nottsballetlover

Thanks Janet! Hazard of booking multiple shows!!

Sorry, no views from Nottingham from me for this. Severe illness made me miss all but one of the 4 Nottm shows I booked and that was a blur.... Oh for some kind of insurance for tickets! I think ATG theatres do. Never mind, health comes first, roll on BRB's June shows in Brum!

I saw the same cast this Thursday matinee in Sheffield. I absolutely agree with Janet that the tension between the leads was electric. I went all tingling with emotion! Curnier, Ashley Dixon ,Antoinete and Ayami All the dancers just floored me with emotion. It was a superb performance.

I'll be at that show too, plus a few other of the Nottingham shows. Enjoy!

Well, I saw Northern Ballet's Swan Lake, matinee Saturday. Only just, due to huge problems on the trains. I arrived at Leeds Grand frazzled and with only minutes to spare before curtain up. Anyway, I was immersed into this wonderful take on Swan Lake right from the start. It's an interesting version and I think I like it. I will be seeing it again next week in Sheffield so may feel better at commenting properly after a second viewing. On first viewing I think it's a clever twist on the story but keeping some of the original version. But it is quite an unusual version and won't please everyone. As to the dancing, well this was just superb. Tobias Batley and Martha Le Bolt were divine together, as were Toby and Nicola Gervasi playing out the other part of the love triangle. Also Abigail Prudames was wonderful as were all the supporting cast plus perfect playing by NB Sinfonia. Great sets, costumes and lighting too. Some really clever stuff involving the lake, reeds, bicycles! David Nixon use some bits of music that are not from Swan Lake in this ballet but still by Tchaicovsky. If anyone can tell me the piece of Tchaikovsky that is used for the pdd in Act 1 between Anthony & Simon, I am desperate to know. I have trawled every piece of Tchaikovsky on YouTube to no avail.....!! All in all, a very enjoyable, different version of SL, superbly danced. What a stunningly beautiful 19th century theatre the Leeds Grand is, my first visit to this venue. I was in stalls row F, about 4 rows from front. Perfect view and could see dancers' feet. Many thanks to Janet of the forum for encouraging me to try out new theatres! This would have been an easy commute by train from my home in Nottingham if it hadn't been for signalling problems! Next week, NB again in Sheffield, another first theatre for me, I can't wait! I know not everyone will like this version of Swan Lake but Northern Ballet's dancers really are superb so I highly recommend everyone to get to see this! For me, it was emotionally moving and gorgeous dancing.

Sounds great Janet! I'm looking forward to my first trips to both Leeds Grand and Sheffield Lyceum to see this!

And another sensational performance at today's matinee at The Lowry. Debuts as Romeo & Juliet by William Bracewell and Delia Matthews. Also debut as Paris by Brandon Lawrence and Laughlan Monaghan as Mercutio. Just superb, moving, emotional.

So, now I’ve come down from the emotional turmoil of Saturday, I will post a few thoughts about the 2 performances of Romeo and Juliet I saw. Excuse if I ramble and gush but in my view, BRB triumphs again after the simply wonderful Ashton double bill the previous week! Saturday matinee was led by Jenna Roberts and Iain Mackay as the star crossed lovers. Both were utterly convincing in their respective roles and so intense from the moment they met in the ballroom scene. Stunningly beautiful dancing and acting throughout. Fine supporting cast with one utter standout for me, which was Tyrone Singleton as Tybalt. Terrifyingly terrific in every way, seething menace personified (in this role I hasten to add)!! It’s such a powerful moment when Tybalt enters on the upper level above the market place in Act 2; he’s drinking, then gets both his swords out and swaggers down the stairs, clearly going to pick a fight. It sent shivers down my spine. Iain Mackay’s Romeo was brilliantly supported by Mathias Dingman as Mercutio and Yasuo Atsuji as Benvolio. They danced very well as a trio, well matched, great acting as ‘the lads’ about town. The trio of harlots was led by Celine Gittens in sparkling form. Samara Downs was an ice cold Lady Capulet and Marion Tate as the nurse was pure genius character acting. Finally, a special mention for Steven Monteith with his sweetly sensitive and gently romantic portrayal of Paris. This was his last performance with BRB before retiring, according to BRB’s Facebook page. All good wishes to him for the future. Then to the evening performance. I was flagging somewhat before curtain up and found it quite a marathon to see 2 R&J’s back to back, but the sheer intensity of the performance kept me gripped to the emotional end. R & J were Joseph Caley and Momoko Hirata, Rory Mackay as Tybalt, James Barton as Mercutio and William Bracewell as Benvolio. Again, dazzling performances throughout, I was transported to the world of old Verona. Caley is a perfect Romeo, with his youthful ardour shining through. James Barton sparkles with fun as Mercutio until his fateful death scene, which is so tragic to watch. As for Momoko, that was astonishingly moving; an absolutely sublime performance. She has the perfect fragility and youthful innocence for Juliet. Utterly fabulous Juliet, one of the best I have ever seen, brava to her. I can’t wait to see more performances. Next one is Lowry next Thurs matinee, then lots in Nottingham! The orchestra conducted by Koen Kessels were fantastic, and this version for BRB seems to be taken at quite a quick pace. I'm sure when I’ve seen it at ROH it’s much slower! It certainly makes for some gripping action, especially the very unnerving sword fights! Also the designs by Paul Andrews are gorgeous – the costumes seem more colourful than the Geordiadis ones for RB. However, I'm not sure about the costumes for the mandolin 6 dancers – erm, sort of fluffy, tasselled outfits???

