Richard LH Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 17 hours ago, aliceinwoolfland said: Francesca Hayward told me today that she will be in Acts 1 and 3 of Swan Lake 'doing something', but sadly not the Naghdi performance I'm booked to see! Sorry to hear that you won't see her in that cast...no idea which cast(s) she will be joining, I suppose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceinwoolfland Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 No, I didn’t ask 😞 I imagine it’ll be a lovely surprise for everyone booked to see her cast when she turns up on stage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLOSS Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 (edited) Something that Kevin said at the last Ballet Association meeting suggested that the first night cast, which I assume is going to be the one seen in the streamed performance, was going to be a rather star studded one, or rather one including a lot of dancers drawn from the senior ranks of the company not already accounted for.My guess would be that we are likely to see Hayward in the pas de trois and the Neapolitan dance. I have been struck by a number of people saying that they like the fact that in this production the princesses from among whom Siegfried is expected to select his bride are to be clearly identifiable as coming from the countries associated with the third act divertissements and that this makes sense. My understanding is that the six dancers who originally appeared at this point in the ballet, and have done so in every production which the company has staged since it first acquired Swan Lake, have always been undifferentiated. I have to admit that this has never worried me or seemed illogical. Folk tales, myths and plots derived from such sources never answer to the strict rules of logic. All that ever matters it seems to me is that they should make sense emotionally. if I have thought about the undifferentiated nature of the princesses at this point of the ballet then I have tended to think that the point is that to Siegfried they are of no interest and seem little more than a group of young women who his mother has insisted that he should consider as prospective brides. As he has already met Odette he has no eyes for any of them hence the undifferentiated costumes. As for the dancers in the divertissement the last RB production made it clear that they were conjured up by Von Rothbart while the production it replaced only hinted at such a connection. Edited May 13, 2018 by FLOSS 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Thanks Floss - that's a very interesting perspective. I wonder if in the new production, with such differentiation, we'll have the line 'Siegfried should have chosen Princess x'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 11 minutes ago, FLOSS said: I have been struck by a number of people saying that they like the fact that in this production the princesses from among whom Siegfried is expected to select his bride are to be clearly identifiable as coming from the countries associated with the third act divertissements and that this makes sense. Of traditional productions I am most familiar with SPW's for BRB. The princesses (only 3) are associated with the national dances except for the Spanish Dance which is associated with Odile's companions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 26 minutes ago, FLOSS said: Something that Kevin said at the last Ballet Association meeting suggested that the first night cast, which I assume is going to be the one seen in the streamed performance, was going to be a rather star studded one, or rather one including a lot of dancers drawn from the senior ranks of the company not already accounted for.My guess would be that we are likely to see Hayward in the pas de trois and the Neapolitan dance. I have been struck by a number of people saying that they like the fact that in this production the princesses from among whom Siegfried is expected to select his bride are to be clearly identifiable as coming from the countries associated with the third act divertissements and that this makes sense. My understanding is that the six dancers who originally appeared at this point in the ballet, and have done so in every production which the company has staged since it first acquired Swan Lake, have always been undifferentiated. I have to admit that this has never worried me or seemed illogical. Folk tales, myths and plots derived from such sources never answer to the strict rules of logic. All that ever matters it seems to me is that they should make sense emotionally. if I have thought about the undifferentiated nature of the princesses at this point of the ballet then I have tended to think that the point is that to Siegfried they are of no interest and seem little more than a group of young women who his mother has insisted that he should consider as prospective brides. As he has already met Odette he has no eyes for any of them hence the undifferentiated costumes. As for the dancers in the divertissement the last RB production made it clear that they were conjured up by Von Rothbart while the production it replaced only hinted at such a connection. I understand that the pas de trois dancers from Act 1 reappear in Act 3, as part of the continuity being established for the new production - so my guess is that whoever does the pdt, won't be a character Princess (i.e doing the Neopolitan). Other companies have the 4-6 princesses as leaders of the visiting nationalities - and as Siegrfried's suitors, as it were - and I think this is the way they are going now, from what John MacFarlane was saying at the insight the other evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 As far as the Princesses are concerned I always think of them as following strict etiquette in their dress, like the Debutantes at Queen Charlotte's Ball or the Vienna Ball where the girls all wear white and look very similar. Wouldn't Royalty and the Aristocracy normally wear similar finery, wherever they came from, and it would be lesser ranks who wore National Dress. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 10 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said: As far as the Princesses are concerned I always think of them as following strict etiquette in their dress, like the Debutantes at Queen Charlotte's Ball or the Vienna Ball where the girls all wear white and look very similar. Wouldn't Royalty and the Aristocracy normally wear similar finery, wherever they came from, and it would be lesser ranks who wore National Dress. Very likely true for the 1890s but I don't think it was so clear cut at the time of the "fairytale" setting. Besides, the Sleeping Beauty suitors tend to be differentiated by nationality, so why not the Swan Lake brides? I think it can be played either way, but personally I prefer to see the extra pzazz a bit of national stereotyping can bring to the costumes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saodan Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 20 hours ago, LinMM said: I would advise most people to take a tube route as close to the ROH as possible. Thanks very much for that. I usually walk but I guess it will be the tube for me. Hopefully it will all be cleared by the evening. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 In Sleeping Beauty the Princes were suitors, vying for the Princess's hand in marriage, so putting on a display of wealth and power, from the lands they rule. Princesses sadly tended to be more of a commodity, the marriage reinforcing treaties between Kingdoms. So unfortunately not the same at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 So did princes, sometimes. 5 hours ago, FLOSS said: if I have thought about the undifferentiated nature of the princesses at this point of the ballet then I have tended to think that the point is that to Siegfried they are of no interest and seem little more than a group of young women who his mother has insisted that he should consider as prospective brides. As he has already met Odette he has no eyes for any of them hence the undifferentiated costumes. That's always been my assumption, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirley Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Saodan said: Thanks very much for that. I usually walk but I guess it will be the tube for me. Hopefully it will all be cleared by the evening. The race starts at 10am so I would think that most of the runners would have finished and that there will be manned crossings at various points. Road closures can be found here 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
