Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration

[Mary]

5 minutes ago, capybara said:

I've just been to the ROH website for another purpose and see that these performances have the strapline:  A dazzling showcase

Elsewhere, there is reference to the RB's dazzling Principals

Hmmmm......................

They dazzle me!

[capybara]

3 minutes ago, Mary said:

They dazzle me!

 

They do me (of course) but, in this programme, there is very little opportunity for most to shine.

[bridiem]

Cast sheet for tonight: https://static.roh.org.uk/digital/cast-sheets/Diamond-Celebration/Diamond-Celebration-CS-16-11-22.pdf?_ga=2.210641366.210879790.1668610992-1841008092.1650980335

 

[San Perregrino]

1 hour ago, Fiona said:

Well, I am heartbroken that it won't be Reece Clarke as the male lead in Diamonds, and Anna Rose O'Sullivan will not be dancing the Fille Mal Gardee pdd!  (I had hopes she had time for a quick change before the new work she's in.)

Tonight’s cast sheet has both of them dancing those roles.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 16, 2022 by PeterS

[Dawnstar]

47 minutes ago, ellyb said:

But at least you could exchange for credit, losing £4... I'd lose £44 as I'm escorting my mother. Such a shame, but it's sold out so presumably ROH is happy enough, and we may well see more of this sort of thing. The Zucchetti looks good though - other than the rolling about on the floor which seemed a bit out of place, but maybe that'll look better on the night. And never seen Takada so that'll be nice, though I really can't cope with any more Manons I am desperate to see - the next run is going to bankrupt me as is! 

 

Unfortunately by the time the full programme went up on the ROH's website last night it was less than 24 hours before tonight's performance, so too late to return for credit. The only possibility at that point is return for resale & given resale's not guaranteed I could have lost the entire ticket cost. Also I had already booked my train tickets. Had the full programme been announced several days earlier then I may well have returned my ticket & gone to the cinecast instead, as that would be nearly £80 cheaper, with a cheaper ticket & not having to pay for trains.

[Mary]

An aside- there were some quotations from Friends displayed on a screen at the start and one of them  (by one of our own Moderators?) - that Fille was a Masterpiece that makes one smile from beginning to end-  I entirely agreed with !

 

The snippet we saw only made me long to see the whole ballet.

 

 

 

[Fonty]

Ok, there was no reply to my earlier question, so I did what I suppose I should have done in the first place and checked the ROH website.  Alas, there was no mention of the work by Benoit Swan Pouffer, but as he is the AD with Ballet Rambert I think it is a pretty fair bet it won't be classical ballet.   .

 

Still, I suppose if I decide to sit something out, at least if I do it on a swan pouffer I should feel quite comfortable. 😂

 

I'll get my coat........

[Mary]

To reply to your earlier question, Fonty I think all the pieces in part 2 were new or new  to the RB- and as the gala was about 60 years of the Friends, (rather than 60 years of the RB) and the Friends sponsor new work, as Kevin O'Hare reminded us, I think you could say that was fair enough as one third of the programme.

 

Mr Pouffer's work was certainly fluffy but very enjoyable I thought- featuring very fast footwork which suited Steve McRae - and he and Osipova seemed to be enjoying themselves. Not classical perhaps, but it was definitely dance and not grovelling on the floor!

[LinMM]

You might need your umbrella too Fonty as apparently it’s about to chuck it down around 6ish!! 
I wish it was Diamonds opening the evening. 

[Linnzi5]

1 hour ago, ellyb said:

But at least you could exchange for credit, losing £4... I'd lose £44 as I'm escorting my mother. Such a shame, but it's sold out so presumably ROH is happy enough, and we may well see more of this sort of thing. The Zucchetti looks good though - other than the rolling about on the floor which seemed a bit out of place, but maybe that'll look better on the night. And never seen Takada so that'll be nice, though I really can't cope with any more Manons I am desperate to see - the next run is going to bankrupt me as is! 

