jmhopton

Am pleased there are several Saturday double performances of Don Q which is great for seeing a variety of casts while also cutting back on the travel and accommodation expenses. Still looks to be an expensive autumn, and spring won't be any better with Manon and Swan Lake. Don't know when I'm going to start saving for the Ashton next summer!

3 hours ago, MJW said:

 

Hopefully they will release casting for the Nutcracker/Hans-Peter, Clara and Drosselmeyer before booking opens - my decision over dates depends more on them!

Me too MJW. That's exactly what I thought when I saw the Nutcracker casting. 

Well, finally got to see Sleeping beauty at the cinema this afternoon after Tuesdays cancelled performance at the Preston Odeon. Even this performance wasn't free of technical problems as the picture ratio wasn't correct and Darcey and Petroc's heads were missing! So, another trip to the Technical Dept who fortunately managed to sort it before the performance started. The music was still too loud but I mentioned it twice and then gave up.

Still, the performance was definitely worth putting up with the technical problems. Yasmine and Matthew were terrific as always, and Sissens and Gasparini's Bluebirds were incredible. I hope Isabella is promoted. She certainly deserves it, as does Annette Buvoli who was very eye-catching both as a fairy and one of Florestan's sisters. Incidentally, who ARE Florestan and his sisters? I Googled them and was still none the wiser. They don't appear to be fairytale characters so why invent them when there are perfectly good characters in the lineup such as Cinderella and her Prince and Beauty and the Beast who have nothing to do? Anyway, I looked out for David Donnelly as the Wolf and thought him terrific. Loved the strutting walk with which he makes his entrance. Haven't seen anyone else do that. Would have liked to have seen more by him, preferably without a mask so I know what he looks like. Thought Kristen terrific as always. Definitely my favourite Carabosse. Just wished they would get the stage fixed so she can vanish properly. Shame this season had the 2 main ballets that needed the stage to move; Mayerling and SB. Hopefully it will be fixed in the summer break.

Finally, got home to this Unseen Matt cartoon which I thought very appropriate. 

Perhaps a mod could replace it with a link, if possible, if it's not right to show it but whenever I try and share Telegraph links they never work.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/newsletters/Matt/2023/May/MattunseenMay28.jpg

Hi Joan.  I have removed the image and replaced it with the link.  When you paste something, click the 'display as a link' option instead of the 'leave embedded' option.  I have also corrected a couple of names whilst I was in there!  Sim x

Disappointing we're getting 2 Macmillan programmes at the cinema and possibly a 3rd showing of Winter's Tale, but none of the Ashton, especially as it would be a great way to launch the 5 year celebrations. Hopefully some of them will be streamed but given we haven't had last years triple yet it doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. 

Someone in the cinema said they checked on Twitter and Preston isn't the only place it wasn't working. At least for once I was on my own and not with friends. Also, I have booked Sundays encore with a couple of friends so hopefully see it then. I'm sure it will be worth the wait!

Perhaps other cinemas had the same problem as the Preston Odeon which had to cancel tonight's Sleeping beauty live relay as they couldn't access the satellite, despite it working perfectly early in the day.

Can't find the 22/23 cinema thread but had my cinema ticket price refunded from Preston Odeon tonight as they couldn't get the satellite to work, despite it working earlier today. Fortunately, I'd already booked for Sunday's performance.

Agree with most of your selection Capybara, especially Annette Buvoli and Daichi Ikarashi (whom I've pencilled in as a principal sometime in the future. Wouldn't be surprised if Annette doesn't make principal eventually as well). Marco Masciari seems to be getting good roles for such a junior member of the Company. Definitely someone to watch, as are Leticia Dias and Isabella Gasparini. I think I'd also add Marianne Tsembenhoi who always catches my eye for the beauty of her dancing.

Just had an email from Sarasota Ballet about their Dance for All Day of Giving initiative which is today. if anyone is interested in accessing their website (didn't know if it was appropriate to post it and anyway my link is to my email account) They're running videos and asking for donations for six different areas of which the final one is Lectures, Tickets and Tours. Given that how many on the Forum are thrilled they are coming I thought some might be interested in donating, especially as they're having to raise a large sum just to come at all. You can specify which area/s you want your donation to go to. Someone has agreed to match fund any donations. I've already sent a small donation. I'd have liked it to be more but you know how things are at the moment... Hope nobody has already mentioned this but have been out of circulation with a tummy bug and haven't been able to check. Just coming round today !

