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jmhopton

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  1. jmhopton
    Are we thinking of the same action, Pas de Quatre? For me the most memorable move she makes in SB is in the final pas de deux when she leans over to one side and moves her arms amazingly quickly up and down and around and then repeats it at the other side. I've looked in vain since then for an Aurora to replicate this move but no one has done. An attempt is made today but it's very truncated and half hearted by comparison. Perhaps it was an Ashton or De Valois move that's got lost over time but it's a shame as its so fast and striking.
  2. jmhopton
    Yes, the actual Corsaire performance starring Alina Cojacaru as Medora and Vadim Muntagirov as Conrad is also available (£7.99) and their great La Sylphide starring Hernandez (£6.99). I thought from the initial publicity that all were available for a one-off £4.99 but they appear to be priced separately.
  3. jmhopton
    SkyArts are showing a doc. about ENBs first visit to Paris, performing Le Corsaire. Broadcast Mon 16th August at the civilized time of 9-10.15pm (perhaps it's dawning on them that an Arts channel needs to be showing some Arts programmes at a time when people actually want to watch them). Then repeated next day at the more usual 7.45-9am. Pity they're not showing Corsaire itself but perhaps they will eventually. CBeebies are also showing Northern Ballet's Puss-in-Boots Tuesday 17th August 12-12.45pm. SkyArts are also showing an Ashton triple Thursday 19th August 6.55am-9.05am (reverting to type with the timing, alas.) it includes Midsummer Nights Dream, Marguerite and Armand and an 'Ashton masterpiece', which I'm assuming is Symphonic Variations as it sounds like Zenaida Yanovsky's farewell performance in Marguerite and Armand.
  4. jmhopton
    Terrific, inspirational doc about the young Liverpudlian, Tom Oakley who's ambition is to join the Ballet Rambert despite living with the time and physically limiting disease of cystic fibrosis. He comes across as a great character and his family are so loving and supportive in doing everything they can to help him achieve his dream. You see him moving furniture around their small terrace house to create space to practice during lockdown and how his initial audition videos to Rambert had to be filmed at home. Made me think of other RB Liverpudlians such as Matthew Ball and Kristen McNally, though of course they didn't have Tom's health problems or the problems of trying to audition during a pandemic. if you missed it, well worth seeing it on catch up. https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-boy-who-cant-stop-dancing/on-demand/72250-001
  5. jmhopton
    Checking out the ENB prices and they're not too bad at all compared with the ROH. They also have an impressive list of discounts and I was amazed to find I'm entitled to a senior discount of £5 as I'm over 60 even though I haven't yet received my state pension! I'll definitely be booking for Raymonda but does anyone have any idea about casting yet? Will Tamara be dancing Raymonda? Will Alina return? I'd like to see both of them if they're dancing so does anyone have any idea when casting will be announced? I know they're sometimes quite late and obviously, at the moment, casting is even more provisional than usual but still it would be good to know.
  6. jmhopton
    I was saying to the publisher I hoped it would be a success and there might be sequels, given Clement must have written thousands of reviews. He said the book was very substantial and there was a chapter on 'funny' reviews which is great as I've always enjoyed Clement's humour and acerbic wit.
  7. jmhopton
    Do we know whether any of the Insights will be streamed? I know they don't usually do the Conversation ones which is a pity as I'd love to see Francesca and Marcellino, but I'm hoping they will at least stream the Ashton one as I can't justify a London overnight stay to see it. Possibly just answered my own question as I've just looked at the details for the Ashton Insight and it says camera filming so hurrah! Also didn't realise it was so long, over 2 hours with an interval. I'm impressed! Talking of Ashton, I missed the London Ballet Circle interview with Iain Webb and his wife but apparently they said there is a possibility that Sarasota Ballet may visit the UK. Even just a possibility is something to hope for; let's hope if it happens they bring an Ashton programme!
  8. jmhopton
    Yes it sounds really interesting, not to mention inspirational, in these dark times. I noticed one of your links after I posted about the doc.
