jmhopton

Thought I'd start a new thread for this so it doesn't get lost in the one about strikes. it's not supposed to start until midnight tonight and indeed Avanti (sadly my rail link to London) weren't advertising it but DonQfan told me she'd already booked so I checked and Trainline seem to have started so I used their link. I don't use them much as they have a booking charge but it only seemed to be about £1 and worth it to get £23 off my next London trip to see Frankie/Marci/Alex's matinee on the 17th Feb. The only snag is that on Trainline at least you have to book specific trains so no flexibility as it doesn't seem to apply to off-peak returns for example.

Hope others are successful too. It's about time we had some good train news! Though what the rail system really needs is re-nationalising but don't get me started on that!!

 

https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/deals-discounts/great-british-rail-sale

 

21 hours ago, Janite said:

Just back from Saturday evenings performance. Emma Hawes was so convincing as Giselle, I ached for her broken heart. Vsevolod Maievskyi was completely new to me, somehow I was reminded of Vadim Muntagirov. Did anyone else think this  or could explain why? Precious Adams and her entourage were suitably frightening. All in all my friend and I thought it was wonderful.

I too was reminded of Vadim. Perhaps something to do with his build, training, rather princely attitude. This Albrecht never really convinced as a peasant! I loved his pairing with Emma Hawes and thought they made a great couple. I'd love to see them in Romeo and Juliet. I actually preferred this pairing to the Sunday Frola pairing though that was probably affected by having two Giselles and being rather stressed in the second act by being worried I was going to miss my train with the interval delay. As it was I made it a couple of minutes before they closed the platform. 

2 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

 

5 years after first seeing Manon I now discover that I've misunderstood the impart of that role. I thought that she was dressed as a boy to appeal to male patrons who had bisexual or gay leanings!

 

I thought that too, Dawnstar.

Just remembered the Ashton Insight is Friday 31st May 7.45-9pm

Not sure if it's right to start a new thread or use existing ones and if it should be here or Performances but mods please move if necessary.

 

Just received my Friends summer magazine and turned immediately to the programme at the back. Just to clarify, Sarasota are doing 3 programmes

 

Programme 1 Valses nobles et sentimentales

                        Dante Sonata

                        Sinfonietta

                        4/5 June 7.45, 8th June 2pm

 

Programme 2  Valses nobles et sentimentales

                         Diverts

                         Facade

                         6, 7 June 7.45, 9th June 2pm

 

Programme 3  Valses nobles et sentimentales

                         Varii Capricci

                         Facade

                         8th June 7.45

 

All in the Linbury and all last approx 2 hours with 2 intervals. No mention of a Gala evening.  2 different programmes on the 8th June including programme 3 which only seems to be being performed once.

 

Royal Ballet are doing 2 programmes

 

Programme 1 Les Rendezvous, The Dream, Rhapsody

                      General rehearsal 6th June 12.30

                      6, 10, 19 June at 7.30.  15th June 1pm and 7pm

 

Programme 2 The Dream, diverts (5 waltzes, Walk to Paradise Garden (Sarasota), Hamlet and Ophelia) and Rhapsody

                        General Rehearsal 7th June 12.30

                        7, 18, 21 June 7.30. 22 Jun 1pm and 7pm

 

So sadly there is overlap between the Sarasota and RB programmes on 6th and 7th pm though those coming from a distance can see all Sarasota programmes on the 8/9 June.

 

No prices given for Sarasota in Linbury. Prices given for RB in main house. I'll just give a few areas.

 

Stalls £110, £104, £96

Stalls circle far sides £39, £29, £16, £9

Stalls circle £110, £104, £96, £87, 

                    £67, £50, £39, £22, £9

Grand Tier £110

Amphi £67, £50, £39, £29, £22, £16, £9, £4

 

Prices don't seem too bad really, even given mixed bills are cheaper. Hope I've got everything correct. Please feel free to amend any mistakes!

 

I've emailed Kevin saying how thrilled I am with the programmes and also asked about the Gala, when we might expect casting, are any programmes going to be streamed given the disappointing lack of a cinema broadcast, and (yet another) plea for Fille next season!

