alison Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 My goodness, I'd never before realised that there was a limit to the number of posts you could quote in a single post! Continuing, then: As far as casting is concerned I hate to have to remind everyone but Watson was born in 1976 and Yanowsky in 1975. I can't help thinking that their respective ages may explain why they are not appearing in the ballets which have been listed for the Spring booking period. Well, whatever it is, I'm disappointed not to see Watson in Emeralds. I liked him in that, albeit not with Marquez, because I didn't find them a good stylistic or emotional match. It seems that he's now not doing a lot of the roles he used to dance with Leanne Benjamin since she retired, although to what extent that's by choice I don't know. I tend to agree with those who think that you only develop as an artist and only develop the interpretation of a particular role by repeated performances. Me too. Although to what extent one-night-stand-type guesting where you're shoehorned into a different production helps in that respect I'm not so sure. However, I do feel that the development of dancers at all levels should be prominent in the thinking of ADs and some recent casting makes me wonder if that consideration is sufficiently 'up there' as far as the RB is concerned. And that includes under-used principals. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesrhblack Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 At the risk of getting scythed down (again !!), I have already talked about Muntagirov in this context. However, and given that Hirano, Ball, Clarke etc are likely to be Hungarian Officers, I do feel that opportunities have been missed to cast (and thus stretch) other dancers. Maybe there should have been more performances but, in places, there has been a tendency to go for people who have essayed the roles before. In addition to Muntagirov as Rudolf and Nunez as Mary, i would have wanted to cast (for example) Calvert as Larisch; O'Sullivan as Stephanie; and Acri, Sambe and Yudes as Bratfisch. I am not brave enough or foolish enough to share my disbelief fully. Suffice it to say that I find it puzzling that Lamb has both of the main female roles, astonishing that Nunez has gone back to dancing Mitzi Caspar and disappointing that Campbell, now a Principal, remains as Bratfisch. Some of that may have something to do with filming, of course. [Edited to add that this is in response to David's question (immediately above but now on the previous page) which I omitted to quote.] Of course, Bratfisch and Mitzi were both created by Principal Dancers, Graham Fletcher and Laura Connor... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Well, I've now finally had the opportunity to have a less-hurried look at the casting than I originally did. Firstly, I'm surprised to see various soloists doubling up in Jewels: this hasn't happened previously, and I always understood that it was largely down to logistical problems with rehearsals. I've always thought of Diamonds as something for relatively tall, or at least leggy, dancers: have shorter dancers such as Salenko and McRae danced it in the past? On to Mayerling: When I said how gutted I was that Gartside wasn't reprising Rudolf, I am sure he must be far more so than I am That really is a huge disappointment. I'm surprised and rather disappointed to see Hayward rather stagnating as Stephanie: I'd assumed/hoped she would get Mary Vetsera this time around - and preferably with Watson, since they seemed to work so well both in the previous run and in Manon. Not sure how well he and Osipova will work in this, but as FLOSS says I expect Anastasia will give us a better idea of that. I think the Bonelli cast is completely new? Like others, disappointed to see Nunez not having more to do in this run. Good to see some new dancers getting chances, though. Again, though, this run is very compact. I can see I shall have to pick and choose what performances to go and see, because there's a limit to the number of Mayerlings I can watch in a short space of time, too. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Personally I don't think there is anything wrong or premature in speculating on how dancers will perform together in certain ballets. It is part of the whole ballet experience...wondering, and sometimes even dreaming, about these things (I mean dreaming that things will work out like I hope they will when I envision the dancers in the roles...when it is a good vision that is!). It is then very interesting for me to find out whether what I have thought actually comes to pass. Many a time I have been disappointed, and many a time pleasantly surprised. For me, that is all part of the joy and magic of ballet. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) A few words regarding Bennet Gartside. I went to the first performance of Mayerling and have been going to watch it regularly ever since. I won't claim to have seen every single cast and I have purposely avoided certain Rudolfs but I've probably seen most and in my opinion Gartside is among the very best. The role requires a strong actor first and foremost because of the complex character, initially he repels but as you watch a human being destroying himself and realize the world he lived in with it's corruption and cynicism, helped to bring about his downfall you should feel pity. At the end of Gartside's performance my eyes were moist and my companion, who had initially moaned about the cast change, was screaming himself hoarse with bravos for the hero of the evening. It takes a very special artist to go on stage, presumably at short notice, and give a performance of that calibre. Rudolf is a tough role and I can think of one luminary at least who turned it down on the grounds of the partnering being too difficult. In dance, partnering and particularly acting terms Mr Gartside was superb and gave those of us lucky enough to see it one of the most vivid Rudolfs we're ever likely to see. I am more than sorry others will not have the opportunity to seem him in this role. corrected typo Edited October 23, 2016 by MAB 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLOSS Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) l am pleased to discover that I am not the only person on this forum who likes Pierrot Lunaire. Edited October 23, 2016 by FLOSS 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Many thanks MAB for such a description of Ben's Crown Prince which I'm afraid I've only read about and would love to have seen. Whilst Ben is not scheduled to dance Rudolf this time, hopefully Mayerling will be back for an extended run, sooner rather than later, and he might have a further opportunity at the role, together with others. Like Alison, I'd love to see Francesca dance Mary. Meantime I'm encouraged by many of the comments about the various casts and I'll look forward to seeing all of them if possible. