Don Q Fan

^^ well said. Sad but true.

Interesting to know - thank you. I saw Raymonda that year it was OK but not their best work IMHO.

Thank you for the info - what a shame it clashes with RB R&J as I'd rather have seen La Bayadere especially as my attempt to get a ticket last year at the Opera Garnier resulted in possible the worst seat I've ever had at a ballet and I could only see 20% so it would have been nice to see a proper view of it - will have to buy the DVD if it is published!

I can understand Malakhov being annoyed - he "found" Polina and put her her where she is. I wonder if the fact she got married last year has something to do with it all. Her new husband (not in the ballet world??) may have commitments and she would naturally wish to be where he is? Let's not forget that at 28 she is not a young dancer anymore and if she wants a family we may expect to see less of her.

Does anyone know if the (live) cinema screening of the 22 March performance of La Bayadere will be shown in the UK?

Oh so Polina is heading back to Russia, interesting. At least we know where she is going.

I was in the Circle and it was packed out - maybe people prefer the view from higher up. I reckon BRB broke even at the very least on Thursday.

Thanks Buddy - as they say caveat emptor! At least with Ebay you have some protection.

The Spring Passions matinee seemed to be a sell out on Thursday. The Hippodrome charges online are pretty steep at 5% too and that puts me off. A stalls ticket is about £45 compared to £37.50 or so at The Lowry in Manchester and I think the The Lowry is a better theatre and their charges are much lower. I detest these "handling fees" especially when I have done all the finger work on the computer!!

I agree I shall miss David.

If you are in Paris you may be able to get a ticket outside in the street before the performance you want - or on Ebay France - I managed to get one on Ebay for the Bolshoi Don Q last year - and at the perfs of Don Q and Flames of Paris I saw there were loads of people selling spares outside.

Enjoyed the Spring Passions matinee yesterday. Daphnis and Chloe was not for me, it was a touch too far towards the modern end of the ballet spectrum for my liking, not that it was not very well danced by Chi Cao and Nao Sakuma. The leader of the Pirates Bryaxis was played by Tzu-Chao Chou - he really is one to watch! The Star of the show though was Two Pigeons. There was so much in there that I had not remembered since I last saw TP ages ago. I loved the gypsy scenes which brought back fond memories of Don Q from which I am suffering severe withdrawal symptoms given no Russian visit this summerJo Caley made a lovely job of the young man I really enjoyed his portrayal and he has a nice comic touch. An excellent performance.

I saw Veronika Part in the ABT London Season just before her much deserved promotion to Principal - of all the casts I wanted to she her because of what I had read about her and I also wanted to see Max (Beselerovsky) and Irina (Dvorovenko) because I had seen them in Berlin at Malakov & Friends Gala. Veronika was very good as I recall but I don't remember much detail now but her 32 fouettes were pulled off really well because I remember telling her so at the stage door! Hope ABT come back the UK sometime soon.

Well done JMcN catching the bouquet I thought that was lovely touch! Bit late in the day now but anyone know the run time for Spring Passions? Am at the matinee tomorrow. TIA.

Great topic as I regularly travel to Berlin to see SBB - my next trip will be in May to see R&J and Onegin, so I really hope in the light of the above news that Polina will be cast in one or other of the performances I have tickets for. What a shame to hear she is leaving.

I saw the Saturday matinee and all I can is BRILLIANT! It was a joy to watch. Alexander Campbell played Will Mossop with such a lovely humour he was great. What happened to his position at Royal Ballet? Their loss = BRB gain. Yet again the enjoyment of the dancers was palpable throughout the performance. I particularly enjoyed the lovely park dance scenes and lovely costumes and coloured pointe shoes! The whole thing was a real treat.

Happy to pay towards the upkeep as I have said before - technical ability = 0 also.

Thanks for the info, am looking forward to them both.

There have certainly been a few changes in the ballet world lately, Osipova & Vasliev, Polunin now Eagling. Sadly ENB have lost their appeal for me lately maybe he feels the same?

Looks good. can't wait to see what the other companies will have on offer as well. Look forward to seeing Grosse Fugue and Cinders very much!

Maybe it is time for Royal Ballet to regroup and sort itself out if all the rumours are true that there is "trouble at mill". 1 principal leaving should not be causing quite so much of a problem, dancers come and go elsewhere without such a hiccup. Really it shows poor succession planning especially as some of the top RB dancers are not exactly spring chickens any more. I am sure Gomez will be a fine replacement, I've seen him a few times and makes a change from the same old same old. Hopefully it will do the dancers good to have a guest dancer as well.

I wondered of Sergei could go to Birmingham Royal Ballet- Robert Parker is due to retire so there would be a vacancy and their rep is so varied I think that may suit him. I don't see him with ENB as someone said as that would potentially upset Vadim's apple cart. I personally think Sergei should spend some time at home with his family - he has been without the guidance of his natural parents for a huge part of his formative years and it worries me that he has effectively had to be independent since he was 13. It must have some effect on him. Poor chap it sounds like he is in turmoil but the drugs (heroin) he talks about are not the answer. Oh dear.

Oh yes and congrats to Evgenia Obraztsova being appointed Principal at the Bolshoi.

At least we know now so can plan a summer. Maybe one or other will visit Amsterdam instead - I have gone there in the past to get my annual dose of Don Q! Let's hope so.

Oh OK!