                        

 

1 hour ago, Jan McNulty said:

If we are fortunate to see ENB revive La Sylphide which production would they use?

I didn't realise ENB had more than one Sylphide in their rep. But I really enjoyed seeing one they did fairly recently in Manchester.  I think they filmed that production and streamed it during lockdown. Hernandez was James. 

 

Re RB doing Sylphide.  I loved their Kobborg production as it was based on the Danish production,  including their wonderful sets and costumes. However, did I imagine it or did they sell those sets/costumes to Sarasota Ballet recently which seems to indicate the RB sadly won't be performing it soon and may have to aquire a new production. (Hint to Kevin: why not do this rather than commission another modern ballet). 

Several good points been made. I like TSR101 comment about a contented company. Perhaps this is partly at least due to Kevin's flexibility in letting dancers guest abroad as long as it doesn't interfere with their RB performances, (Though I do worry about injuries and fatigue). But he must also create a good, relaxed atmosphere where dancers largely want to spend their career, not use it as a stepping stone to move on. This, despite that not all dancers seem to get the stage time they deserve,  which again is the result of being in such a strong company.

 

Also strongly agree about the RB being a great team and all the ballets being a great team effort. It's never all about the principals (amazing as they are) but everyone on stage. The role of character actor has been elevated to great heights by  the RB and they add so much to every performance to the extent that I check to see who is dancing Drosselmeyer, M. GM etc when I book a performance.  I know all companies have a roster of character actors but the RBs are especially fine and are an integral part of the Company.  We tend to take them for granted but I'm sure it doesn't just happen;it must be part of the company's ethos and values and that's down to the AD.

I think Kevin has done a great job in nurturing young dancers and not rushing promotions until the dancers are ready. I do believe the RB is going through a second golden age of dancers, with great strength and depth at all levels. Not to take anything away from the RB school where many of the dancers now come from, even if its just a couple of upper school years. No need these days to hire well known dancers from other countries to supplement our own principals. In fact, these days the traffic is more likely to be the other way, with RB dancers guesting all over the world.

 

I suppose the 2 areas I'd take issue with his directorship are seat prices and rep. OK, seat  prices are probably not directly to do with him, more of a corporate Alex Beard sort of decision, but surely Kevin must have some imput in what he thinks balletgoers are willing to pay. Will be interesting to see if he got it right as many on this forum say they can't afford to come as often as they'd like or they'd used to, or they'll buy cheaper tickets if they do come. One of the reasons SCS have become so popular (and scarce) is the rising price of seats. 

 

The question of rep has already been well addressed by Emeralds and Cayetana and I agree with them. The RB is a bit inconsistent as one hand the ROH is always pleading poverty,  while on the other hand the RB commissions new full length modern ballets by choreographers with little or no ballet training that are usually priced quite cheap (in relation to classical ballets). This appears to increase the price of classical ballets to cover the shortfall in ticket sales which in turn prices out classical balletgoers (see above). These new ballets also cost in terms of production and stage/rehearsal time.  While acknowledging we need  modern ballets I don't see why we need so many when the RB has one of the richest and most diverse back ballet catalogues in the world and is in danger of losing much of it through non use.

 

The Ashton Foundation five year celebration of the work of Frederick Ashton is a great initiative to promote the work of its founder (and possibly greatest) choreographer and get dancers more used to dancing the Ashton style which is also in danger of disappearing. Also, it will hopefully promote works that are in danger of being forgotten and bring back works into rep that should never have been neglected for so long such as Fille,  Sylvia and Les Patineurs.

 

However, there are other choreographers who are also neglected such as Robbins, Tudor, Cranko and Balanchine to name just 4 and it would be great to see more ballets by them and less new commissions even if its just for a year or 2. It could always be justified by having to balance the books post covid. To many balletgoers they would be like new ballets anyway as they're seen so rarely. Slightly shorter runs of the classics would be good too and a more balanced Christmas rep with a mixed bill to go with a Christmas full length classic.