  9. jmhopton
    SkyArts are also showing the RB 2013 Alice in Wonderland Mon 2nd Aug at 10.15pm-12.25am. Channel4 is also showing a fascinating sounding documentary on Tues 3rd Aug at 11.05pm, entitled The Boy who can't stop dancing. It is about teenager Tom Oakley who is obsessed with dancing and who applies to the Rambert Dance School, despite suffering from cystic fibrosis.
  10. jmhopton
    I just contacted the publisher about this book as it still seems to be saying unavailable on Amazon, despite Waterstones still saying the 12th July publication date. I had a very prompt response I think the printers were affected by a pingdemic. Anyway, I cleared the advance copy on Monday and expect to deliver stocks to the distributors before 19 August. I think the distributor will handle Waterstones. It will be in the ROH shop when it finally reopens in September if that helps.
  11. jmhopton
    SkyArts are showing what they claim is the Osipova/Acosta Giselle Sunday 8th Aug 6.45am-8.45am. Also Australian Coppelia Mon 9th Aug at the recklessly late time of 10.15pm-12.15am.
  12. jmhopton
    Well I had my reply back from Customer Services and, surprise, surprise, the mini and family packages are old news. There are just the total and selected options available as already noted. I did reply back, politely saying perhaps it would be a good idea to remove this page as other people could find it and get confused. I also asked if you wanted to book a complete ballet package but then find you couldn't attend one performance or any subsequent dates, what would happen? Would your package discount become obsolete or would you just get a voucher for the performance you couldn't attend? I was told you would get a gift voucher so your other performances would still be discounted so that might be helpful to know.
  13. jmhopton
    Yes I did wonder if the Mini and Family packages are too good to be true, especially in the current economic climate. I did ask Customer Services for package booking dates and was just now told that Friends (I'm assuming that's basic Friends) would be 13th Aug and public booking would be 19th August . Will have to wait and see. I hadn't seen the page about Mini and Family packages when I emailed them. I think I'll reply and ask them.
  14. jmhopton
    Thanks everyone. I too was browsing the price list for Giselle and saw the package prices and was just going to post it and ask when package booking opens when I found it's already been done for me. To revert to Dawnstar's package query on the 16th June (page 3). The link she provided has now been updated (https://www.roh.org.uk/visit/tickets/advance-booking-packages) and mentions 'mini packages ' which might suit me Mini Packages: offer the chance to see a selection of three productions on fixed dates. You can choose a package of three operas, three ballets or a combination of opera and ballet. Also family packages which may be of use to someone. Family Packages: offer half-price tickets for under-18s on a selected production. You can request up to two full-price adult tickets, with up to four half-price tickets for under-18s. When you use this page you click on a link that takes you to the Autumn 2021/22 package page mentioned below so I'm assuming the mini and family packages are still available though I suppose the page may not have been updated. No indication as to what the discount is or where the seats are. There is no mention of 'mini packages' in the already mentioned link http://www.roh.org.uk/packages unless it's the 'design your own' package with 5% discount for amphi seats or 10% for Stalls Circle or Orchestra Stalls? If so, there is no mention of this package being limited to 3. Saying package booking is open 'A week before the standard booking period' for different levels of Friends is a bit vague. Is it an exact week ie the 10th August for bargain basement Friends like me? Will they email out to inform us about package booking or will they hope we'll forget about it and pay full price a week later? It's so long since I booked a package I've forgotten everything about it.
  15. jmhopton
    SkyArts are showing RB Nutcracker (no indication of cast or date) on Sunday 18 July 6.30am-8.30am. They're also showing Northern Ballet Casanova Mon 26 July 10.15pm to 12.10am. (Note the adult times!)
  16. jmhopton
    I see, it does make more sense just to rehearse the pigeons on stage so they're not confused. I'm intrigued about what you say, Janet about the differences between RB and BRB Two Pigeons productions. How do they differ?
