jmhopton

Sorry Jeanette, I'm confusing you with triple bills. Sarasota said they weren't able to carry on with streaming their own work (cost I think but not really sure). The filmed triple bill I referred to was the UK Ashton triple at the end of April, beginning of May. That does seem to be being streamed which is good news for all us Ashton fans (especially international ones like you) When I said 'we have the triple bill' I meant the UK. Sorry to get your hopes up. But at least you may have an option of attending Sarasota (lucky you!) And you can also enjoy our streamed Ashton triple.

Quite simply the Forum is my lifeline to all things ballet related. I love it and log in at least once a day. It was awful being without it for even a short space of time 10 years ago. I've never felt so cut off and bereft of information, communication and companionship. Several people I first 'met' on the Forum have now become good friends and it's as much a treat to meet up with such friends before a performance or in the interval, as it is to see the actual performance. A very loud Bravo to all the Moderators who make it happen (it's Ok to say this as I'm not in the theatre!), and as volunteers and in their own time. May all Forum users and Mods have a wonderful Christmas and here's to a better 2022 for everyone (especially all the ballet companies!)

There was a mention in yesterday's Times article in the Links. However, all it says is it will be at the Southbank Centre sometime in 2022. Not very helpful.

I'm seriously thinking of a house exchange for at least some of the Ashton performances. We used to do it every year in the early 2000s for when the Kirov (as they were then) came in the summer and it worked out really great. We had a lovely flat in North London, our elderly dog could come too and it saved a fortune on hotel and transport costs. Also our elderly exchanger had a 2 week holiday every year. We still do exchanges but haven't done any in London for a while. Perhaps it's time to start again, especially as both Ashton weekends are public holidays so transport will be disrupted and accommodation expensive.

Oh dear so I'll miss out on Vadim's Month in the Country as a livestream. I've been wanting an opportunity to see him perform this at a livestream where I can watch it multiple times, since I saw his performance in the last run. I'll just have to see as many as I can live. I thought they would go for this casting as McRae was filmed in Rhapsody last time so it didn't make sense to film him again. I'm sure Sambe will be splendid but I still hanker after a Hayward/Hay Rhapsody as they were so amazing last time.

Me too. I was hoping their performance would have been filmed as he was terrific with Hayward last time. Have I got it right they are filming 2 different casts? I don't understand this as I thought the idea of filming twice was to do a bit if a mix and match if something went wrong with a performance. Do we know which cast is being streamed? I would love to see Vadim in Month in the Country filmed but also Hayward and Sambe in Rhapsody. I can see my entire annual ballet budget going on this one production as its the train and hotel costs as well as the tickets as I've got to see Morera as well.

Lucky you, Jeanette. I'm very envious. What a pity Sarasota have stopped streaming. I'd love to have seen that programme and also the new David Bintley. I did email them to ask but they said they couldn't carry on with the streaming. At least we have the triple bill which hopefully is being streamed as its being filmed so that's something to look forward to.

Thanks for this. I thought it was Fiona Chadwick but didn't want to say so in case I was wrong. Wasn't it after this she went to Matthew Bournes company to play the Queen in his all male Swan Lake? Re the doc series I thought this was another opportunity missed to say what facilities/support the RB were able to offer in career advice and re-training and what sort of careers ex ballet dancers often took. Sorry, seem to have gone off Nutcracker topic!

I've still got the series on video somewhere. Never got round to transferring it to dvd as I found it disappointing and irritating. I was hoping to find out how the ROH was run, how it was decided what ballets/operas were to be staged, the staging process, how the opera company was formed, is there a permanent chorus equivalent of the corps de ballet; all these sorts of things. Instead the concentration seemed to be on extraordinary not ordinary events, such as substituting star singers at the last minute and management throwing phones across the room. Presumably the makers thought that made for more interesting TV but it was a big turn off for me. I think there was something about one of the dancers having her contract terminated but no explanation seemed to be given.

Just going through the Christmas double issue Radio Times. Haven't seen any ballet so far but on Boxing Day BBC2 12.40 pm there is Singin' in the Rain. BBC2 6.40 pm Anything Goes. Fabulous production filmed at the Barbican and shown at the cinema recently. Definitely my Christmas highlight. BBC4 7.30 pm Repeat of the Dancing the Nutcracker: inside the Royal Ballet documentary shown several years ago, charting the rise of Francesca Hayward from watching the Nutcracker on video to dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy. This is followed at 9pm not by a performance of the Nutcracker but the Royal Opera La Boheme from 2020. BBC4 Tuesday 28 Dec 9pm. Original West Side Story film. SkyArts Tuesday 28th Dec 9.30pm. A Play In A Day. I'm really scraping the barrel here but Sergei Polunin is in this programme but it's not clear what he's actually doing. SkyArts Thursday 30th Dec 6.45am Matthew Bournes Swan Lake. The first Christmas ballet but hardly a new one. SkyArts Friday 31st Dec 7.30am Matthew Bournes Romeo and Juliet. Despite having eventually found some ballet I'm still underwhelmed by the offerings. Anything Goes will still be my highlight but I miss my Royal Ballet fix despite all the dvds I have. Why does the BBC show so little ballet these days? It's hardly worth paying your licence fee. I'm hoping someone will come up with some treasures I've missed otherwise it will be out with the dvds.

