mart Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 They are the original design 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) Replying to the different lifts in Swan Lake , both are valid, I prefer the jeté lift to the pressage , but when the pressage is done properly without lifting from an à la seconde plie it can be seamless , on the hops the partner steps on his left foot croisé after the fifth count and lifts and she flies up their coaches should know! Edited November 16, 2020 by mart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 The 'helmets' shown in the photo above did not have cut away ears (the fact that they did this time supports my 'masks theory') and were worn further forward on the dancers' heads with no hairline showing. So there was a change......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 The ones they're now wearing are almost identical to the ones the Tuesday trio in Jazz Calendar wear - but if they've ever been worn in Monotones before, I've never seen a picture of them. I too wondered if there was some Covid reason for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springbourne3 Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 2 hours ago, Jane S said: I don't remember seeing those helmet-like hats in Monotones before - are they new for this run? Hope they're not permanent. I believe Ashton designed the costumes himself and was influenced by the imminent possibility of man ‘walking on the moon’ and the American Space programme (hence the slow adagio movements of Monotones 11) during the 1960s. I saw Monotones in the early 1970s (Royal Ballet) and I seem to remember they were wearing white headgear then. Ashton’s description (from an article in a 2014 edition of the New York Times); A further 1960s touch was that the three dancers of “Gymnopédies,” dressed in white, moved with the slowness that evoked recent film imagery of astronauts walking in outer space. Men had not yet walked on the moon, and yet “Gymnopédies” anticipated the look of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin so well that within a few years Ashton – mistakenly – told an interviewer that his choreography was influenced by the time “when you Americans were all landing on the moon.” 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 There is, as I suggested, a key difference from what we have seen before insofar as the ears are now cut away. Also, the helmets are being worn lower at the front, thus hiding the dancers’ hairlines which were visible before . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) I absolutely adored Sambé and O''Sullivan in the Fille pdd and so was a little disappointed that their Tchaikovsky pdd didn't quite live up to my expectations. Perhaps it was because the studio rehearsal of it by Muntagirov and Nuněz had been so exciting and brilliant, but I just had the odd feeling that it didn't suit them as much as Fille did. Her solo didn't seem quite fast enough to make me gasp at her footwork and as someone mentioned the leap into his arms seemed to be fumbled. They are both gorgeous dancers, so it seems a bit mean to quibble over the fact that it wasn't as absolutely stunning as I imagined it would be! But there you are.......?. Edited November 16, 2020 by Dance*is*life 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janite Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 (edited) 15 hours ago, mart said: They are the original design Love the helmets, so retro and for me they added to the 'other worldliness' of the ballet. I have not seen Monotones in full before and I really liked the slow deliberate movements. Edited November 17, 2020 by Janite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 In a biography of Frederick Ashton there is a photo of Anthony Dowell, Vyvyan Lorraine and Robert Mead from the 1960s wearing exactly the same helmets as in the vido above in Monotone: Gymnopédies. However, there is also a picture of Monotones: Gnossiennes which Ashton choreographed to add to the first one to make a longer ballet. It is of Antoinette Sibley, Brian Shaw and Georgina Parkinson. The costumes were supposedly identical to the original, but in sea- green, later terracotta but then green again. The helmets are a bit different though. They have extra space at the top (where there would be a bobble on a winters hat), so more "gnome" like and there are definitely cutouts behind the ears. You can even see the hair grip Sibley has behind her ear holding the helmet on! With regard to the whole programme - I think it was brilliant and I do hope that RB will continue with streaming. I agree with many of the posters above and I did love Scherzo. It is interesting that many people are making comparisons between O'Sullivan with Sambé and Nuñez with Muntagirov. The former couple are much younger only in the 20s, Sambé was promoted to principal last year, and O'Sullivan is still a first soloist. So it promises well for their future! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said: IIt is interesting that many people are making comparisons between O'Sullivan with Sambé and Nuñez with Muntagirov. The former couple are much younger only in the 20s, Sambé was promoted to principal last year, and O'Sullivan is still a first soloist. So it promises well for their future! Just for the record both O'Sullivan and Sambe are 26 and Muntagirov is 30. All with April birthdays (O'Sullivan and Muntagirov on the same day) - a good month for the Royal Ballet. And I read the comparisons not to do with age or experience but that O'Sullivan/Sambe had performed this piece brilliantly a couple years ago. Edited November 17, 2020 by oncnp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Having watched a couple of times now - and some bits more than that! - the parts I enjoyed most were Concerto's middle pdd with Yasmine Naghdi and Nicol Edmonds (just sublime, heavenly dance, and some beautiful music - what more does one need!); Rhapsody with Akane Takada and Alex Campbell (so sublime, with utterly lush music). Also a masterly rendition of the bedroom pdd from Manon by Laura Morera and Federico Bonelli, set the heart racing. I thought Valentino Zucchetti's piece was fab - so nice seeing tthe corps dancers get to star. And despite the dismal lighting at times, and my preference to the original costumes, loved 'Within the Golden Hour', one of my fave Wheeldon short pieces. I wasn't so keen on some of the wider camera angles, when only 1-2 dancers on stage. They sometimes left perfectly framed dancers, to show a wide shot - why? There was no scenery to show, no other dancers on the sides - and barely a lighting effect, as half the lights seem to have switched off. And occasionally the close ups were simply TOO close up! Apart from that very, very minor niggle, has to be a tenner well spent! 