  17. jmhopton
    Beautiful Janet. But where are the pigeons? Surely they need rehearsing too (or their RB handlers do). I can't remember if I've ever had the pleasure of seeing BRB do it, only the RB. Several times something went wrong with the pigeon handling. I think Vadim was the only one who was able to manage them. I also remember what a stunning Girl Beatrix was. I'd been looking forward to seeing her reprise that role but alas not to be.
  18. jmhopton
    Terrific photos, Rob. You really captured the moment. I was there and I wasn't sure who the flower givers were as they were all wearing masks. I thought I recognised Kevin, who was first, then Gary Avis and Christopher Saunders but not sure about the others. I'll comment more about the performance when I'm home. I'm on the train and it's very shaky!
  19. jmhopton
    Also Tatiana in the Dream. Is there anything in Shakespeare that means she always has to be a strawberry blond, especially as many of the dancers have dark hair? It looks very strange.
  20. jmhopton
    Well said, Sim. I totally agree, and with zxDaveM who points out a ballet choreographer could be missing out on the opportunity to work with RB. If it is to do with the Arts Council it's probably a board decision and not just Kevin so mustn't be too hard on him. However, it's ironic they could be appointing someone who, if he has any affect at all on the rep., could be leading to yet more cheaper, modern programmes that have to be subsidised by the classics that people actually come to the RB to see.
  21. jmhopton
    Thanks, Darlex. Us classicists must stick together. We seem to be an endangered species and must be careful not to become extinct!
  22. jmhopton
    I have actually joined the Friends (bargain basement version) for the first time in over a decade before I heard this news just so I can guarantee tickets for the RB classical offerings (If I can afford them!) The price they are charging is making ballet elitist as only the wealthy will be able to afford good seats. However, modern ballet tickets seem to be much cheaper, possibly to attract a younger audience, though I don't know how this is squared with paying off a possibly huge ROH deficit. Presumably it's all to do with the Arts Council insisting on their being 'inclusive' rather than excellent. It looks like us despised classicists are expected to foot the bill for that. Even when I joined the Friends I was concerned for the direction the RB was taking. Kevin carefully nurtures arguably the most talented Company of dancers we've had in decades, with strength and talent from the apprentices through to the principals, but then employs choreographers for them who do nothing to develop their classical balletic vocabulary, indeed may even hinder it. I know classical choreographers are thin on the ground, and possibly out of fashion, even with the ballet directors who you would think would nurture them. So, well done Valentino for 'coming out' as a classicist. Long may he continue to delight us with his classical offerings!
  23. jmhopton
    Yes, I'm with bridiem on this. We are talking about the Royal BALLET Company (the clue is in the name!) and not the Royal hip hop Company. I know ballet choreographers are a bit thin on the ground but surely Wayne Macgregor provides more than enough contemporary work (I won't call them ballets) for any classical company. As FionaE says, thank goodness for Valentino Zucchetti! Why not give him Liam Scarlett's Choreographer in Residence post, then at least we'll have one classical choreographer in the Company. (Of course he may not want a formal choreographic role yet if he still wants to concentrate on his dancing.) The Gerald Dowler article in this month's Dancing Times is excellent and says a lot I've been concerned about for several years about the RB in particular trying to do too many different styles (and possibly BRB too now under Carlos). He says 'The result is a choreographic cacophony that sees the classical ballet idiom diluted, weakened, and ultimately threatened.... The saddest part of this erosion of classical ballet is the active role played by the directors of both schools and companies... Admittedly there is currently a real dearth of ballet choreographers of quality, but is that a valid reason for bringing in people who have little to no experience or meaningful understanding of the form?' Hear, hear!!!
  24. jmhopton
    Sorry, I was getting mixed up with the livestream casting. We'll be seeing them doing SB in that and Winter Dreams pas de deux on Sunday. Still wonderful!
  25. jmhopton
    SkyArts are showing the Australian Merry Widow (again!) Wed 7th July 7.15am-9am Also Royal Ballet Sleeping Beauty with Nunez/Muntagirov Sat 10 Jul 6-8.30am. This will nicely whet my appetite for seeing them do the last act on stage at the ROH the next day.
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