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Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker, Winter 2022/3

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Angela Essex

Angela Essex

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, capybara said:

 

Will this link work for you: https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/40/the-nutcracker-by-peter-wright/cast-list/51287

Yes it did thank you so much.

 

Wow wow wow Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell were spectacular this evening as SPF and her Prince. Their pdd almost moved me to tears it was so beautiful. Wish I’d of been there in person but was watching the live cinema relay. Absolutely loved watching Melissa Hamilton in the Arabian dance too.
 

On the bright side though the cinema relay showed Darcy Bussell interviewing Fumi & Will and they were so adorable saying how much they loved dancing together. Also they broadcast Darcy talking from behind the curtain after the curtain went down at the end with Kevin O’Hare in the background group hugging Will Bracewell, Mayara Magri, Bennet Gartside, Joseph Sissens and Sae Maeda and congratulating them on their performances which was lovely to see. 
 

Edited to say this is the 5th time I’ve seen Nutcracker in my life and for me Fumi and Will are the best SPF & Prince I’ve seen. (Even more so than Nela/Vadim and I didn’t think I could ever love watching anyone more than them) On the cinema relay you could see them exchanging little triumphant glances in their pdd once it became aparrent to them (and everyone in the house no doubt) that it was going spectacularly well) spine tingling stuff ❤️🙌💥

Edited by Angela Essex
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Nina99

Nina99

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I absolutely agree with your review Tango Dancer.  I saw this at the cinema and really enjoyed it. This was my first ballet cinema relay,  previously I had only seen a few plays. However it was great to have the best seat in the house and to really be able to appreciate close up, all the fabulous dancing, the costumes and, of course, that gorgeous music.

 

All the cast were excellent but I must just say – Melissa Hamilton and Lukas BB in the Arabian dance"….…wow!

 

 

Edited by Nina99
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maryrosesatonapin

maryrosesatonapin

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Posted

I saw it at the cinema too, and thought the whole performance sparkled.  What a good thing the tree didn't get stuck on a relay night!  I loved Hamilton/Braensrod. What a great pair they are together. I thought Bracewell, always so elegant, was much better in his facial expressions tonight and looked every inch a prince.  Kaneko positively glittered her way through the difficult steps.  I still prefer the Bolshoi version with Nina Kaptsova though - she will always be the Sugar Plum Fairy for me.


 

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Linnzi5

Linnzi5

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I totally agree with Nina99 and Angela's comments. I absolutely loved this live at ROH this evening. For some reason, everything seemed to sparkle more this year. The sets were gorgeous! I've seen Nutcracker so many times at ROH and for some reason, everything appeared brighter and more grand. Of course, it couldn't have been! The costumes looked gorgeous and actually, the wigs looked lovely from where I was. 

 

I thought Joseph Sissens and Sae Maeda were delightful. Ms Maeda was very sweet and showed the wonder at everything she saw as Clara. Sissens looked dashing and was delightful - though I felt he may have been a little nervous to start with? However, he soon settled into the role of Hans Peter. The Arabian dance was as good as I knew it would be and certainly was popular with the audience. I still prefer the version with three male dancers though.

 

Mayara Magri was stunning! She brought a real sophistication and technical brilliance to the role of the Rose Fairy - she was delightful. I thought her escorts danced beautifully - some of the best I've seen!

 

Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell were gorgeous together. Fumi's sugar plum was sensitive and delicate and very graceful. I noticed she interpreted some of the choreography differently from some of my favourite performances and I really liked what she did. Will Bracewell was a sensitive partner and his solos were excellent - graceful and technically brilliant. He was a dashing prince to Fumi's stunning Sugar Plum. I really loved them. I did miss Gary Avis as Drosselmeyer. Bennet Gartside was brilliant, of course, but Avis is just magical. Funnily enough Avis really made Stahlbaum stand out for me - is there anything this man does that is not exceptional?