2 utterly fantastic shows yesterday. Will post my thoughts when I get home but I will be needing a lot of adjectives along the theme of 'wonderful'...

Sorry, I'bve yet to master the 'quote' function.... I wanted to quote the last bit of Janet"s review to add: Thanks for that wonderful review. Can't wait to see 2 shows today and the 5 more I seem to have booked in Salford & Nottingham. Somewhat excessive maybe, but BRB are really on such astoundingly good form that no performance I've had the privilege to see in the last few years has been anything other than a joy to watch and something to treasure.

As I said at the start - 2 brilliant performances on Thursday and I have also heard great reports of Jenna and Iain's cast too. Although the company are not in London this Spring R&J can be seen at The Lowry, Sunderland, Nottingham and Plymouth. Do try and see a performance or two. It sounds like there are some great debuts coming up.

Month this evening (Matthews/Mackay) was beyond words. It just flowed perfectly and swept me along and took me to another level of ballet wonderment. Just bravo to BRB and all concerned for putting this on so brilliantly. No surprise that Dowell was in tears. So was I. An exquisite work.

I've just seen today's matinee so will post some thoughts, amateur though they are!! Great review above Two Pigeons, mine will be a ramble in comparison! What a fabulous double bill for a start: 2 sublime works by Ashton danced by the wondrously on form BRB and I feel so lucky to have been able to see this in its very short run! I'm also seeing tonight's show and got a great deal on a Prem Inn in Brum! First The Dream was precisely that for me. Magical performances throughout, which is exactly what it should be. Cesar Morales has such an ethereal other-wordly quality about him, he was perfect in the role of Oberon (stuck with me forever when he played The Stranger in Miracles in the Gorbals). Momoko Hirata, a big favourite of mine as she is so delicate and just floats in whatever she does, was an equally perfect Tatiana. Meanwhile James Barton was a dazzling Puck; Kit Holder very characterful as Bottom. Brandon Lawrence/Delia Matthews and Gittens/Iain Mackay as the young lovers all sparkled. As did all the fairies. Gorgeously played score with lovely singing by the girls of Brum Cathedral Choir. Month in the Country is a wonderful piece too although took a bit for me to fully engage and feel involved. For me it just built gradually and gently to a powerful crescendo that was the duet between Samara Downs' Natalia and Jamie Bond as Beliayev. Piano playing of the Chopin superb, especially the Grand Polonnaise which always brings a tear to my eyes. What a treat of a double bill and I'm going to see it again tonight with a different cast! Happy days indeed, what a superb double production.

Fantastic news! Thanks for flagging this up Susan!

Casting for R&J supporting roles for Birmingham performances now on the BRB website.

Oops, double posted while on train! Please remove duplicates post! Thanks

Janet above said 'beg borrow or steal a ticket'. I bought mine in a conventional way but I'm so glad I did! I didn't see this production first time round so today was my first viewing. I'm kind of glad I don't have to compare casts! Today was Mack as Conrad, Sousa as Ali, Corrales as Birbanto and Zhang as Lankedem. Plus Sommerscales and Ksenia. Adjectives fail me. Great show and dazzlingly superb dancing by all of them. Amazing pace throughout despite ridiculous plot (but frankly who gives a damn about the plot??)! It would be unfair for me to single any of these out. One section stood out though for me today which was the pas d'action on Act 2 with Mack, Souza and Sommerscales. It made me cry just because the sheer joy of the dancing was so intense. Nothing to do with a plotline! The music and the dancers just soared in total harmony! It was phenomenal! As I said, so glad I sent ahead with a last minute ticket on this. I previously thought I was jinxed with ENB as I previously had 2 shows all bookwd on the last 12 months plus trains and was I'll at last minute so could not attend either or even try to let someone else have my ticket. Heartbreakingly. Made today even more special. Fabulous show.

I've plumped for last minute ticket for today's matinee! All the reviews above make this a no-miss show, hang the expense!!

I'm so sad to hear that it now confirmed. Utterly tragic and sad.

Not sure if Dance to Freedom was a co-production. Cast & credits at this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06t3j8q

Lin. Artem is a Bolshoi principal. Quite uncanny resemblance in some ways! So great that this programme was done in this brilliant way. As in with a real dancer who is both acting and dancing. Fascinating interviews with former KGB agents who were involved. And I've never before heard the Clara Saint audio interview about Rudolf's defection. I hope you got your recordings sorted!

Gasp! Nureyev Dance to Freedom was superb! I cannot knock BBC right now. I will watch it again before I comment further. Suffice to say Artem Ovcharenko playing Nureyev was superb. And so many fascinating interviews. Fabulous programme!

So, to add to what I said on the train home last night, last night's BRB Nutcracker was just the best one I've ever seen. I had a huge smile of joy on my face all the way through and reconnected with my inner child! What carried the whole performance was the wonderful performance by Laura Purkiss as Clara, who just kept up the powerful feeling of wonderment through both acts. As usual from BRB, the whole cast plus orchestra were all superb. Special mention of course for the dazzling Brandon Lawrence as The Prince (no silly wig as ROH version seems to require the Prince to wear!) and the ppd with Yijing Zhang as Sugar Plum was divine! Such a shame I had to miss the curtains calls to dash for the last train back to Nottingham. Memorable evening.

Just on train home from Brum to Nottingham after the most wonderfully magically delightful BRB Nutcracker. Oh I even feel a bit Christmassy! Pure joy of a show. Will write more tomorrow!