Sim

Ah, thanks Dave. I had forgotten that.

Thanks for your review, jmb. Sophoife, please post up your thoughts too....if you ever get there!!

I really enjoyed seeing this programme again last night. I had seen it several times in 2014/15, and watched it on TV when they performed Dust in Glastonbury. The dancers all looked great throughout. Alina Cojocaru continues her wonderful form after Sleeping Beauty and moved me in both of the pieces she was in, largely due to the beautiful pdd that she danced in each. When I first saw Liam Scarlett's No Man's Land, back in 2014, it reduced me to tears. This time, although I really enjoyed it, it didn't really affect me emotionally, which surprised me. Scarlett said that he had 'tweaked' it for this revival. I always say it.....if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think it's the ending that he has messed around with the most. Previously, each returning soldier led his girl off the stage one couple at a time, making the main girl's pain and despair much more obvious as she is gradually left alone on the stage. Now, they all walk off at once, so there is no build-up to the searingly beautiful final pdd. When her young man finally returns, she is alone with his ghost. In the previous version, I am sure that he got much more time to walk slowly towards the light, confirming that his was a spirit having to disappear back into the ether, and emphasising the lead girl's loss and loneliness. Now, as soon as he turns to start walking up the stairs, the curtain drops so the audience doesn't have the time to absorb the incredibly sad situation unfolding on the stage. Everyone seems to like the Russell Maliphant piece, Second Breath, more than I do. I don't know why I don't much like it....I think I just find it boring compared to the other two pieces on the bill. It is beautifully danced but darkly lit. There are some clever and very affecting movements, but I found myself having a couple of shopping list moments. My daughter really enjoyed it, especially the end sequence. I got choked with Dust again last night. I find it so incredibly moving, so original, and so exciting, even after seeing it quite a few times. This three-year break meant that I was seeing it as if for the first time, and gosh did it affect me. The whole company was on fine fettle here, interpreting Khan's difficult choreography to perfection. There is much of his Giselle taking root in this piece, with the skill and emotional verve (from choreographer and dancers) required to pull it off already clearly in evidence here. In the original version of Dust, Khan danced the lead role....all of it. My daughter noticed that the first part was danced by one dancer (Fabian Reimair), and the second part with the long pdd by another (James Streeter). I wonder why this changed....unless we are remembering incorrectly? James Streeter and Tamara Rojo danced the pdd to such a degree of emotion that it was almost painful to watch. The abject misery of loss, the anger at wasted young life, the sadness of a lost generation....all of this is reflected in Khan's astonishing choreography, and in Streeter and Rojo's equally astonishing interpretation thereof. The music, sensitively interlaced with the spoken and sung word, was as always played beautifully by the ENB Philharmonic, under the ever-glorious baton of Gavin Sutherland. Lovely solo piano work from Julia Richter in No Man's Land, playing Liszt. We are now commemorating the 100th anniversary of the final 100 days of The Great War. I sincerely hope that this wonderful triple bill won't be put to bed after November 2018, as each piece can (and does, in its own unique way) talk to the generations about the tragedy and futility of this war and most others. Long may it do so.

A lovely and dignified man, who had to put up with a lot of crap to be able to show the world what a special and talented artist he was. I am so glad that, with the help of people like Balanchine, he was able to rise above the nastiness and let his art speak for itself. He has left a wonderful legacy, both in DTH and the memory of very special dancer.

There will probably be at least two younger Juliets who have never danced the role before....there is a first time for everything, no matter how old one is. I have always wanted to see Morera in this role, and she has inexplicably been passed over time and time again. She is a fine MacMillan dance actress: her Anastasia was incredibly moving, her Manon is wonderful (she is one of my favourite ever Manons), her Mary Vetsera was astonishing and left me open-mouthed and unable to speak at the end. She has also been superlative in some of MacMillan's shorter ballets. So, I would love to see her tackle Juliet to complete the circle. She has done so much justice to MacMillan's choreography through the years; I hope she gets some justice in return and is given the chance to dance this role.....with Bonelli or Muntagirov.

I sure hope so....I have long been a big fan of Mayara's.

Morera and Bonelli. An extremely enticing prospect!

Osipova did mention in her interview in The Times last week that she is hoping that Hallberg will be back at the ROH 'next year'. I am sure hoping that that will be in R&J!! I will be very surprised if Bonelli isn't cast, probably with Cuthbertson. He was wonderful in the recent run of SL, and he and Lauren have always been a beautiful couple in this ballet. Although Cuthbertson/Muntagirov also floats my boat. I would be very happy to see Hayward cast with either Campbell or Bracewell, and debuts from Takada and Ella (having seen how lovely they were together in Giselle). I can't see Heap as Juliet, but I am sure she would have a whale of a time as the lead Harlot. So many interesting possibilities......our cup runneth over!

I saw that too Alison and was hoping it was a joke. I can’t believe that in a time when the police are so strapped for cash that they are wasting their money and time on this rubbish. So if anyone says “whitewash” , “blackballed “, “blacklisted “ etc are they going to get investigated? The world has really gone mad, and freedom of speech is the main casualty of this ridiculous situation. 😢

I have never seen The Bright Stream live so am really looking forward to that, as I am to Maillot's Shrew which, much to my surprise, I loved! I will be giving those other old chestnuts a miss....especially since we will have had SL and Bayadere so recently at the RB.

Thanks Bridie. 🙂

Thanks Bridie. I wonder if his sister Alice is involved as she is a photographer? She does loads of dance photography.

Omg I can’t believe Rupert Pennefather is going to dance this (or anything) again. No one seems to know where he’s been since he left the RB. I had no idea he was still dancing! Can anyone fill in the gaps of what he’s been doing?

We didn’t get a pdd. We got SL Act 2, the Merce Cunningham spoof (hilarious), La Troviatiara, Dying Swan and Little Humpbacked Horse.

I was there tonight and it was almost full downstairs. Great show, great dancing and a very appreciative audience.

Fabulous! Thanks so much for posting, Richard.

Thanks for another wonderful review, jmb.

Which of course it shouldn't....but these days, we no longer have freedom of speech, so people have been keeping quiet if they differ from socially acceptable opinions imposed on us by the thought police. People just don't want to be ripped apart on social media by morons who don't understand that the whole point of a 'free' society is allowing people to have differing opinions, and more importantly, being able to express those opinions without the fear of being called an 'ist' of some description. And don't start me on 'cultural appropriation'.....another wonderful trend on social media that only works in one direction and has spoiled things for many people. "I may disagree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it" no longer holds any sway. More's the pity.

Ha ha love it! Public shaming! 👏👏

No problem Fiz....we just want to keep the thread on its original track.

Hi folks....can we please continue to provide useful ideas to the OP and dispense with the talk of terrorism. Many thanks.

Me too!

A great cause, but with the cheapest ticket at 84 pounds I will have to skip this one!!

That’s pretty poor. You go to all that trouble and to not even get an acknowledgement, let alone a reply.....poor show.

Thanks so much for your report, Naomi. It sounds like a wonderful show, and I am sad and surprised that there were empty seats, especially knowing how much the Japanese people love ballet! As you say, probably the result of poor advertising.