 

It was lovely to have so many RBS children on stage again - it really does light up the first act for me. 

 

The orchestra was on top form and the audience were well behaved, though I did feel they (edit: the audience, not the orchestra!) were a little flat at times? That may be just me though, as I clapped my hands red raw.

 

It was a magical evening. I loved every second - even the Christmas tree behaved.

Edited by Linnzi5
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Sophoife

Sophoife

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Isn't it lucky I have to be in Melbourne 22-23 December?! Palace Cinema here I come!! 

 

There is no cinema closer to me showing Royal Ballet films than Canberra or Melbourne (either is about 3½ hours by road, each way). After all these lovely reviews I'm even more excited.

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emmarose

emmarose

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12 hours ago, Nina99 said:

I absolutely agree with your review Tango Dancer.  I saw this at the cinema and really enjoyed it. This was my first ballet cinema relay,  previously I had only seen a few plays. However it was great to have the best seat in the house and to really be able to appreciate close up, all the fabulous dancing, the costumes and, of course, that gorgeous music.

 

All the cast were excellent but I must just say – Melissa Hamilton and Lukas BB in the Arabian dance"….…wow!

 

 

 

For me, I don't think there's anyone who can do the Arabian dance anywhere close to as good as Melissa Hamilton, her body just seems moulded to it. It's a perfect fit. Whenever I think of it, I always just think of her.

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DoctorDerry

DoctorDerry

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Posted

I saw the live stream from a rather elderly cinema in Penzance, usually it would be at home in  Cheltenham at a modern CineWorld multiplex or live at Covent Garden.

we were delighted at the numbers in the audience all having a marvellous time, it was great to be among them and share their joy.

Having seen innumerable Nutcrackers including last years live stream with Yasmin Naghdi and. Caesar Corrales, this one was a standout for me even without my first choice Drosselmayer ,wonderful ensemble, lovely Clara and Nutcracker and the absolute best SugarPlum fairy and Prince.

we thought the orchestra were in fine form as well.

Thank you Royal Ballet, such a treat after all those Mayerlings, not a ballet I ever want to see again. Personal Preference is just that, not my cup of tea.

Roll-on the rest of the season.

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Angela Essex

Angela Essex

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11 hours ago, emmarose said:

 

For me, I don't think there's anyone who can do the Arabian dance anywhere close to as good as Melissa Hamilton, her body just seems moulded to it. It's a perfect fit. Whenever I think of it, I always just think of her.

I saw Olivia Cowley do it last year and she was mesmerising. Agree Melissa Hamilton was amazing. 

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Legseleven

Legseleven

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Posted

We saw the cinema screening - what a treat to start Christmas off, and a packed cinema which had been fully booked for over a month. DD kept saying how amazing Mayara Magri was as the Rose Fairy. Outstanding, as were Melissa Hamilton and Lukas BB in the Arabian dance - he was so sinuously attentive to her and her arms and pliability are just perfect for this role. 
Which is not to say that the rest of the cast weren’t as outstanding - Fumi Kaneko is so glamorous and William Bracewell so regal, with Joseph Sissens and Sae Maeda delightful. Such a gorgeous, glistening production and a lovely way to escape from the cold (into a make believe Land of Snow instead of a real one of ice and frost). -  And the mouse taken off on the stretcher - complete with rigid ‘claws’ - always makes us smile. 
 

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serenade

serenade

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I saw it at the cinema too and really enjoyed it.  Unfortunately my cinema was plagued with technical difficulties, the screen froze a lot in the first act, missing audio and just general disruption.  They came in to apologise and said a lot of cinemas were having the same problem.  Luckily it had mostly resolved for the second act.

 

So the first act was a bit spoilt but still loved it, it's still my favourite Nutcracker 😄 Sae Maeda was lovely.  I saw Joseph Sissens last year in the role, I really enjoyed him then but I thought this time he danced so beautifully it was wonderful.  Enjoyed seeing Bennet Gartside for a change, I enjoy his interpretation.  Although I agree with someone who said Gary Avis made the smaller role he was playing stand out (sorry can't remember the name of his character).

