Michael O'Hare to retire

[SheilaC]

BRB has today sent an email about their production of Nutcracker.

It includes the sad news that Michael O'Hare is retiring on the evening performance of Nutcracker on Friday 8 December. He has been with the company for 43 years and was one of their best male dancers (some might claim an even better dancer than brother Kevin!), wonderful in all the Ashton roles he danced and, more recently, equally wonderful in character roles (one of the most impressive, scary, Lord Capulets), including Drosselmeyer in Nutcracker, the role he will be exiting in. So special was he that I'd often select, in recent years, a performance in which he was appearing rather than the dancers in the leading classical roles.

I have just booked that performance- and hope I'll meet some of his other fans.

[capybara]

Michael O’Hare was truly memorable in everything he danced.

I think I saw him as Colas, Alain and Widow Simone in Fille.

He must be well over 60 now?

There is a nice tribute on the BRB website.

 

[Jane S]

And Will Mossop (Hobson's Choice) - wonderful!

[alison]

An incomparable Will Mossop - as well as much else.  His departure will leave a big hole in the company.

[Benjamin]

I read this and immediately though Kevin O’hare was retiring and then I re read and realised it was Michael O’hare.

Oops!

[Benjamin]

3 minutes ago, Benjamin said:

I read this and immediately though Kevin O’hare was retiring and then I re read and realised it was Michael O’hare.

Oops!

And Michael O’hare was a great dancer and will be missed.

[Emeralds]

I have great memories of Michael O'Hare as the Young Man in The Two Pigeons, Colas in La Fille mal Gardee, Florimund and various other roles in Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Flowers of the Forest, The Snow Queen, Carmina Burana, and of course, that gem of a role created for and on him in that masterpiece of a ballet- Will Mossop in Hobson's Choice. My friends and I all wanted to copy the ebullient Michael/Will and do the clog dance after the curtain came down!

 

He was always the consummate artist as well as the most impeccable professional- if he ever had an off day, it never showed on stage. Every performance I saw him in was a magical mix of virtuosity, artistry, joy of dancing, and complete immersion in the role or the spirit of the ballet. And he continues to be a brilliant character artist. I know they say he's been dancing 43 years, but it feels much shorter. Thanks for memories, