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jmhopton

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  1. jmhopton
    SkyArts 2 is showing 2 new ballet programmes next Monday at 8pm-11pm. There is a one hour documentary presented by Deborah Bull called The Bolshoi:dancing for Russia. This is followed by a 1991 performance of Giselle starring the wonderful Nina Ananiashvilli. Deborah is also hosting a new radio series starting this Saturday at 2pm for one hour a week for 6 weeks called Classic FM at the ballet.
  2. jmhopton
    Was able to get the 5 single Onegin performances I wanted though disappointed no front row amphi left for Osipova's. Managed one for Nunez. If you're choosing 5 seats for different performances it doesn't seem to give you much time to weigh up all the options and pay but I just managed it.
  3. jmhopton
    Do I understand it correctly that even public booking is restricted to 6 tickets at a time? That is presumably per booking and not per performance. I have just booked 5 individual tickets for Onegin (single tickets for different performances) in public booking so was unaffected by this ruling. However, if my husband had been able to accompany me it would have been different. Living 200 miles from London a visit to the ROH entails getting time off work, booking trains, usually as near 3 months in advance as I can to get the maximum discount, and also booking overnight accommodation. So the idea that I will be able to take advantage of any later released tickets or discounted offers is totally unrealistic. it is just discriminating against those who don't live near enough to get home the same day.
  4. jmhopton
    Have just seen the 'encore' screening of Manon at our local cinema (Preston). There were about 30 attending and about 60/70 for the live screening on Thursday so quite a respectable attendance. I do hope the ROH and the cinemas carry on with the encore performances as it gives people a choice of dates to attend and also means people can attend more than one performance if they want to (as I did). Today I organised a small trip of 6 and several said they would have seen it again if they'd been to the original performance. The performance by all concerned was really splendid and very emotional. Marianella and Federico were sensational but I must give a special mention to Ricardo Cervera as a flamboyant Lescault who successfully hid his ruthlessness under a strong veneer of charm, and Gary Avis who enhances every performance he is part of. How such a lovely person can make himself so loathsome as Monsieur GM or the gaoler I don't know but he gives a fantastic performance as both. Re Encore screenings the Odeon website gives a list of their cinema encore screenings. I thought they had a Manon screening on the 23rd but that seems to have vanished.
  5. jmhopton
    I too really enjoyed the cinema performance tonight. I saw 3 performances of Manon at the ROH over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of October and then the Nunez/Bonelli performance was the one that didn't engage me as much as the other two (MarQuez/Mcrae and Lamb/Muntagirov). However, the cinema close-ups really draw you into the production and make you feel part of it and really appreciate the superb acting of all concerned as well as the amazing dancing. it was even worth sacrificing seeing all the corps activity which is such an integral part of Manon to see the detail of facial expressions and tiny nuanced movements not always easy to see in the amphi. Bravo to all concerned for a truly memorable evening.
  6. jmhopton
    I too really enjoyed Steven's and Roberta's performance. Until recently I didn't really appreciate Roberta. I think it is because she is so tiny and I am watching from the amphi. Perhaps she didn't 'project' sufficiently, especially as my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be. However, after seeing them at the cinema last year in La Fille I was really taken by her acting as well as dancing skills. the cinema close ups really brought out her personality and now I am always pleased when I see she is Steven's partner. Am looking forward to seeing Osipova at the end of the month though I wish she was partnered by Vadim. Given his amazing debut that would be an incredible partnership hopefully in the future.
  7. jmhopton
    I too was one of the fans who waited after yesterdays matinee (and the Saturday matinee and evening performance) and as always was impressed with how friendly and chatty the dancers were; signing and posing for photographs. Nothing was too much trouble though they must have been very tired after 3 performances so close together.
  8. jmhopton
    Only just got home but had to say what a sensational debut by Vadim; all the more so because he and Sarah had such limited rehearsal time because of Lauren's sad accident. All credit to both of them for such a brilliant performance, ably backed up by Valentine Zucchetti and Gary Avis as Mr GM. It left me feeling emotionally drained but dying to see them again. Unfortunately Vadim's next performance is this Thursday and I can only do weekends. I saw all 3 performances this weekend and all were excellent and memorable but for Vadim to do such an amazing performance on his debut was something really special. can't wait for Don Q!
  9. jmhopton
    Re unsold Manon tickets my husband got an email from the ROH offering discounts for certain performances. matinees 27th and 30th September, stalls £45 and amphi £26 and evening performances 1st and 8th October, stalls £52, amphi £34. You can book online with the code manonreturns in the code box or phone the box office and quote the code. Presumably I wasn't sent the email as I had already booked though given that many ballet enthusiasts book for several casts it would have been nice to have the opportunity. Also though I am personally pleased to see so many performances of full length ballets such as Manon, Don Q and Onegin as it gives me greater choice of dates and casting I am slightly concerned that the sheer number of performances may lead to overwork and injuries so early in the season.
  10. jmhopton
    Do you know what cinema/s are showing it in Ireland? I can't see anything on the Odeon website or Cineworld.
  11. jmhopton
    According to the Radio Times SkyArts 2 is showing the Cuthberton/Bonelli Romeo for the first time this evening at 8pm so I've missed it! However, it is repeated at 3am tomorrow morning ending at 5.35 am. It is repeated again tomorrow at 8am. Also Saturday 16th August at 2pm and Sunday 17th at 9.30pm.
  12. jmhopton
    The Bayadere is the old Royal Ballet Acosta/Tamara version and they are showing it several times the week after next also. On Tuesday 5th August at 3am and 8am they are also repeating the Osipova/Acosta Giselle. There is a very good website called locatetv.com which has 2 weeks of programmes. Very useful for forward planning or if you're going away and want to set the dvd.
  13. jmhopton
    As I live 200 miles from London I booked to see both the Saturday Manons on October 4th and the matinee on October 5th, thereby getting 3 Manons for the price of one lot of train travel, one overnight stay and no problem getting to the Sunday matinee! it was just a pity that the Saturday evening was Marianella who I will see anyway in the cinema relay (much as I love seeing her). if it had been Osipova I would have seen 4 performances of all the casts I wanted to see with just one lot of transport and accommodation. As it is I'm having to have a second visit to see Osipova at the end of October. At least they schedule her with plenty of Saturdays. I think in Onegin she is even doing a matinee! At the end of December I am seeing her Don Q on Monday night and Vadim and Takada on the Tuesday matinee. I think there are a few opportunities to do something similar with Onegin. it seems hard on the dancers but great for us northerners! Re the booking when I checked the ROH website the day after public booking opened there were only a very few bad seats in the upper slips for the Osipova Manon but plenty of seats for other dancers/productions including her Don Q. I do think her name is a draw for many ballet goers even if she isn't as well known outside ballet circles as, say, Acosta. I do think people want to see her in a new full length role, especially something as iconic and 'Royal Ballet' as Manon. This may partly explain the not so good ticket sales for her Don Q as many people have had the opportunity to see her dance that many times now and with Vasiliev. I think it is a combination of familiarity with her in the the role, lack of Vasiliev (it would have been interesting to see ticket sales for a Don Q if he had guested with her for a performance) and not being too sure about Matthew Golding as Basil after seeing her with Vasiliev. He is a hard act to follow in Don Q. I always remember when they changed the nights they were dancing Don Q a few years ago at the last Bolshoi visit at the ROH when they were still in the Company. There were signs up at the box office saying 'Mr Vasiliev will not be dancing tonight' but, as far as I can remember, no mention of Osipova! So the ROH seemed to think he was the person people most wanted to see.