 

I agree with all the praise on the Arabian dance, thought Melissa Hamilton was perfect and Lucas BB really well matched and a strong partner.  I am a bit hit and miss with the Arabian especially with the new version but this performance really worked for me.  Loved all the other dances, loved Mayara Magri as Rose fairy.  Fumi and William were lovely.  A great night all round.

 

This is sadly the only Nutcracker I can attend for this run so a shame about the technical issues but so glad I managed to see it.

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Rob S

Rob S

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Posted
9 minutes ago, Fonty said:

Totally off topic but I wonder what they will do with the old curtains when they replace them?  

 

Cut them in to squares and sell them with a 'certificate of authenticity' in the ROH shop 😆

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Guest oncnp

Guest oncnp

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15 minutes ago, Fonty said:

Totally off topic but I wonder what they will do with the old curtains when they replace them?  

 

With all their reported financial woes, the ROH is spending money to replace the curtains?

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Fonty

Fonty

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4 minutes ago, oncnp said:

 

With all their reported financial woes, the ROH is spending money to replace the curtains?

 

I just assumed they would be changed at some point.  After all, they have been the same for nearly 70 years.  🙂  Perhaps a team of skilled workers will unpick the E and change it into a C? 

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Jane S

Jane S

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I thought they changed them somewhere around the late 1980s?

 

They cut them into little circles ( about 5cm in diameter) and stuck them on a card saying 'Fragment of House Curtains' and made them into paperweights - you can still find them on eBay.

 

The Royal ciphers are just sewn on, I think, and could be fairly easily replaced.

Edited by Jane S
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Fonty

Fonty

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3 minutes ago, Jane S said:

I thought they changed them somewhere around the late 1980s?

 

They cut them into little circles ( about 5cm in diameter) and stuck them on a card saying 'Fragment of House Curtains' and made them into paperweights - you can still find them on eBay.

 

The Royal ciphers are just sewn on, I think, and could be fairly easily replaced.

 

I thought they looked in good condition, that would explain it.   

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Guest oncnp

Guest oncnp

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Our auditorium curtain weighs 2.5 tonnes and is made of 235 metres of velvet!

 

Couldn't find a date but did find a few other stats from the maker

  • Specially fabricated to reproduce historical design, including fringe, braids and tassels;
    incorporating crest hand-embroidered by the London Royal School of Needlework.

  • Size: 64 ft wide x 35 ft high (19.5 m x 10.8 m); fullness 20-25%.

  • Mohair velour with multiple layers/linings.

Edited by oncnp
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Lizbie1

Lizbie1

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Posted
51 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said:

I have always thought it was a separate panel on which the Royal initials are embroidered and it would be fairly simple to change them.

 

The cypher should be straightforward enough but I'm not so sure about the crown (Tudor in place of St Edward's).

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Henry

Henry

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My recollection - so not reliable - is that the curtains are even more recent.  That they were replaced in the big 2000 refurbishment and rebuilding project.  Certainly the the Royal School of  Needlework says that they were working on them in 1997.

 

https://royal-needlework.org.uk/about/rsn-work-on-display/

Edited by Henry
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Guest oncnp

Guest oncnp

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4 minutes ago, maryrosesatonapin said:

??  Don't understand, but sounds intriguing!  What does this mean please?

Charles cypher

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alison

alison

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Posted
2 hours ago, Henry said:

My recollection - so not reliable - is that the curtains are even more recent.  That they were replaced in the big 2000 refurbishment and rebuilding project.  Certainly the the Royal School of  Needlework says that they were working on them in 1997.

 

https://royal-needlework.org.uk/about/rsn-work-on-display/

 

That was what I thought, as well.

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