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Hi JohnS, and welcome to the forum. Please keep posting, and do let us know what you think of the Mayerlings that you do end up seeing! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Welcome, JohnS. I think the trouble is that Benn is virtually contemporary with Ed Watson, and if we're thinking that these are likely to be Ed's last Mayerlings time may be running out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Welcome, JohnS. I think the trouble is that Benn is virtually contemporary with Ed Watson, and if we're thinking that these are likely to be Ed's last Mayerlings time may be running out. Oh no! I didn't realise he was so 'old'! (Comparatively speaking, of course.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Somebody's pointed out, I think on the Fille thread, that he's just had a Significant Birthday. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 I was also disappointed that Ben Gartside hasn't been given a Mayerling. I had a ticket for his performance when he stood in but in the end couldn't go and was mighty disappointed after hearing his reviews. I don't wish to have a go at Macrae whom I adore in certain things (Woolf Works, Winter's Tale) but I am surprised he has been cast as Rudolf. I just wouldn't have thought it was his thing and wonder why he has the role. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Penelope, you are by no means the only one wondering. OTOH, I remember back in (?)1994 going to Jonathan Cope's unscheduled (it was supposed to be Adam Cooper, or Michael Nunn, can't remember which, as there had been so many cast changes) debut as Rudolf with very low expectations, and being extremely surprised about how good he turned out to be. You never know, the same thing might happen with McRae. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josephine Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) I did not see Jonathan Cope's unscheduled performance, but was lucky to see his Rudolf later on. How fortunate that he was able to revisit the role. It seems very unfair to both artist and audience that Bennet Gartside cannot revisit Rudolf, after giving an exceptionally powerful performance when covering. Thank you MAB for such an eloquent and moving account in post 71 above. Edited October 25, 2016 by Josephine 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthE Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) Many thanks MAB for such a description of Ben's Crown Prince which I'm afraid I've only read about and would love to have seen. Whilst Ben is not scheduled to dance Rudolf this time, hopefully Mayerling will be back for an extended run, sooner rather than later, and he might have a further opportunity at the role, together with others. Like Alison, I'd love to see Francesca dance Mary. Meantime I'm encouraged by many of the comments about the various casts and I'll look forward to seeing all of them if possible. Somebody's pointed out, I think on the Fille thread, that he's just had a Significant Birthday. Well, his Twitter handle is @Bennet76, which would rather support that theory. He also posted on Twitter on the final night of his cast of the recent run of Winter's Tale that he expected that to be his last shot at a lead role. Several people, myself included, responded at the time to say that we had all been really hoping he would be cast in Mayerling. Edited October 25, 2016 by RuthE 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 I find it rather insulting when a dancer stands in for another dancer (sometimes at short notice) and gives a great performance but is then not / never cast in the role again. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLOSS Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) Aileen. Standing in for a dancer at short notice and never dancing that role again is a risk that every dancer runs particularly if they are only a First Soloist. If I recall Gartside's assumption of the role of Rudolf prompted all sorts of rumours that he was about to retire. Gartside replaced an injured Soares as Leontes in the initial run of Winter's Tale and when it was revived this year he was given the opportunity to dance the role with the same cast who he had danced with in 2014.If you wish to say that Gartside has been under used over the years. I would agree with you, as I would if you were to describe Cervera as possibly the best Oberon we never had. However we have to live in the real world in which most people, as evidenced by this site,are anxious to see their favourite dancers appear in everything, almost regardless of their suitability for particular roles, foreign fans want to see the big names on tour regardless of their suitability for the ballets being toured and management has to keep the entire company, the right's holders and organisations like the Balanchine Foundation happy while simultaneously developing its younger dancers. In the past the company could be criticised for spending too much time on looking after its star principal dancers and spending too little time developing the junior dancers whom it had recruited from school.The last couple of seasons have seen the emergence of a number of very promising young dancers and now management is going to have get the balance right between satisfying dancers who are coming to the end of their careers and meeting the development needs of those members of the company who are likely to replace them. Ballet is a young persons' art form. Dancers tend to retire at the very point at which those engaged in the other theatre arts are just