Tango Dancer Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 41 minutes ago, capybara said: Here's another review - you'll need to scroll down a very long way for the piece about last night's ballet: https://www.culturewhisper.com/r/opera/live_from_covent_garden_two_review/15668?fbclid=IwAR02OGsTdOeMry_ZgjhKgmtPuVagkfwRDKmff-pdvEM-jDcCKTWry1J0B7o I think I'd agree with this review in its entirety. This is quite rare for me so I'm pleased. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynette H Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Having watched it live and then taking another look at the recording, it seemed to me that the sound quality on Song of the Earth had improved considerably on the recording. Live there were moments when it seemed a bit faint or unclear, but no such issues when accessing the recorded version. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scheherezade Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 2 hours ago, Tango Dancer said: I'm sure Anita Rani is a great broadcaster and journalist but it did sound like she was reading from a card without any feeling for what was being covered. She was reading from a card, she kept looking at it throughout her broadcast, which sounded entirely staged, totally lacking in any real passion or enthusiasm for what was being performed and completely devoid of any empathy for the intended audience. Not a good showing. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninamargaret Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 What a pity that the fine performances of both items has been more or less,swamped by the technical muddled and poor presentation by the announcer. I think the Opera House could have,done better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 It's 22 hours later but my heart and body are still full of Muntagirov's beautiful dancing. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 You and me both, Capybara! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 47 minutes ago, capybara said: It's 22 hours later but my heart and body are still full of Muntagirov's beautiful dancing. Yes, me too! I've been thinking of the masterclass with Dowell and imagining (hoping for?) Muntagirov in 40 or 50 years' time passing it on to the great RB dancer of that generation. Such dancers don't grow on trees, though! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 It was plain to see how happy Dowell was in that coaching session- it must be wonderful to see your young self come again as it were- to see the dance realised again just as it should be. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 8 hours ago, capybara said: At least all the gushing comment we had last week did not recur. Yes, indeed. One would hope for something more than along the lines of "brilliant/amazing/fantastic" ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 4 hours ago, Scheherezade said: She was reading from a card, she kept looking at it throughout her broadcast, which sounded entirely staged, totally lacking in any real passion or enthusiasm for what was being performed and completely devoid of any empathy for the intended audience. Not a good showing. I wondered if she'd been asked to tone down the OTT enthusiasm of last week... Actually I feel a bit sorry for her - she's obviously not a specialist in either ballet or opera, and she's doing her best with what she's been asked to do. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 11 minutes ago, bridiem said: I wondered if she'd been asked to tone down the OTT enthusiasm of last week... Actually I feel a bit sorry for her - she's obviously not a specialist in either ballet or opera, and she's doing her best with what she's been asked to do. She's learning about ballet though (assuming you mean Anita Rani) - she's now an enthusiastic board member for Northern Ballet. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 I thought she was fine - nothing special but did the job. Also, maybe it's just me but unless there's some personal insight I don't want to be told much detail about what we're about to see: that's what Google's for! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irmgard Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 (edited) I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s streaming from the Royal Opera House. I had no problems logging in via the emailed receipt from ROH, and both picture and sound quality were excellent on my computer. I last saw Ashton’s “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” danced by Ivan Putrov in his “Against the Stream” gala in April 2019 and I remember thinking he lacked the line and quality of Anthony Dowell (whose original performance of it at the Coliseum in 1978 I am sure I saw). There were no such misgivings about Vadim Muntagirov who was sublime in every way and demonstrated so perfectly why Ashton is a master choreographer. I last attended a recital by Sarah Connolly in Oxford in 2018 and I was delighted that her voice has lost none of its burnished beauty. As someone who makes every word of the German, and its meaning, crystal clear, she was the perfect choice for Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde” and I marvelled, as always, at the effortlessness of her vocal line. I did feel that David Butt Philip pushed his voice at times, which was not necessary as the reduced orchestration (by Schoenberg) was being used, and the (extremely welcome!!) orchestra was behind him, not in front. Having taken advantage of English National Ballet’s streaming to watch McMillan’s masterpiece three times before Friday evening, I had images of his breathtaking choreography in my mind last night, especially during the final song. Is there any McMillan fan who can hear the final, repeated “ewig” without seeing those slow-motion walks downstage at the end of the ballet? Staying up for the highly entertaining online Gala from Brazil afterwards, this was a very good day! Edited June 21, 2020 by Irmgard left out the last sentence 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Oh drat, I forgot the gala I hope someone will report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 ROH has put up a clip of Sat's performance https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvG66kBMPp/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Looking forward very much to catching up on the second ‘live’ performance. I’ve been revisiting the first performance via the ROH’s website and Radio 3’s broadcast and I’d been meaning to add a few thoughts. I know people were underwhelmed by the programme and found it unsuitable for the occasion of the ROH’s first live performance since lockdown. But the programme had been announced well in advance and so expectations could be reset. With ballet limited to Morgen, there was only ever going to be some 4 minutes of dance. Apart from possibly the Pearl Fishers duet, the rest of the programme was very much not Opera lollipops which might be included in some sort of celebratory night (and possibly the third performance). I thought the generally austere tone reflective of the position we find ourselves in and I have to say I enjoyed the Radio 3 broadcast, particularly the Britten, Butterworth and Gerald Finley’s songs. Back to Morgen which was my main reason for getting round to posting. Certainly the highlight of the first performance for me and I’ve been keen to see it several times. Getting Francesca Hayward to deliver the translation at the outset was genius and added immeasurably to the theatre. I’d love to know whose idea it was. Similarly at the end, the choreography made full use of the pause on the final chord, I think the only pause in the score. So the performance was actually a little longer than a conventional Morgen