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Another minor niggle - I felt it was a pity that Scherzo and Rhapsody were back to back. Much as I love the Rachmaninoff music, it would be better to separate them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Pas de Quatre said: Another minor niggle - I felt it was a pity that Scherzo and Rhapsody were back to back. Much as I love the Rachmaninoff music, it would be better to separate them. But if you watch it again you could do yourself a shuffle if you make a note of the start times for each piece! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Yes I can dip in and out. But this was meant to be a live performance, the streaming was only put on because of the lockdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 52 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said: Yes I can dip in and out. But this was meant to be a live performance, the streaming was only put on because of the lockdown. The pre-lockdown programme would have been much shorter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 53 minutes ago, Richard LH said: The pre-lockdown programme would have been much shorter. Yes, and so would the programme on the 4th. I had a message to say that that would finish at 8.15pm but it went on until 9.25pm including a 20 minute interval. My impression was that pas de deux had been added in both directions to give both of the couples preparing a pas de deux the opportunity to perform . A good plan for the dancers and for us. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 This happened for the performances at Athelhampton, from under an hour when the tickets went on sale, every few days the running time extended until it was an hour and a half! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 I haven't watched Within the Goilden Hour yet, but so far the standout for me has been Francesca Hayward, unforgettably wonderful. Muntagirov rather good, too... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 And I was very taken by O'Sullivan (and Hay, too) in Within the Golden Hour. They seemed to find something extra in the choreography, to my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LACAD Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Only got around to watching it last night and overall I thought it was very strong, very much a showcase for heritage and the English style I felt (not sure if others agree). I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the whole thing for someone who wasn’t so familiar with ballet, but for loyal ballet fans it’s a real treat. Highlights for me were: -William Bracewell’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits. He seemed so peaceful and at ease, no princely showboating. Dancing as if it was instinctive. I noticed I’d held my breath by the end. -I have to say I really liked Osipova’s dying swan, yet I understand the criticism. That’s how she is, she’ll go with her gut and commit to the character, I loved this raw interpretation. -Speaking of commitment to the character; the magnificent Romany Pajdak. A real actress. She imbued so much emotion into this without making it schmaltzy or overindulgent, I agree that she could -and frankly should- be a contender for Juliet. I’d also quite like to see her Manon or Marguerite. -Nuñez and her evergreen Gamzatti variation. Admittedly -I’m a great admirer but not necessarily a fan of Nuñez (and I will take the jeers and looks of disgust), however you can’t deny her mastery of the classical technique. She still churns out a Gamzatti like no other. -I agree that Monotones I is a bit long for a gala setting, but the serene grace of this trio (particularly Hamilton) shows a really pared down idea of Ashton’s aesthetic. Lovely épaulement with that trademark elasticity and clarity of line. I remember in one interview Ashton mentioning the moon landing (as had been mentioned previously) as a source for inspiration, and it certainly has an spacewalk zen to it. -The hunger of the corps! They ate the stage and faced everything with great enthusiasm, for me they even outshone the central couples in Within the Golden Hour. Zucchetti really bestowed a glorious gift to those young dancers in his new work. -For me the major discovery of the night came from one of the most established pairs in the company. I was absolutely bowled over by Morera and Bonnelli in the bedroom PDD from Manon. I’ve only had the chance to see Morera on a few occasions in the past, I can never quite forget her virtuosic performance in Chroma. But of course time passes and the roles become a little less punchy, and I haven’t managed to see her in a performance that wowed me from a dynamic standpoint for a while. But with this PDD it felt like we got the best of her, the abandon and daring paired with the charisma and character that only a ballerina with her experience can supply. ¡Mucha emoción! And of course Bonnelli is as valiant a dancer as ever. They really felt like a young couple in love. No gripes with the evening. Again I felt it was a bit of a retrospective in style but that’s to be expected from a company like the Royal. Hayward is well on her way and I’m sure she already has many ideas on what to do with her Odette, time is on her side with a role like that. She’s a really really wonderful dancer and I think truly brilliant in the Ashton and McGregor rep, however I feel she has a strong Royal Ballet School reservedness that she’s still coming out of with her port de bras. O’Sullivan and Sambé had the unenviable task of doing the iconic tchai pas, and while I felt I was a little surprisingly underwhelmed, I also understand that it’s almost cruel to be up against every iconic couple that have done it in the past. I felt it ironic as it’s a PDD that’s almost made for them but not every performance can be the best for all tastes, maybe I was expecting them to leave burn marks on the stage from igniting it (fair play to Anna Rose for spotting forward though!). Campbell and Takada were lovely but good lord I really do dislike the costuming for Rhapsody!!! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Great review LACAD; sorry you don't like the Rhapsody costumes though, having just changed my profile picture! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Richard LH said: Great review LACAD; sorry you don't like the Rhapsody costumes though, having just changed my profile picture! Funnily enough I hated the costumes when the ballet premièred, but now I love them! They're a fine fizzy filigree delight, like the choreography. (I hated the temporary re-design.) So you may keep your excellent new profile picture Richard LH!! Edited November 19, 2020 by bridiem 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 22 minutes ago, bridiem said: So you may keep your excellent new profile picture Richard LH!! Thanks bridiem! The way Akane looks at her partners on occasions is just heart melting.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 I don’t know if there is another thread for ROH incidental videos...so not part of this livestream but have just seen a short extract of Corrales and Hayward dancing the White Swan pas de deux from the second Act! This was only a short extract but so moving they are really terrific together again!! It also reminded me of what I’d missed last April when had tickets for their debuts together in Swan Lake 😢 It would be lovely to hear that Swan Lake may be on the menu for the summer 2021 season at the ROH and even lovelier if these two could make their debuts then 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 I'm assuming that Swan Lake will be on the menu as soon as possible, being a moneyspinner (and being where the RB left off). 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 SL will probably be the amongst the first things performed come the Spring - assuming minimal lockdowns and the like. A financial winner, great for company dancers' techniques, just about the whole company involved, etc. And as Alison says - it will be back to where we left off last Spring. My tea leaves are predicting that after letting us have a bit of Festive fun, the government will have us locked down again come Jan/Feb as Covid spikes again, so those months are going to be pretty dire, I fear. Come March/April, we'll be needing those Swan Ladies! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Am just so hoping that by May/June theatres might be pretty much back to normal...I’d even be first in queue for a new vaccine if thought it could help to get at least half decent audiences back in and could meet friends for a cuppa in the cafe. And of course to see these two for real! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 Have to say I'm getting rather cross with ROH in that they keep showing excerpts from the PAID for show on their YouTube channel, yet can't show it there in the first place. As people paid to see it, they should stop showing clips for free, it's not right especially not within the 30 day watch period. It'll make me think twice about purchasing anymore from them in future if I can wait a few days and see most of it on YouTube for free. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 How much of it are they actually showing, though? Are they trying to whet people's appetites so they'll go and buy the whole thing? That would seem a sensible approach to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 Don Q - I had the same thought, they are showing several minutes at a time, not just snippets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 10 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said: Don Q - I had the same thought, they are showing several minutes at a time, not just snippets. Exactly! Glad it's not just me - I have put a comment on their latest snippet of Swan Lake PDD. At least it lets them see it is noticed. So far we have seen 3 minutes + of Dying Swan, 8 minutes+ of the Swan Lake PDD, and 4+minutes of the WTGH pdd. Ok it's not that much but it they should at least wait until the 30 day watch period is over. I can see Alison's point about marketing as well though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 But was this Swan Lake pas de deux the one which was performed at the theatre for the live-streaming? A couple of friends went to the Nov 4th show and I’m sure they said Hayward did do Swan Lake but it wasn’t with Corrales....in fact he wasn’t on stage at all that night. Im a bit confused ...was this a livestream..as in the first gala they had a few weeks back or was this just a sort of streamed recording? I wouldn’t risk a livestream anymore as didn’t work last time at least not on the night otherwise you are just watching a recording anyway? If this will all be eventually released I suppose you might as well wait if not seeing it live. But perhaps they will not release the whole event or not for some time. The recording I saw dropped into my Facebook feed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, LinMM said: But was this Swan Lake pas de deux the one which was performed at the theatre for the live-streaming? A couple of friends went to the Nov 4th show and I’m sure they said Hayward did do Swan Lake but it wasn’t with Corrales....in fact he wasn’t on stage at all that night. I believe this was the 13 November stream - the WTGH program. The ROH is publishing excepts on YouTube and FaceBook Edited November 20, 2020 by oncnp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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