Channel 5 Tue 21 Dec 3:30pm-4:30pm (1 hour) A Nutcracker Christmas (2016) Jaded former ballerina Lily is forced to come to terms with the life - and love - she left behind when her niece Sadie, herself a ballet prodigy, is asked to take the starring role in The Philadelphia Ballet's production of Tchaikovsky's festive favourite The Nutcracker. However, the production is being directed by none other than Lily's old flame Mark. Festive romantic drama, starring Amy Acker, Sascha Radetsky and Sophia Lucia Category: Film SkyArts Thu 23 Dec 11:45pm-1:05am (1 hour 20 minutes) Rumpelstilzchen. A miller boasts to the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold, and the monarch tells her life is forfeit on the third time she fails. She despairs until a strange man appears, offering to spin straw into gold in exchange for a gift. A production of the fairy tale by dance company Ballet Boyz, with Jane Horrocks in the title role, alongside Tanya Reynolds and John Marquez Talking Pictures TV (Freeview:81 Sky:328 Virgin:445 BT:81Freesat: 306) Christmas Eve 12:05pm-1:55pm (1 hour 50 minutes) The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1971) Fantastical story of how the much-loved children's author came up with the idea for the series of classic children's books, drawing on her lonely childhood during which she imagined her famous creations were her only friends. Magical drama, performed by members of the Royal Ballet Company, and choreographed by Frederick Ashton

Sorry mods, can you please remove the link I placed in my last post. I stupidly tried to post it straight from my Inbox rather than opening it and the link leads to my inbox not ENB! Technology isn't my forte!

Well I got an interesting email about the music for Raymonda (see below) and other bits but still no casting. I emailed 15th Nov but haven't heard anything.

Re children at ballet, a very memorable performance I attended at least 10 years ago was the Mariinsky (I think) doing Jewels. It was a matinee and there were several classes of secondary school children there. I suspect they may not have attended much live theatre let alone ballet but there were gasps when the curtain rose on the stage. They were very good during the performance and it was nice to see the girls trying to get en pointe in their clumpy schools in the interval and the boys enjoying exploring the building, going up and down the escalators. At the end the raucous clapping, cheering and stamping of feet left no one in any doubt they enjoyed themselves hugely and they certainly added to my enjoyment of the performance.

SkyArts are showing ENB in Paris Thurs 16th Dec 6am. A repeat doc of ENBs staging of their Corsaire in Paris. Just edited this to add this is my 1000th Forum post. A milestone indeed! The little logos telling us how we fit into the scheme of things seem to have vanished so I'll never know what I've moved onto from 'mentor'. Geriatric probably!

I got my husband to buy it for me for Christmas. I've been very disciplined and not opened it yet! Will let you know what I think after Christmas.

What a wonderful idea! I still have nightmares about the dreadful period (mercifully short) when we were without the Forum. I access it at least once a day and it is such an important part of my life. Can't thank all you Mods enough for making it happen and as volunteers in your own time. You should be the ones getting the prizes, not us.

Yes, especially the last paragraph about the 'elephant in the room'. Terrible that Sarasota Ballet perform far more unusual Ashton works than do either RB Companies. I know the RB has a much larger rep but their founder choreographer should be better represented in terms of preserving his more unusual works while there are still original cast members who worked with him. Sadly they won't be around forever.

Thanks oncnp. Much appreciated.

Thanks very much oncnp. I'll check it out again. I'm sure it was more straightforward when I purchased previously. I don't do subtle when it comes to IT! Have just seen your follow up post and it's not so straightforward after all. What a disappointment. If you contact him could you post what he says please as I might like some photos/mugs myself.

Alastair Muir has been mentioned before on the Forum and after reading about him here I bought several ballet mugs for gifts (and for myself!) He does photos as well. Below is his homepage where he has links to theatre and opera photos as well as ballet. If you click on Ballet he has sections on Dance, Royal Ballet and ENB. Having said that, it's a while since I bought any and I seem to remember you just clicked on a picture and the options came up as to what was available. Now, it doesn't seem as clear. Perhaps try emailing him if you fancy any; alastair@alastairmuir.com https://photos.alastairmuir.com/

Any chance of this being streamed? I don't think I'll be able to attend.

I was in stalls circle C94 for Vadim/Marianela last night and really enjoyed the feeling of being so close to the stage. OK it's not really ideal for a classical ballet as you can't see both lines of Wilis in the second act (or Albrechts cottage in act 1) but you do get a fantastic view of the action and facial expressions. Would be great for a Macmillan ballet where facial expressions and nuanced acting details are very important. However, the seat is close to the right hand side of the stage and for Giselle at least I think an equivalent seat on the left side wouldnt be as good as you wouldn't see Giselle's cottage which is quite important. Also I was sat far left for a performance of Sylvia once and didn't see Eros at all!

I asked Customer Services this a couple of weeks ago and they said it would be the beginning of next year or hopefully in time for the opening of the next booking period. Not very good when it's not been working for ages now.