I'm going to the live cinema relay tonight and then the matinee on Saturday. I'm keeping an open mind. I'm hoping some of the more contemporary works may appeal to me more than I think they will. I have forked out a considerable amount for the matinee, so I had better like it!  I have tickets in a box (taking 3 family members with me, 2 who like ballet and dance and come regularly with me and 1 very reluctant husband. His only question will be the same as it always is, 'Is it the Nutcracker? I really like that?) 🤔

 

I do generally prefer the more classical ballet pieces, but some of the contemporary works I have previously seen, I really enjoyed. Fingers crossed I like it! 

 

I have never seen Takada dance in a principal role, so I am looking forward to that very much. I am also looking forward to Diamonds and Fille, particularly. 

[JennyTaylor]

Meaghan Grace Hinkis is injured (announced at the rehearsal this morning).  She was dancing La Fille with Luca Akri.  He performed on his own this morning, to rapturous applause. 

Edited November 16, 2022 by JennyTaylor
typo

[AnnabelCharles]

I think the programme looks ambitious, varied and exciting, with something for everyone. I enjoy contemporary dance and love seeing new pieces, so am looking forward to those and the other works I'm not familiar with.

 

I imagine the atmosphere at ROH will be buzzing - I would love to be there, but financial constraints mean have gone for the live streaming option. 

[Dawnstar]

42 minutes ago, LinMM said:

I wish it was Diamonds opening the evening. 

 

Presumably they deliberately don't do that for fear a sizeable chunk of the audience might depart early after Diamonds. In the same way the Proms always place new works mid-programme so the audience has to listen to them (one reason why I rarely go to Proms).

 

14 minutes ago, JennyTaylor said:

Meaghan Grace Hinkis is injured (announced at the rehearsal this morning).  She was dancing La Fille with Luca Akri.  He performed on his own this morning, to rapturous applause. 

 

How does anyone perform a supposed-to-be-pdd solo? Was he still doing the arm movements for lifts & supported balances but without lifting or supporting anyone?

[Jan McNulty]

2 hours ago, Fonty said:

Alas, there was no mention of the work by Benoit Swan Pouffer, but as he is the AD with Ballet Rambert I think it is a pretty fair bet it won't be classical ballet.   .

 

 

Benoit Swan Pouffer was the AD of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet before major funders withdrew and the company effectively collapsed.

 

I saw Cedar Lake in Bradford a good few years ago and they did dance in the classical idiom.

[jmhopton]

I must admit I've virtually given up going to galas as there is always a sizeable proportion of dances I'm not keen on. I wouldn't mind so much if I lived close to London but as it costs a lot to get there and more still to stay over I usually give them a miss. The only 2 galas I've enjoyed in the last few years were the Fonteyn Gala which I thought splendid (lots of Ashton!) and the recent Nureyev Gala at the Theatre Royal. I enjoyed both because all the pieces were roughly contemporaneous with the subject dancer so no very modern pieces and some interesting, little performed pieces which made you want to see the full-length work. Bliss!

[Ian Macmillan]

1 hour ago, Dawnstar said:

How does anyone perform a supposed-to-be-pdd solo?

As I recall, the 3rd Movement of Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto features a solo dancer - because the partner went down before the premiere and he kept the choreography as it was.  Sounds like they did likewise in this case! 

[Mary]

Luca  Acri made it quite humorous actually with use of hand gestures etc, pretending to gaze admiringly at the non existent lady and  presenting his shadow partner for applause at the end.

Disappointing of course, but, - unusual!

[Dawnstar]

Please somebody tell me that Woolf Works doesn't have the same sort of thumping amplified music that Qualia has, because if it does I'll return my ticket as I couldn't take a whole evening of that. Other than that, Hamilton was very flexible & I have no idea what it was supposed to be about.

 

The only problem with seeing the Manon pdd is I then wanted to cancel the rest of the programme & see Manon in its entirety instead! I hope Richardson's casting means he's in line for debuting Des Grieux in the next revival, which presumably will be next season. Nice to finally see Takada live: on at least 3 previous occasions I should have done then she was injured.

