sweet papers - can't they wait til the break? I also hear with dismay Sadlers Wells now alows food in the auditorium - what is the world coming to for goodness sake can't people watch a show without having to munch on something? It is rude and disrespectful to the performers and frankly if people don't intend giving 100% attention then what are they doing there? I also question the need for some women to wear HATS in the theatre - HATS ???!!!! What about the person behind?! Big "Billy Bouffant" hair do's are also another bug bear of mine! I could go on - I believe theatres should have a Virgin Train style Quiet Zone seating area (best seats in the house of course) for the likes of me to sit where I won't be disturbed or have my line of sight interrupted!!

I think the 4 men with DB were Cope, Avis, Watson and the one I couldn't get I see was Kish. As for prima ballerina - sorry not on this occasion any acrobat/dancer could have done that routine which was totally lacking in dance. What a wasted opportunity. Who on earth choreographed the piece it was not the best of British dance by a long way :-(

Here are some pictures from yesterday's dress rehearsal at the Coliseum. Many cast changes but a very enjoyable session.

 

 

 

The Company in the Pas de Douze

 

 

 

 

Prince Siegfried - Junor Souza, Odette - Anais Chalendard and Swans

 

 

More pictures in www.johnrossballetgallery.co.uk

Wonderful photos (of the cast I saw) thank you John!