  14. jmhopton
    I too enjoyed the Mariinsky Bayadere. if they had been performing it in London I would certainly have come. At Blackpool we started off with several minutes without sound. Because of work I got there just before transmission started and didn't realise there had been no audience sound. Several people got up to complain; one person in particular being quite rude to the usherette until someone pointed out it wasn't her fault. When sound returned after about 5 minutes it was really too loud for quite a small cinema and I asked them in the interval to turn it down and it did seem bearable after that. I was very surprised there was only 1 fifteen minute interval. ROH take note! I think it helps to have a basic plot explanation on screen in case there are people who didn't get the plot sheets. There are more likely to be people who haven't seen the ballet before attending a cinema performance. I missed the little backstage touches and interviews that make a cinema evening special but I suppose you can't do much in 15 minutes! I'm sure the sets must be either new or refurbished. They were certainly amazingly colourful, especially in the betrothal scene. I thought Gamzatti, Solor and the bronze idol were terrific. I'm afraid Tereshkina doesn't do anything for me. I agree with the other posters who say she is too cold and difficult to engage with. Oh for the days of Altynai!! Perhaps it will encourage them to broadcast more regularly though I don't know if their rep. is big enough to broadcast as much as the Bolshoi or Royal. it's a good way of getting to know dancers we haven't seen much of recently. If they broadcast more regularly people would get to know them and look out for details. Blackpool and Preston have recently had good audiences for ballet but there were only about 30 there for Bayadere. However, for one-off performances like that if you don't use a website like this or the cinemas own website I don't know how you would find out about one- off broadcasts.
  15. jmhopton
    I just wanted to book a Manon and Don Q ticket today and was in and out amazingly quickly and got exactly the seats I wanted. I wasn't able to log on until about 11am so perhaps missed a bit of the rush. Last Tuesday I took a couple of hours off work to book 3 Manon/Don Q packages (why do they always open booking periods on a Tuesday when most people are at work?) as I thought it may be a bit complicated. it was but not in the way I anticipated as the online booking system was down and I had to hang on to the phone for 30 minutes to get through. At least they tell you where you are in the queue and the queue was going down so slowly I was hoping it was because people were able to book and not being told to try again later. This proved to be the case and when I did get through the young man at the box office was very helpful and I got my 6 tickets and all on the front row of the amphi! (A bit more expensive than I normally book but I find my eyesight isn't as good as it was for long distances). However, if I wanted to book for cheaper seats I wouldn't have been able to as he told me the package seats only went up to row H or J in the amphi.
  16. jmhopton
    I see the Odeon, Blackpool are also showing it now. it definately wasn't there when I looked at the beginning of the week.
  17. jmhopton
    Not listed for Blackpool either and they normally show the Bolshoi but possibly not the Mariinsky. However I picked up a leaflet for the Winter gardens, Blackpool entitled 'Opera House Cinema Nights' and they are showing Nureyev: 75th Ballet Concert from Paris this Tuesday 10th June at 8pm £10 per ticket; £6 concessions. I don't know if it's being shown elsewhere as my home and work computers are so out of date it's hugely difficult accessing the Odeon website which is my only local cinema showing ballet. From the little I've been able to glean about this broadcast it sounds as if it might be the Nureyev and Friends gala broadcast on SkyArts a couple of weeks or so ago, especially as it doesn't mention it is a live broadcast.
  18. jmhopton
    I too really enjoyed last nights Dream and think Bruce has done a superb review of it. I thought Natalia was outstanding in her RB Ashton debut and proves her versatility as a great classical dancer. Is there nothing she can't dance and no roles she can't make her own? I enjoyed Matthew Golding's performance more than I thought I would though I still overall prefer Steven's performance and would love to have seen him with Osipova. Valentino Zucchettii was a real revelationa as Puck. I thought Paul Kay was really excellent but Valentino was amazing. I wish he had the chance to dance Don Q. On last night's performance he would bring the house down. Thought The Concert was really excellent too; great performances by everyone, especially Sarah Lamb stepping in for the injured Lauren Cuthbertson.
  19. jmhopton
    According to the new Dancing Times it will be screened at Odeon, Vue, Showcase, Empire and independent cinemas and stars Viktoria Tereshkina as Nikiya, Anastasia Matvienko as Gamzatti and Vladimir Shklyarov as Solor.