I emailed Kevin to congratulate him on the Ashton programme and Sarasota visit, and to ask if there was any chance of one each of the Sarasota programmes and, more importantly, the gala being performed on the main stage, but was told it was logistically too complicated so we'll just have to hope there are enough seats for everyone. 

3 hours ago, alison said:

I've just looked at my scheduled events, and realise that the first and last nights of the triple bill are scheduled to be filmed.  So, fingers crossed, we may get Morera's Anastasia?

If it's being filmed for streaming I just hope we don't have to wait as long as we have for the Ashton triple bil.

I emailed the Friends to see if autumn casting would be announced in the Friends magazine due out in the next 2 weeks. I was told it wouldn't be announced then but would be in the Friends newsletter when it has been confirmed. I think I've said this before, but it only seems a few years ago since autumn casting was announced with the new season announcement.

I also asked about the Ashton stream (again!!!) and was just told to watch the new streaming information.

Well that's my birthday present to me sorted!!!

Having seen the Instagram footage of him rehearsing/performing (?) Don Q in Trieste with Fumi he is definitely worth a cinema broadcast!! Haven't seen virtuosity like that since Vasiliev, and Vadim has the beautiful classical style as well as virtuosity which Vasiliev didn't always have. Would love to see him perform it with Fumi. Fingers crossed!!!

This article in Hello caught my eye. Apparently the Princess of Wales and Princes Charlotte were allegedly at Cinderella yesterday evening though some audience footage posted on Instagram at the end of the article suggests it was possibly Takada's matinee judging by the curtain call. It was so fleeting it was difficult to see but it didn't look like Laura. The Instagram footage continues with several excited small children actually on the ROH stage, playing with the fairies illuminated wands. Apparently Princess Charlotte is very keen on ballet. A future supporter, perhaps?

Mods, please remove the link if it is not applicable.

https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/491485/princess-charlotte-birthday-treat-ballet-royal-opera-house/

5 hours ago, capybara said:

Which needs to be filmed. Best overall cast by some distance in Spring 2022 but the opportunity missed.

Interestingly, the three partners Laura mentioned in her recent London Ballet Circle were, as expected, Ricardo Cervera and Federico Bonelli - but also Vadim.

I have mentioned filming the Japanese Laura/Vadim Month in the Country to Kevin as the London performances were so incredible. I was thinking of a Japanese company filming it as Fumi is part of the mixed bill and Vadim is very popular there. Clutching at straws I know but you can only ask.

Also, why are Japan getting a Royal Celebration Concert and we're not?!

1 hour ago, Benjamin said:

Here are the shows:

Saturday September 30 7:30

Wednesday October 4 7:30

Saturday October 7 1:00

Saturday October 7 7:00

Wednesday October 11 7:30

Friday October 13 7:30

Saturday October 14 1:00

Saturday October 14 7:00

Monday October 16 7:30

Tuesday October 17 7:30

Thursday October 19 7:30

Saturday October 28 1:00

Saturday October 28 7:00

Friday 3 November 7:30

Saturday 11 November 1:00

Saturday 11 November 7:00

Friday 17 November 7:30
and yes that’s 17!

Thanks very much for this, Benjamin.  Several two show Saturdays and one with a Fri as well. Very good for those us who have to travel. 

1 minute ago, Dawnstar said:

 

I think the triple bill ending this season presents that dilemma to some people, myself included.

 

I said on the predictions thread that if Melissa Hamilton didn't get a public performance as Manon I'd complain to Kevin O'Hare in person. This evening I tried to pre-empt any need to complain by putting in a request when I saw him at the stage door!

 

 

Wonderful, Dawnstar, that's the way to do it! I buttonholed him myself, possibly on the same day, to ask him about last year's Ashton stream and was told it was in hand and hopefully not too long before it's on the streaming platform.