 

Muntagirov looked about a decade younger tonight than he did at the end of Mayerling on Friday!

[Jamesrhblack]

Really enjoying the cinema broadcast here in Rye. The lighting seems much better and I’m relishing the mix of old and newer so far. The bar has been set very high, but I thought Calvin Richardson was truly superb as Des Grieux, bringing tears to the eyes with his sheer sense of joy of being alive and in love. 

Edited November 16, 2022 by Jamesrhblack

[alison]

The lighting is distinctly dingy here

[Mary]

28 minutes ago, Jamesrhblack said:

Calvin Richardson was truly superb as Des Grieux,

Agree entirely.

[Candleque]

Thank goodness for Diamonds. Needed that joy to make the modern medicine go down. Like others have said, it isn't much of a celebration of our Friendship if the RB insists on force feeding me pieces I would not choose to see on their own.

I saw the rehearsal so won't comment much except to say: Melissa Hamilton & Lukas Brændsrød WOW. She is such a beautiful dancer and they looked great together. Made me (almost) like that piece. 

And really enjoyed Valentino Zucchetti's Prima. Why not make him a resident choreographer (if he wants) so he can make full act or full length works. 

[Linnzi5]

So far I have enjoyed the performance very much. I do enjoy classical ballet more than contemporary,  but think the dancers have done brilliantly so far - even if some of the new commissions are not what I would choose to see. Of the new works,  I did enjoy Prima. I thought Fumi Kaneko’s dancing was gorgeous  I am very much looking forward to Diamonds!  

[alison]

I'm afraid that the Toonga piece, with dancers in dark clothing against a dark background, didn't come across well in this cinema

[Tebasile]

The Tanowitz - thrilling, loved loved loved it! Sadly most of the audience didn’t seem to. 

[LinMM]

Dawnstar……No Wolf Works is not thumping music like Qualia although the second Act music is different to other two acts and can be quite loud in parts but most of the music is great and any minute now I will think of the composer! 

I enjoyed most of this evening except the Tanowitz piece in which I started to switch off inspite of the dancers. I even liked the Toonga piece which from the rehearsals in the Clore I thought I wouldn’t …very dramatic and some extraordinary movements. Can only hazard a guess what it was about but Sissens was terrific in this. 
I loved the music for the Osipova and McRae piece which had quite a charming style about it but was quite short. 
Of the newer pieces my favourite pieces were the Wheeldon and Zucchetti by far. 
The person sitting next to me asked who one of the dancers was in the Wheeldon piece as she thought he was really good and didn’t know him….it was James Hay!! 
Wolf Works composer has just popped into my head…Max Richter! 

At least it wasn’t raining when came out! 

Edited November 16, 2022 by LinMM

[Lindsay]

I agree with you on the Tanowitz Tebasile - by far the most surprising and interesting of the new works for me.  I thought Prima did not stand up well against the Wheeldon (and the costumes were somewhat less than flattering….)

 

Very pleasantly surprised by Reece Clarke in Diamonds.  I knew he was a good partner but he made the fast solo sections look easy too.  And Marianela is at her superb best in that piece!

 

edit: also edited to add that Vadim Muntagirov’s arabesque should be backlit more often - talk about purity of line…

Edited November 16, 2022 by Lindsay

[maryrosesatonapin]

Well... I've returned from the cinema with mixed feelings.  The downside was that the live relay stopped halfway through so we were all given refunds!

 

My stand-out of the gala was Qualia. We were given print-outs of the wrong cast.  I recognised Melissa Hamilton but couldn't place her sultry partner.  I thought the work suited them both and it was completely gripping, astounding even.  Then when they took their bows I recognised that the male dancer was Lukas BB, who had resumed his normal smiling face instead of this Heathcliff-like, magnificent glowering creature that he was during the dance.  So I do hope @Dawnstar sat through the second part.

See US!! I thought was rubbish, visually and aurally.  Sissens gave it his best but it was simply dreadful.  I would've preferred it to be more hip-hop musically and choreography actually. Anything would be better than this.