 

Despite these criticisms I think on the whole, Kevin is doing a great job and I'd be happy for him to carry on for quite a few more years yet.

1 hour ago, SheilaC said:

According to the Observer the Royal Ballet will be performing a new Wayne McGregor three act ballet in the autumn; the much trailed Margaret Atwood based ballet, to be called MadAddam.

 

Sounds as if I'll be saving money in at least part of the autumn season then.

 

When I first read Sheila's post I misread the title as Macadam and thought it sounded as if it was about tarmac!

31 minutes ago, Blossom said:

When will we hear news about a beautiful new work of classical ballet? Never???

 

Hear, hear!

11 hours ago, capybara said:

 

Just as the recording of Month shouldv’e been Morera/Muntagirov, but isn’t.

Lost count of the amount of times I've said that! A missed opportunity that can never be rectified.  Terrible!

22 hours ago, TSR101 said:

My picks...

For the RB:

- Fille, Alice and Sylvia combined with an announcement of a new Resident Choreographer with a classical ballet background following McGregor's shock departure. 

 

 

It's a shock to me to find out he's gone! I hadn't realised, which perhaps sums up my interest in his works. My vote as his replacement would have been Liam Scarlett but sadly not to be. The only other available choreographer that I would actually pay to see is Valentino Zuccetti so my vote would go to him. He may not be the most experienced choreographer around or the biggest name but (apart from Liam) he's the only contemporary choreographer whose work I actually enjoy rather than endure as his ballets (though having some modern movements) are very definitely classical. He also selects great classical music to showcase his ballets!

Bravo! Thoroughly echo everything you said Onepigeon, especially about The Merry Widow which I too love and is the only full length ballet I really rate that I haven't seen live. I know not everyone agrees but I would love to see it performed by any UK company but I suspect it's too 'old fashioned ' for most modern ADs to consider, alas, despite it being a twentieth century ballet. The idea of fabulous sets and costumes,  a light hearted story with a happy ending told with wit and humour and some great dancing is sadly not the sort of 'relevant ' ballet the Arts Council is looking for.

 

I did see Stuttgart ballet when they came to Sadlers Wells and saw two performances of Taming of the Shrew which was great. The Jason Reilly recording was also terrific.

 

Balanchine isn't my favourite choreographer but I too would like to see more of his works.  As one of the 20th centuries greatest choreographers he seems strangely underperformed in the UK.

 

I'm also with you about modern choreographers too for classical companies. Of course every classical company these days has to stsge modern ballets, and It may be the Arts Council are partly responsible for this. However, ADs seem keen to go along with it despite them not always selling especially well (Black Sabbath being the exception) despite low ticket prices. This usually results in an increase of prices for classical or popular ballets so we're subsidising programmes we may not want to see and they may end up not selling as well as people can't afford to go as often as they would if prices were lower.

Happy 2024, everyone!

 

Let's hope we all get at least something of what we'd love to see being performed somewhere this year.

I know most if not all the new seasons programmes announced later this year will have been decided by now but it's still fun trying to second guess what might be planned and, you never know, might give some ADs future food (or dance) for thought.  

 

Top of my wish list (and I think Sim's as well) are Onegin and La Fille.  Onegin because 2024 will be 4 years since it was performed (5 if it goes into the 2025 part of the season). I know the pandemic has played havoc with ballet planning like everything else but there is potential for so many great debuts. My real wish would be a RB cinema relay of it but that is unlikely, alas. Also (along with Fille) it is my favourite ballet.

 

As has been discussed many times here, Fille is a firm favourite with most balletgoers and has been out of rep for far too long. Also the Ashton celebrations are the ideal opportunity to showcase his best-loved ballet. You can't celebrate Ashton without Fille!

 

These are the main 2 on my wish list and if I can have just one performed I'll be happy.

 

I'd also like a continuation of some of the excellent triple/mixed bills we've had recently. Another Ashton programme would be fabulous or Ashton mixed with other ballets such as Ballet Russes or Balanchine would be equally wonderful.