Re the summer triple, isn't the dilemma more whether to go just because it's Morera's final performance at the ROH? The triple bill is what I call modern, with Macmillan, especially the one act Anastasia, rather walking a tightrope between classical and modern. It's certainly not a ballet that appeals to me enough to spend a large sum on transport and accommodation, not to mention ticket, even with it being Morera's final ROH performance. For me, her final performance will be as Cinderella next weekend and I'm sure I'll really enjoy it. Something I can't say for Anastasia. (Though I'm still clinging to the hope that somehow her Month in the Country in Japan will be filmed. That's my idea of a suitable send off for her.)

I rather like the 'it's a whim' gesture. I just find it quite amusing. What I don't like, and all the Albrecht's I've seen recently seem to do it, is that he possibly tries to make up for his affair with Giselle  by being very attentive to Bathilde and ignoring Giselle (guilty conscience?) I keep hoping just one Albrecht will be a bit distant to Bathilde because he's just met someone he loves as opposed to an 'arranged' or dutiful marriage (it that's what it is) but none of them do. Perhaps it's something Peter Wright insists on, I don't know, but it always grates on me, and makes Albrecht's 2nd act declaration of love for Giselle that bit harder to understand. I know the transformation in his attitude really comes about because of Giselle's madness and death but it would have been nice to see even slight evidence of it before.

I like the idea of the peasant pas de deux as an engaged couple but difficult to do in the RB version unless all three couples are getting engaged, which I suppose is possible.

3 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

 

Am I the only person who didn't mind Frankenstein? Not that I loved it but I thought it was fine. If it was revived again I'd consider seeing it again, if it was a good cast. I feel as though every one else hates it though! The only other Scarlett pieces I've seen are The Cunning Little Vixen, which I really enjoyed, Asphodel Meadows & an extract from No Man's Land.

No I didn't mind it either, Dawnstar. Never going to be a favourite but I didn't dislike it and thought there was some good choreography in it, especially between Frankenstein and his fiancee. Some good pas de deux there. I've seen far worse ballets on the ROH stage, though admittedly most were part of triple bills that I knew I wasn't going to enjoy but endured them because of something I wanted to see. At least Kevin's current trend of grouping modern ballets separately to traditional ones means I don't often have that particular dilemma very often these days.

3 hours ago, oncnp said:

Calendar on website?

Ah, yes, thanks oncnp. The obvious places are usually the right ones! I was so obsessed about the season announcement I thought performance dates must be there somewhere and I'd missed it. I never thought of the calendar! Hours of fun trawling through there then, though of course not a huge amount of use without casting. Still, it will give me some idea to work on and plan round. if only we had the old calendar back, with every performance laid out in date order, with it's own link. It was so basic and useful of course the the ROH tech people had to remove it. Now, if you don't know the date of a performance you're looking for you have to wade through pages of irrelevancies, but don't get me started on that again!

Am just catching up with the long ROH press release.

In the Cinema and stream section they unfortunately don't give out a complete list of cinema broadcasts but just say it is the largest season ever, with 13 broadcasts. Ballet wise they just mention Swan lake and Nutcracker which were obvious anyway. I'm keeping everything crossed that at least one Ashton performance is filmed for cinema and hopefully the other streamed. The gala would be good for cinema and hopefully get some publicity for Sarasota as well as Ashton.

Re streaming, it does say 24 more new productions will be added to the streaming offer. This is continuing the current 2 operas and ballets a month they currently do. I'm assuming that 'new' means new to streaming not necessarily new performances though it does specifically mention the new Cinderella will be a streaming offer at some point in the year though of course it has already been a cinema broadcast. Apparently the streaming will include works by Wayne Macgregor and Joseph Toonga (no comment!)

Looking forward to the 'commemorative displays of beautiful historical costumes including a celebration of the centenary of Nicholas Georgiadis who designed sumptuous costumes for Kenneth MacMillan ballets including Manon and Mayerling'. 

Where is there an actual breakdown of days/dates of performances? People have commented on the few matinees, especially lack of Saturday Nutcracker matinees so it must be out there somewhere and I've just missed it. Matinees and linked performance days are so important when you're travelling long distances.

6 hours ago, FionaE said:

I’d be delighted to Rhapsody again … but with new casts only.  
(Passage cut from quote from Paul Arrowsmith.)

Daichi Ikarashi's insouciant performance almost convinced me otherwise. Next stop for him – please – would be the lead role in Ashton's Rhapsody, so that ballet may regain its nonchalant wit, long missing.”

