Emeralds Posted October 14, 2022 Posted October 14, 2022 (edited) As reported in today’s Dance Links and the Australian Ballet Facebook and other social media, Jonathan Lo replaces Nicolette Fraillon, who is stepping down in December after almost 20 years in that position and 25 years conducting for the company (including the first 5 years conducting for Australian Opera too). Jonathan is currently Music Director of Northern Ballet, Staff Conductor at the Royal Ballet, having also conducted for Birmingham Royal Ballet, and also as a guest with other dance and opera companies, various choirs and many orchestras. Congratulations to Jonathan on this prestigious appointment! (Very sad to lose him to the Australian audiences though!) He gained lots of street cred for participating at a rehearsal when Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov when they were rehearsing Tchaikovsky pas de deux, and following the rehearsal and conducting along with their pianist. Admittedly it was being filmed, but it was still amazing because the number of times I’ve seen ballets or pas de deux with tricky timing being rehearsed, I've never seen the conductor at a studio rehearsal (unless he is the composer of the score as well)- just the stage rehearsal. It was brilliant to see him being so diligent as to join in the studio rehearsal process. Without wanting to be gossipy (but a question I know is burning in the minds of many BRB fans)... I just hope we won’t have to lose a certain popular and wonderful dancer, principal character artist and repetiteur at BRB as well (Laura Day), given the distances between Australia and England. That said, Jonathan is currently guest conducting their performances of Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet in Melbourne (where he’s impressed many fans already) and he’s still scheduled to conduct some of the Royal Ballet’s Nutcrackers this winter and Cinderellas next spring, so hopefully they can make the transcontinental and multiple time zone hopping work. Lucky Australian Ballet! Edited October 14, 2022 by Emeralds 5
capybara Posted October 14, 2022 Posted October 14, 2022 Yes - the UK needs a slice of Jonathan too (and of Laura). It is usual for conductors to attend studio rehearsals but, from what I have observed personally, Jonathan and Gavin Sutherland are particularly assiduous in that respect and it shows in performance. 7
Sophoife Posted October 19, 2022 Posted October 19, 2022 According to Jonathan Lo's Instagram he will be fulfilling all his existing international commitments and hopes to do more (his website currently lists ROH and Northern Ballet through June 2023). 5
alison Posted January 13, 2023 Posted January 13, 2023 We have several interrelated threads, but the following news is therefore unsurprising: https://www.brb.org.uk/stories/farewell-to-laura-day 1
Sophoife Posted January 13, 2023 Posted January 13, 2023 That's fanTAStic news @alison - a fresh pair of eyes and a different tradition for AusBallet's corps. If Miss Day brings her best Marion Tait the dancers are in for a treat. 1
LBC Posted January 13, 2023 Posted January 13, 2023 (edited) Jonathan will be ‘in conversation’ with Graham Watts for the LBC … via Zoom on Thursday 2 March 2023 Live from Australia … early morning for Jonathan! https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/the-lbc-agm-and-interview-with-ballet-conductor-jonathan-lo-via-zoom Edited January 13, 2023 by LBC 1 2
Emeralds Posted January 14, 2023 Author Posted January 14, 2023 (edited) Sad to lose Laura to another continent, but not unexpected at all. How lovely that Australian Ballet are taking her on as a member of the coaching team. Hope David Hallberg and choreographers might persuade her to take on the occasional character part (the way David McAllister appeared in The Merry Widow-he was a hoot!) as she is very, very good- I don’t think there’s another dancer who has ever performed both Clara in Nutcracker and Sancho Panza in Don Quixote and to great acclaim too. She’s still very young and such a versatile artist. Edited January 14, 2023 by Emeralds 8
Sophoife Posted January 15, 2023 Posted January 15, 2023 Well, there's an opportunity right there. The first production of 2023 is Nureyev's Don Quixote and Miss Day says she'll be coaching the corps... 2
Sophoife Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 I've just been informed that given his commitments with the Royal Ballet over the next couple of months, Jonathan Lo will be conducting zero performances of AusBallet's Don Quixote. Since Nicolette Fraillon has retired and Simon Thew is now in Houston, one wonders who will be conducting, or is there such faith in Orchestra Victoria and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra that they'll do without? 🤣 Of course it will actually be a great opportunity for conducting Fellow Joel Bass. Or, given that AusBallet still lists Fraillon's predecessor Charles Barker on its website, maybe he's coming from ABT/Pittsburgh... 1
capybara Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 Jonathan is talking to The London Ballet Circle via Zoom from Australia on Thursday, 2nd March. Members have been sent the joining link. Non members can book online here: https://www.tlbc.org.uk/events/the-lbc-agm-and-interview-with-ballet-conductor-jonathan-lo-via-zoom 2 1
Sophoife Posted March 1, 2023 Posted March 1, 2023 I was wrong! I was also right! Jonathan Lo is conducting some Melbourne performances of Don Quixote (15, 17, 18 x 2). The other performances will be conducted by Charles Barker! No Laura Day as Sancho Panza. 1
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