beginning to get into their stride. A singer in their early to mid thirties is still young and promising a dancer of the same age is facing a few more years before retirement. Now dancers vary a great deal in how long they can continue dancing but few continue long into their forties. As far as male dancers are concerned they tend to retire from leading roles at an earlier age than female dancers do.I wonder how many male dancers you can think of who have continued dancing into their forties in the same roles that they were dancing in their twenties without any diminution in their technical performance. I am afraid that in Gartside's case it is a case of "Time's wing'd chariot drawing near" . I wonder which you think is a better fate for a dancer of either sex to retire while they still appear to the audience to be in top form so their passing is regretted or hanging on until they are no longer capable of performing at anything approaching their best and the audience, if it is kindly disposed, begins to pity them? It is, it seems to me, far better for a performer to give up the stage before the stage gives them up. As the audience we have to accept that retirement, while still comparatively young, is the ultimate fate of all dancers Edited October 25, 2016 by FLOSS 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 As the old showbiz adage goes: leave 'em wanting more! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nina G. Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Older dancers also tend to recuperate far slower from injury, even a minor injury, and they often dance in great pain, as I recall Carlos Acosta saying just before he retired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Thanks RuthE. I recall Ben's suggestion that Winter's Tale may have been his last leading role but am still optimistic that this might have been a little premature. But time is limited, hence my hope that Mayerling might be back next season for a longer run (as happened with Fille?) and that there may still be opportunity to see his Rudolf. I'd also just draw attention to ROH's web page on Mayerling and the reviews highlighted - two for Ed but starting with the Independent's review of Ben which is well worth a read. I do appreciate Floss's comments about when to bring the curtain down and I guess this is one of the hardest decisions for Directors and dancers. Ben has given so many memorable performances of roles large and small and we are fortunate to look forward to more - I'm sure he'll be a compelling Husband in Anastasia in a few days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 If it's anything like his husband in Onegin it will be a wonderful performance. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 "I've always thought of Diamonds as something for relatively tall, or at least leggy, dancers:" Well, I haven't seen Jewels for a long time, but I saw Cojocaru in Diamonds, and she was wonderful in it. But she was wonderful in everything, I thought. Can someone just explain the way in which the casts are listed? How many dancers are in Emeralds, I can't remember. Are they the first 4 names in the list? Sorry if it is a rather dumb question, but as I said, it has been a long time..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Can someone just explain the way in which the casts are listed? How many dancers are in Emeralds, I can't remember. Are they the first 4 names in the list? Sorry if it is a rather dumb question, but as I said, it has been a long time..... Yes, the announced casting is that Emeralds has two lead couples; Rubies has one lead couple plus a lead female soloist; Diamonds just has the lead couple. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Well, I haven't seen Jewels for a long time, but I saw Cojocaru in Diamonds, and she was wonderful in it. Yes, but even she is relatively leggy for her height, isn't she? (It's so long since I've seen her that I'm struggling to remember) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 Cast change for Rubies on April 12 and 15 (evening) Email just received from the ROH contained the following: "Due to a scheduling error it has been necessary to make the following cast changes for Jewels on Wednesday 12 and Saturday 15 April (evening performance). Sarah Lamb will replace Akane Takada and Steven McRae will replace Alexander Campbell for the performance on Wednesday 12 April. Akane Takada will replace Sarah Lamb and Alexander Campbell will replace Steven McRae for the evening performance on Saturday 15 April. We regret the inconvenience these changes may cause, but please do not hesitate to contact our Box Office team on +44 (0)20 7304 4000 (Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm) if you would like to make an exchange (subject to availability). On this occasion we will of course waive the exchange fee." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Hope Janet isn't grinding her teeth! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 I'm at the matinee on 1st April ... if that changes I will be grinding my teeth!!! As it happens, I wanted to see Jewels again and this happened to be a matinee. A friend very kindly booked for me. I hadn't even looked at the casting so had a very pleasant surprise when I finally did. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 I'm at the matinee on 1st April ... if that changes I will be grinding my teeth!!! As it happens, I wanted to see Jewels again and this happened to be a matinee. A friend very kindly booked for me. I hadn't even looked at the casting so had a very pleasant surprise when I finally did. I'm at that matinee too, Janet and was delighted with the casting. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesrhblack Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 I'm at that matinee too, Janet and was delighted with the casting. Likewise... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marg S Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 I'm at that matinee too, Janet and was delighted with the casting. Me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Not casting, but the new Crystal Pite finally has a name: Flight Pattern. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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