Nice to see Alex Campbell again after so long (his waistcoat was the same fabric as our first settee!) He and O'Sullivan make a good partnership, physically, and seeing this little Ashtonian treasure was like having a delicious aperitif that left you wanting more.
Also nice to see and hear Ed Watson.  I've been told off before on this forum for commenting on looks, but I'm going to be naughty again and say that although Watson isn't classically handsome exactly, his bone structure and colouring are like a work of art in themselves so I do enjoy the odd chance to see him now that he has retired from the stage!  (This is purely an aesthetic comment, not a lascivious one!  I am of the belief that ballet is a visual art, and that the dancers should be, and usually are, beautiful.)

The Osipova/Macrae Pouffer piece had gorgeous music but came at the point that the film broke down, alas.

And I agree - Muntagirov looked ridiculously youthful again.  He must have a Dorian Gray type portrait in his attic.

[JNC]

18 minutes ago, Tebasile said:

The Tanowitz - thrilling, loved loved loved it! Sadly most of the audience didn’t seem to. 

Echo this - it was the only piece to me that felt properly fresh and innovative, but still definitely ballet. 
 

some choreography I’ve never seen before and it felt very avant garde and a bit ballet russes / 30s deco atmosphere to me. 
 

also I really enjoyed the lighting and costumes and of course O’Sullivan and Bracewell were brilliant.

 

I remember also being pleasantly surprised and intrigued by Tanowitz’s Linbury work (sorry forget the name now). I really wish she would get picked to do a proper main stage work (1/3 of a mixed bill) as I think she’s doing something new and different but still feels like ballet. 

[JennyTaylor]

1 hour ago, alison said:

I'm afraid that the Toonga piece, with dancers in dark clothing against a dark background, didn't come across well in this cinema

At the rehearsal this morning I struggled to see it at all. At the cinema this evening it was slightly better for being much closer in shot

[Jamesrhblack]

Just back from the cinema. What a terrific evening. Did I enjoy everything equally? No, but i enjoyed everything in the moment and thought it a splendid programme, referencing the past, celebrating the present and anticipating the future. It was good to be made to think, not just revel in, this art from that I have loved for over fifty years. Mmes Kaneko and Nuñez struck me as particularly gorgeous on the distaff side, but goodness the chaps were good too, with Ball, Bracewell, Campbell, Clarke, Hay, Richardson, Serrano and Sissens all really catching my eye (which isn’t to imply others were not impressive).

Edited November 16, 2022 by Jamesrhblack

[MJW]

Back from the cinema screening (and the rain) which I went to with a friend for her birthday (thankfully she enjoyed it!).

 

I was slightly apprehensive about some of the new works but overall I thought was excellent and actually the mixture of established and new works worked really well. I even quite liked "See Us!!"

 

Melissa Hamilton and Lukas Brændsrød were really quite something and probably not quite what a lot of the fairly "mature" audience were probably expecting!

 

Such a beautiful partnership with Marianell and Reece who were clearly thoroughly enjoying themselves.

 

For Four was terrific as was Prima - such enthusiasm from everyone. Zucchetti clearly is very talented and I hope the RB continue to nuture him.

 

The only downside was Dispatch Duet was I am afraid was risible - not helped at all by the music which was shocking. I am sure that piece had the least positive reaction and cause quite a few titters in the audience with me. Anyway I know what to expect on Saturday!

 

Interesting to see what casting will be for Saturday matinee.

 

 

 

[Odyssey]

I really enjoyed this gala. I think the programme was extremely well thought out and the dancers were on sparkling form. The one piece I wasn’t wowed by was the Tanowitz piece, which surprised me as I’d quite enjoyed the rehearsal on World Ballet Day. I didn’t find anything new or particularly stimulating in the choreography.  Highlights for me were the Manon and Qualia pas de deuxs and the Wheeldon and Zucchetti pieces. Diamonds was joyful and a fitting way to end the evening.