 

My final wish is unlikely to be granted next year as it's the 'wrong' year and that's a cinema relay of Vadim as Prince Rudolf in Mayerling.  I'll probably have to mention that this time next year (though I suppose it may be in the 2025 part of next ballet season).

 

What would everyone else like?

 

Mary Skeaping Giselle

Several RB Manon casts (especially Fumi/Vadim)

Northern ballet Romeo and Juliet (like Janet, my favourite production)

Sarasota Ballet at the Linbury

RB Ashton programmes at the ROH 

Possibly BRB small company in Cheltenham

I know I say this most Christmas' but I still think back with dread to those terrible few weeks without any Balletforum. No reviews, opinions, information.  The feeling of being cut off from the ballet community that I love. The sense of relief when I knew the Forum was back with us thanks to the generosity and hard work of the new moderators was indescribable. It was the best Christmas present ever and  I can't thank you all enough. For me, it truly was a Christmas miracle and one that I never take for granted and for which I'm still really grateful. 

Let's hope 2024 is as great a ballet year as it promises to be; Mary Skeaping Giselle,  Vadim and Fumi in Manon,  all the amazing sounding Ashton and hopefully delights we don't even know about in the new ballet seasons still to be announced. Such balletic treats are magnified many times by the Forum ballet community whose knowledge, humour and wit adds so much to every performance, bringing new insights and ideas and bringing alive performances I can't hope to attend.

Happy New Year everyone (especially all the mods!)

 

For Daily Telegraph subscribers there is another free event coming up, an interview with Alina on Jan 17th. I think it's 6.30 again. Unfortunately that's a bad day for many ballet enthusiasts as quite a few (like me) will be heading to the ROH for the Friends Manon rehearsal in the afternoon and opening night in the evening. I have forwarded my ticket to a friend so this is just a reminder for subscribers to check their special offers, and others to check YouTube in the hope it will appear there eventually like the Annette Buvoli rehearsal did.

Thanks again to all the mods. We wouldn't be a ballet community without all your hard work. We all really appreciate it!

 

Hope everyone is having a great Christmas with perhaps some ballets or dvds to keep them going until 2024. I've watched most of the David Bintley Christmas Carol and while I'm quite enjoying it I don't think it's nearly as good as Northern Ballets which was just perfect in every way.

Re 2024 I'm looking forward to seeing RB Manon,  especially Hayward/Sambe and Kaneko/Muntagirov. Also the Skeaping Giselle which I haven't seen. Also keep thinking about all the Ashton in June which won't seem so far away after the new year.

Happy new year everyone!

Being 5' 1" I can sympathize. I have SCS D2 for Melissa Hamilton's Manon and keeping everything crossed I have smaller people in the tall seats or a sympathetic usher!

I'd love to see more happy ballets choreographed or performed today. I LOVE THe Merry Widow and its so disappointing never to have seen it live. The lockdown Argentinian version with Marianela Nuñez is my favourite version but I also love the Canadian and Australian versions. Keep fantasising about RB casts though I know it will never happen. 

I was thinking of watching Northern Ballets Christmas Carol this weekend along with Alistair Sims Scrooge. Jeremy Kerridge is so like Alistair Sim it's uncanny. Both give world class performances and Northern Ballets production is so wonderful and true to the book, scary too in parts. Really beautifully life affirming at the end and Carl Davis' musical collection of carols are just perfect.

Hobsons Choice is definitely my favourite David Bintley ballet by far and its terrible the way it has fallen out of rep and sadly I'd be surprised if it makes a reappearance soon (though I'd love to be proved wrong, Carlos). I'm looking forward to seeing his Christmas Carol on Arte and would love to see the Comedy of Errors he did for Sarasota.  Is this the only full length comedy ballet commissioned and choreographed recently? If so, that's very sad but not surprising given the prevailing artistic attitude towards anything fun and light hearted. I like a good drama as much as anyone and am coming to several performances of Manon and Giselle, and would have paid to see many more performances of Vadim in Mayerling but it would be great if they could be matched by more fun ballets that make you laugh and feel happy and optimistic and good about yourself and the world.

