Sim

Thanks for this lovely review, Mandy.

Nina did you want to add a comment to the above quote, or should I delete it?

Thanks for the lovely review, Anna.

A lovely idea, but they are hardly likely to thank the very group of people they are trying to push out of the way.

And deservedly so!

Thanks so much Darlex. I really enjoyed talking to him!

My apologies to those who were unable to access the link. The wonderful John Mallinson has fixed it so it should now be available to all. Please let me know if you are unable to access the interview.

I did an extensive interview with Ivan Putrov a week ago. We had a wide-ranging discussion, and talked about his upcoming show Against the Stream, amongst other things. It sounds like it's going to be a fascinating show. Please click on the link below to access the interview. http://www.balletcoforum.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=709

Well the lead dancers also get applause after their solos, but then they also get to have applause at the end, be given flowers, etc. I don't see why it's embarrassing to highlight that they have no further part to play. It's the story, they play their part, it finishes, and perhaps they should be given the chance to be appreciated by us. Whoever doesn't want to do this can rush out to the bar, rather like many people rush out at the end when the curtain calls start.

Why not? After all their hard work and the pleasure they give us in the roles the audience should have a chance to thank them and show their appreciation. There is nothing wrong in my view in just bringing the four of them out for a curtain call.

I've got sunshiii-iiine, on a cloudy day......just by remembering last night. It was indeed something special. Sambe and Naghdi burst onto the stage like a sudden ray of sunshine through a dark cloud, throbbing with pent-up energy and the sheer thrill of it all. They worked so well together: fun, flirtatious and fabulous. The chemistry was palpable, and this Kitri and Basilio clearly loved each other's company. Both showed some great and natural comic timing, especially in the fake death scene in Act 3, which got loud laughs. They are both superb technical dancers and showed the audience the full range of their skills last night, Marcellino jumping almost as high as Sancho Panza was thrown, but without the help, and Yasmine whipping through those fouettes (including a couple of triples) with seeming ease and delight. You really believed in this couple, who for three hours made life seem fun and sunny all the time. Matthew Ball was a smouldering Espada (I would have swooned too!), and he danced his Act 3 solo with panache. He might not be a 'firecracker' dancer, but he has a lot of class and for me that is just as impressive. Itziar Mendizabal did a great job at very short notice; due to a rehearsal injury to Mayara Magri yesterday afternoon, she was asked to step in as Mercedes at very short notice (at least this was announced on the tannoy!), and she and Matthew had no time to rehearse together. Considering that Ball had rehearsed mostly with Beatriz Stix-Brunell until a few days ago, then with Magri, then nothing with Itziar, he did a wonderful job of partnering. I do hope Laura Morera recovers in time for any future performances this run. She is the only one who turns the 'ring scene' in Act 3 into more comedy: when Gamache gives the serving girl the engagement ring, Morera/Mercedes is furious and starts prodding the hapless Espada asking him 'hey, where's my ring?? What's taking so long? What's the matter with you? SHE has a ring and I don't?' The arguing continues into the wedding scene and is very funny. No-one else does that! Fumi Kaneko was just beautiful again as Queen of the Dryads, and another sparkling Amour from Anna-Rose O'Sullivan capped off a wonderful evening. What a shame these two, plus the lead gypsy couple (lots of fun and heat from Lukas BB and Romany Pajdak) don't get curtain calls at the end, but I guess they would rather go home than wait around for an hour and a half for a curtain call. Maybe they should do what the Russians do and have a red run at the end of Act 2, for those who won't be applauded at the end. I can't wait to see this cast's second performance, and hopefully Beatriz will have recovered from her injury so that we can see her Mercedes. Meawhile, a big 'ole' to them all for such an enticing and special performance.

If it were anything like their Dracula, it would be wonderful!

What a joyous performance all round tonight!

The swooning girl in Act 3 has always been part of the choreography, and often gets a good laugh!

Which is annoying and displays lack of thought when staging it. But I guess that can happen in many productions.

I am afraid I am one of those not buying tickets for this. I disliked it so much that I wasn’t willing to risk any money on it, revisions or not! The last time I didn’t attend a production was the revised Raven Girl, for the same reason! Dawnstar, I sat on the left side and missed a whole bit where the monster was onstage behind a tree and I had no idea. It was quite an important thing to miss as the next bit didn’t make much sense if you didn’t know he had been there observing!

OK.....someone had to do it!!

I think that some people expect Bolshoi bravura in this ballet, and if they don’t get it, it must be underpowered or soft. This is a classical ballet, and one of the things I loved about Fumi’s performance was her constant classical grace, perfectly balanced with the technical requirements of the role, which she executed beautifully.

😱. What a shame!

No, I meant underpowered, and I am referring to the dancing, not the role. I love Yuhui’s dancing but I just found that her two performances didn’t produce any effect of being a queen, or make any impact on me. Fumi, on the other hand, did. She was a regal and expansive queen. Just my view.

Sending you condolences and all best wishes for a speedy recovery, Fiz. I hope the pain is under control. Xx

Much better, Capybara. My sick faces are for their awful sentence!

🤢🤢

Before I say “the coward’s way out” I will wait to see which questions he answers, and whether he leaves time for questions at the end.

Because many people don't buy a programme at those prices. In the past, bios for replacements have been inserted into the cast sheets. As the RB doesn't have guest dancers much anymore, it would be very nice if they were to let people know about the few guests that step in without them having to buy an expensive programme. And when I talk about disrespectful, I am talking about more than Daniel Camargo. I am talking about the whole approach to cast change information this season.