in the concert hall. I too liked Francesca Hayward’s costume, although thought it orange rather than red. I do find bare chests for male dancers a bit overdone and potentially unflattering. As regards the choreography, I’m not convinced by the rather animalistic movements for the male, particularly at the outset, but enjoyed the female depiction. I didn’t think they were quite together at one point when I assumed they should have been a they had identical steps. But as the pdd developed I was very much taken with the two joining together, through a series of very expressive lifts, and resolving in their sharing of that blissful silence. We all probably have a favourite Morgen and I certainly enjoyed again Bruce’s recommendation with Leontyne Price singing for President Carter at the White House, David Garvey accompanying and wonderfully sustaining such a rapt introduction. But I must say I do like to hear performances that include solo violin, particularly when the violinist has the musicianship of Vasko Vassilev. As a piece of theatre, I think Morgen worked: I certainly found it very moving and more so on repeated viewing. However, I couldn’t help but think what other choreographers might make of Morgen - has anybody else attempted? Dances at a Gathering is still very fresh in the mind, utterly exquisite, and what would Jerome Robbins have treated us to? And dare I ask, what about Liam Scarlett who I find particularly sensitive to music? So perhaps I’m recognising that McGregor’s Morgen is not fully convincing although I remain delighted that a new work was presented, reminding us of the creativity we and the dancers have been missing these last months, as well as giving us a glimpse of the intimacy ballet offers dancers and audiences. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standingticket Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Can I ask whether the clip that the ROH has released is essentially the whole solo? I was going to pay to watch (was busy on Saturday) in retrospect, but mostly for the ballet, so if there isn't any more I will make do with re-watching the clip again and again. So sublime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 One would hope the ROH wouldn't be so silly as to shoot themselves in the foot ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 It is, essentially, the whole performance. All I will say is that they seem to have zoomed in on him more than in the actual performance, and manage to cut parts of him - or whole moves - off, which is a bit of a shame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) 31 minutes ago, standingticket said: Can I ask whether the clip that the ROH has released is essentially the whole solo? I was going to pay to watch (was busy on Saturday) in retrospect, but mostly for the ballet, so if there isn't any more I will make do with re-watching the clip again and again. So sublime. As far as I can see it's the whole thing, bar a few steps at the beginning when he enters. Edited June 22, 2020 by bridiem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standingticket Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) Thanks everyone. I will pay for the next one! (Although I don't feel too guilty - I donated the cost of all the tickets I had bought, so have more than payed for my enjoyment of Vadim's solo!) Edited June 22, 2020 by standingticket typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 3 minutes ago, Balletfanp said: It is, essentially, the whole performance. All I will say is that they seem to have zoomed in on him more than in the actual performance, and manage to cut parts of him - or whole moves - off, which is a bit of a shame. Deliberate sabotage? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJW Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 From the ROH's Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/royaloperahouse/albums/72157714815270341 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 2 hours ago, MJW said: From the ROH's Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/royaloperahouse/albums/72157714815270341 Lovely photos. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJW Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 9 minutes ago, capybara said: Lovely photos. Aren't they - and such a great view from back of the stage out towards the auditorium 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 DanceTabs review of last Sat.... https://dancetabs.com/2020/06/royal-opera-house-royal-ballet-live-from-covent-garden-second-concert-20-june/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninamargaret Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 I wonder if the ROH will take any notice of the very reasonable comments made in the Dance Tabs review, also The Times. And they might also like to take note of the difficulties people have had in watching the programme - I was by no means the only disgruntled ticket holder! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 I do hope so, Nina Margaret - a knowledgeable and thoughtful review that summed up how these broadcasts could be vastly improved by just a few simple changes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 (edited) 27 minutes ago, ninamargaret said: I wonder if the ROH will take any notice of the very reasonable comments made in the Dance Tabs review, also The Times. And they might also like to take note of the difficulties people have had in watching the programme - I was by no means the only disgruntled ticket holder! The Times barely mentioned the ballet at all . "Stripped to his tights he shimmied sensuously enough" was the entire review. "Shimmied"? Seriously? And yes it was short but hardly a waste (IMO of course). Edited June 23, 2020 by oncnp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Also describing that beautiful performance as “a three minute warmup” - for the all-important singing, I presume..... Not to take anything away from the lovely Mahler performance, but a dismissive review like that (I hesitate even to give it the title of “review” as it reviewed precisely nothing!) is a bit of an insult to ballet fans and Muntagirov. I assume Mr Morrison is more of an opera fan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Dancer Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 2 hours ago, oncnp said: The Times barely mentioned the ballet at all . "Stripped to his tights he shimmied sensuously enough" was the entire review. "Shimmied"? Seriously? And yes it was short but hardly a waste (IMO of course). Oh dear, how dreadfully inadequate as a description. I don't think Vadim has ever shimmied in his life although he'd be probably very good at it (and I say that as a long time bellydancer) Also as attractive as I find him, it wasn't what I'd call sensuous. It was moving and plaintive and exquisitely danced but sensuous, definitely not. What a completely inadequate and incorrect description. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amelia Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 (edited) It was also choreographed for a couple by Asaf Messerer. Here is is performed by Marina Kondratyeva & Maris Liepa. Edited June 23, 2020 by Amelia 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Balletfanp said: Also describing that beautiful performance as “a three minute warmup” - for the all-important singing, I presume..... Not to take anything away from the lovely Mahler performance, but a dismissive review like that (I hesitate even to give it the title of “review” as it reviewed precisely nothing!) is a bit of an insult to ballet fans and Muntagirov. I assume Mr Morrison is more of an opera fan. A lot of an insult, in fact! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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