Well, I really enjoyed the Annette Buvoli/Nicol Edmonds streamed rehearsal by Darcey Bussell care of the Daily Telegraph. A great treat and it went on for quite a long time; at least half an hour longer than the hour we were promised. (if anyone is a subscriber and signed up to it and has missed it its still there). There was a joint rehearsal then questions by the interviewer whose name I didn't catch and then questions sent in by subscribers. This was about the time it was meant to finish but after that the rehearsal continued with Darcey coaching just Annette in the dance of the SPF. Darcey seems to be a great coach (both Annette and Nicole thought so) and like most of the ROH coaches does a great mix of praise and suggestions for improvements. So different from what  Vadim experienced in Russia according to his book. Annette said Darcey was especially good for her because as they are both tall dancers she could give Annette specific height related  tips that were especially useful. I must admit Nicol was quite a revelation to me as I hadn't really seen much of him and wasn't really a dancer I would choose to see (I was slightly disappointed he was Annette's cavalier) but having seen more of him in the rehearsal I'm now looking forward to seeing him on Jan 1st. There was also an offer of 2 weeks free streaming and a month where you only pay £1 so I signed up for it. May not persevere after the 6 weeks but that depends what gets added. Still, a very pleasant evening and the ballet itself to look forward to soon. The rehearsals really make you realise how hard the dancers have to work to make it all look so seamless and effortless. Nicol especially mentioned the constant pain that has to be managed and they were both very enthusiastic about the ROH fitness help everyone receives. Annette said she was amazed to be given the role of the SPF as she thought she was too tall and never expected to rise beyond the role of Rose fairy. She said her early interest was sport and the first job she wanted was a Park Ranger and only took up dance because her best friend went. To start with it was jazz which she enjoyed but didn't feel urged to take it further. It was only when she stated ballet that she realised she'd found her vocation as she loved the discipline and precision and Nicol agreed with her about this. I hope the DT do more similar evenings as I'll definitely sign up for them.

I've only just seen this posting and so presumably missed the relay.  Was it only there for the duration of the performance? I am a member of Medici but it expires soon so don't know if I'll catch the repeat unless they're very quick.

SkyArts Sat Dec 30th 6am Royal Ballet in Cuba.

 

SkyArts Sun Dec 31st 6-8.20am Mariinsky La Bayadere. Photo appears to show Vladimir Shklykarov as Solor but with Sky that's never a guarantee.

 

I'm not at all an opera devotee but after an (admittedly very quick) flick through the Radio Times I didn't see any opera on BBC or SkyArts, apart from ENO HMS Pinafore on SkyArts (Wed 27th Dec 6pm so it does get an evening slot at a time when people actually might want to sit down and watch it instead of recording it for later viewing). Pinafore is great but hardly grand opera. I might have missed some but still doesn't seem great coverage. You wonder where the future opera audiences will come from if children aren't exposed to it either at school or on TV which will only perpetuate the myth that opera is exclusive and not for the majority of people, especially as this may result in prices rising even more.

Even if the ROH do have a change from the Nutcracker next Christmas you may be able to see a past filmed version at the cinema.  This is what happened in 2019 when a past Nutcracker got a screening as well as the Christmas ballet Coppelia. 

Just got my Christmas double issue Radio Times and though I haven't had chance to go through it yet I see the Margot Fonteyn Magic of Dance programme which starts at 11.20pm on BBC4 as oncnp says, also has a brief introduction by Darcey at 11.10pm but is billed as the first of 6 programmes, so it looks as if they're broadcasting the entire series from 1979 which is great. About 10 years ago the BBC had a dance day at Christmas and showed one episode,  featuring Fonteyn and Nureyev dancing Marguerite and Armand so it will be interesting to see what gems the entire series contains. I think I'll have to record it.

 

There is also the New Year's Day concert from Vienna in full on BBC2 at 10.15am-12.45 hosted by Petroc Trelawney with an edited highlights version at 7pm BBC4 just before Peaky Blinders programme about making the ballet at 9pm, followed by the ballet itself at 9.25pm. So quite a full dance day on BBC.