Yes please!!!

Edited 6 hours ago by capybara

Include me for Daichi in Rhapsody too!  Perhaps even matador in Don Q? Especially as this will be after RB promotions and I'm sure he will be promoted. In fact, I can see him as a principal in the not too dim and distant future.

Not just ASLEF strikes, us northerners have to contend with 'essential' rail maintenance as well. I'm coming to see Morera's final Cinderella this Saturday and as it's a Bank Holiday there are no trains out of Euston on Sunday. So I'm having to get back to Preston via Kings Cross and Leeds. At least it will be different scenery!

7 hours ago, MAX said:

One female choreographer only in the main house ?  

 

I think Kevin O'Hare should make an effort, we are in 2023...

 

And not a single creation ?

 

I must say that I think it might be good for The Royal Ballet to think about having a new director, someone with fresh ideas and vision...  

I'm with Sim in that choreographers should be selected on merit and nothing to do with their gender. Also, I've said before that with the RB huge back catalogue and many recent creations it's time to take a breather for a while and celebrate what we've already got. Also, if the RB isn't spending thousands of pounds on new creations perhaps they can keep the seat prices down a bit or at least stop them rocketting even more (OK I tend to slip into a fantasy world every now and then!) Hate to think what even the restricted SC seats I usually try and get will cost for Swan lake. I think Kevin has commissioned many new works, seemingly far more than any other AD I can remember, and I personally am thrilled he's asked Sarasota Ballet to come next season. To me, that's worth far more than any new creation because it shows at last that an AD is promoting our greatest choreographer who to me is worth more than all the RB big name new choreographers put together.

3 hours ago, Lizbie1 said:

Well - my interest is very heavily weighted towards the end of the season.

Me too Lizbie!

Am beyond excited that Sarasota Ballet are actually coming and bringing such a great Ashton programme with them. A lot of what they're doing featured in their lockdown livestream recordings and are terrific. Especially pleased with Facade as I can't remember the last time it was staged here and I don't know if I've ever seen Les Rendezvous at a theatre. Was disappointed that ENB didn't stream their student performance last year which featured it. I love Walk in a Paradise Garden as well. When I emailed Iain Webb asking if they could come he said they would need to be invited, so thank you Kevin O'Hare for inviting Sarasota and having such a great start to 5 years of Ashton celebrations. As the song goes 'Who could ask for anything more'??!! Of course am disappointed about Fille, but hopefully a prolonged Ashton celebration means that Fille will be programmed next year. Would be good for other UK Companies to get involved too like they did with the Macmillan celebrations a few years ago. Dare we hope for a repeat visit by Sarasota? Would be great to see them more often and possibly bring Kobborg's Sylphide as well so we'll be able to see the wonderful Danish sets and costumes. Also the full length David Bintley, Comedy of Errors would be wonderful to see as well as more Ashton of course. Like others I am slightly disappointed Rhapsody is programmed again so soon but understand it is part of the Rachmaninov celebrations as well as Ashton. And it is a fabulous ballet. Am keeping everything crossed for Vadim as Oberon as I don't know if he's danced it before. He was in Symphonic variations (I think) when it was programmed last. Also it would be great if one of the Ashton programmes were filmed for cinema and the other ones/s streamed both for all us devoted Astonians and to raise awareness of Ashton as a genius choreographer and the UKs founder choreographer (as well as the RBs).

Like others, I'm hugely disappointed with no Onegin (hopefully next year) and no Jerome Robbins (would love to see Dances at a Gathering again) and others I've not seen. Look forward to seeing Don Q (though prefer BRBs production). Am not really interested in Winter's Tale or Dante (returning too soon ), though might see one performance of Dante just to see if I missed anything by not liking the recording. Am pleased to see Manon with some new principals. Would have liked to see something at Christmas to offset the inevitable Nutcracker. Seems a shame to just have the one programme. They used to programme a triple at the same time which would have been good but obviously don't want to distract the paying public by having alternatives to what is probably a hugely expensive Christmas ballet evening.

Anyway, on the whole am happier than I thought I would be this time yesterday. Roll on next summer. Can't come soon enough!! Must start saving now as I intend to attend every Ashton performance!!