  20. jmhopton
    I love the music for Carmen and have often thought it would make a great full-length ballet as I dislike the Roland Petit shortened version. However, I don't like the sound of Carlos' version being 'modern and direct'. I would prefer a more traditional version or at least one like The Winter's Tale which blends classical choreagraphy with more modern movements. Joan
  21. jmhopton
    Just seen in the Radio Times there are several 'new' dance programmes on SkyArts 2 next week. Monday 19th May 6pm South Bank Show featuring Tamara (this is a repeat) 8pm Nureyev and friends (NEW) Gala type programme with solos and pas de deux that Nureyev danced. According to Locate tv website which lists 2 weeks of programmes ( a useful website if you're going on holiday and want to set your dvd recorder), pas de deux include, Bayadere, Manon, Swan Lake and Marguerite and Armand and dancers include Tamara, Aurelie Dupont and Vadim Muntagirov. Wednesday 21st May 7pm Merce Cunningham: a legacy of dance (repeat) 8pm Solo (NEW) performance by Sylvie Guillem 8.15 Shift (NEW) Performance by Russell Maliphant. 8.35 Two (NEW) Performance by Sylvie Guillem 8.50 Push (NEW) Duet with Russell Maliphant and Sylvie Guillem. 9.25 To dance like a man (repeat) Doc. about triplet boys at ballet school in Havanna.
  22. jmhopton
    It is strange how ballet companies seem to come and go. I first saw the Kirov in 1990 in Manchester and I was absolutely bowled over by them so much so that I persuaded my husband to come with me to see them in Birmingham the following week. They were doing Corsaire and it was just incredible; possibly the most wonderful ballet-going experience I've ever had. For someone who'd just seen the Tchaikovsky ballets performed by small touring companies to see something as incredible and exotic as Corsaire by such an amazing company was just mind-blowing and I became a ballet devotee from that moment; especially of the Russian companies. At that time the Bolshoi were going through all sorts of artistic and management crises and the Kirov were riding the crest of a wave with dancers such as Altynai Assulyuratova, Konstantin Zaklinsky (her husband), Faroukh Ruzimatov, Yelena Pankova, Larissa Lezhnina and the young Igor Zelensky. However, by the end of the decade many of these dancers had either left the company or had retired and the Kirov, ever so slowly and slightly started to lose it's lustre (in my opinion, anyway). By the time the Bolshoi became resurgent under Ratmansky with his new ballets, and discovered homegrown talents in Osipova and Vasiliev the Bolshoi were definately in the ascendent and it was the Kirov who was waning and seemed to continue to wane though I thought their last visit showed more promise than they have done for a while; at least from a dancing point of view. However, what this years visits hightlight for me is their very poor rep. They seem to have no new full length ballets worth seeing and I am disappointed they are yet again not bringing Corsaire. I won't be visiting London this summer and it is the first Russian summer season I've missed since that first visit in 1990. Here's hoping for better things next year.
  23. jmhopton
    I too really enjoyed A Winter's Tale at the cinema tonight. It was my first viewing of the ballet and I was very pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed it as much as I did (as did my 3 companions). it was an intriguing mix of classical and more modern which worked really well. I thought much of the choreography was really good with some amazing lifts and characterisation. The dancers were all superb, especially the main 6, and Valentine Zucchetti and Gary Avis also deserve a special mention. I agree with Regattah's negatives above and also I think the first act could do with shortening by at least 5 minutes and more time given to the last act which did seem to be rushed. More should definately be made of the discovery of Perdita's identity (pas de deux with father?). It is an important moment over in about 10 seconds! But these are minor quibbles and did not at all detract from a great night out (and without the time and expense of a long journey and hotel stay). Can't wait for Manon!
  24. jmhopton
    Yes, that was my first reaction too (though I think I would always hanker for Taranda in this ballet). I assume the ballets entitled Direct are live performances and the ones entitled Enregistre are repeats. Slightly disappointed with the ballets selected. Why couldn't they repeat Flames of Paris as that has only been shown once ages ago? It seems the only way we'll see Osipova and Vasiliev together at least in the near future. I know at one time Vasiliev wanted to do Ivan so it will be interesting if he does dance it though as he isn't a Company member they may not choose to film him. Would also love to see what they make of Manon.
  25. jmhopton
    Disappointed there are no matinees for the Ashton bill and only one performance at the end of the week (Saturday 18th October first night) So some of us who live at a distance will have no choice as to which performance we attend and will have the expense of an overnight stay as well. Joan
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