now voyager Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 The concierge at my hotel just off the Strand has responded to my panicked email, and assured me that there will be "numerous monitored crossing points" for pedestrians, so walking should be possible. While I note that the race's website warns slow runners that after 12:30 they may have to take to the sidewalk, I suspect that the Strand will continue to be closed to vehicular traffic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRR Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Making my first trip to London since August 2013 for this production. Seeing Nunez/Muntagirov (opening night), Takada/Bracewell, and Lamb/Hirano, as well as Cuthbertson/Clarke in Manon. Will report back on all the performances. To say I'm excited would be a gross understatement! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riva Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Just getting in the car on the way home from work and heard the last few minutes of Front Row on Radio 4 which included Marianela Nunez, Liam Scarlett and John MacFarlane. It will shortly be available on the iPlayer radio website https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b2gsdb 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Starts 18 mins 30 in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackles Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 Last year I was able to cross The Strand quite easily on my way to the ROH - the police told me to dodge between the stragglers who were still running! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 Some lovely new dress design drawings have been published elsewhere by the ROH 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceinwoolfland Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 I have a surprise opportunity to go tomorrow. Pros: it's opening night! And I'm not due to see it for almost a month...cons: it's on a work night, and I'd have to travel to London, and could do without the expense. Thoughts?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) 4 minutes ago, aliceinwoolfland said: I have a surprise opportunity to go tomorrow. Pros: it's opening night! And I'm not due to see it for almost a month...cons: it's on a work night, and I'd have to travel to London, and could do without the expense. Thoughts?? I'm in exactly the same boat - am leaning towards thinking that I'd regret not being there: it might be another 30 years before I get to go to the opening night of a RB Swan Lake! Edited May 16, 2018 by Lizbie1 Update: I've just talked myself into it :) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Surprises are good and the day after is Friday, Poet's day, although I doubt very much if that culture quite operates as it once did. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 9 minutes ago, aliceinwoolfland said: I have a surprise opportunity to go tomorrow. Pros: it's opening night! And I'm not due to see it for almost a month...cons: it's on a work night, and I'd have to travel to London, and could do without the expense. Thoughts?? Throw caution to the wind and GO! It should be a very special night with a great atmosphere. I am so pleased that I have a ticket. A pox on work!! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceinwoolfland Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 OK - I'm going! My bank balance is very disappointed in me, but I am very excited! I'm in Amphitheatre A82 - it says 'view obstructed by tier ledge' but the view actually looks pretty good. Can anyone confirm? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Just now, aliceinwoolfland said: OK - I'm going! My bank balance is very disappointed in me, but I am very excited! I'm in Amphitheatre A82 - it says 'view obstructed by tier ledge' but the view actually looks pretty good. Can anyone confirm? It's a bit "round the corner" but not bad (and IMO "view obstructed by tier ledge" is preferable to "view obstructed by patron with unnecessarily big hair leaning forward"). Looks like I'll be sitting next to you - see you there 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 So glad you've made that decision aliceinwoolfland. I feel that it's going to be a real privilege to be there for the First Night of Swan Lake. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Page 15 before the Open Rehearsal/First Night (and a separate thread on the Insight evening)? Is that a record? Looking forward very much to tomorrow's performances. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 4 hours ago, aliceinwoolfland said: OK - I'm going! My bank balance is very disappointed in me, but I am very excited! I'm in Amphitheatre A82 - it says 'view obstructed by tier ledge' but the view actually looks pretty good. Can anyone confirm? So glad sense has prevailed! A pox on your bank balance too.....mine would be a lot enhanced if it weren't for my (and my daughter's!) ballet passion, but my life would be much diminished, and that is what I always have to remember when I am depressed towards the end of every month (as someone once said, why is there always so much month left at the end of the money?!). 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyTaylor Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 I saw the rehearsal with Marianela/Vadim plus Francesca Hayward, Alexander Campbell and Akane Takada in major roles. I'm not going to do any spoilers before tomorrow, but I was extremely happy with everything I saw, the scenery, the costumes. Marianela and Vadim were stunning - and that's at a rehearsal. I'm so happy I have a ticket for tomorrow 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 I would love to meet some more 'forumers' tomorrow evening, so methinks a gathering at the bottom of the escalator is in order for those who would like to come and introduce themselves. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceinwoolfland Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) So Francesca, Alexander and Akane will all be performing tomorrow?? So excited! I will also be at the bottom of the escalator! Edited May 16, 2018 by aliceinwoolfland 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Probably in the pd3, as Principals are dancing it this time; even better, it's repeated so we get to see them twice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyTaylor Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 4 minutes ago, Sim said: Probably in the pd3, as Principals are dancing it this time; even better, it's repeated so we get to see them twice! Let's just say, this is a new production, so there are some new and enhanced items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Indeed there are! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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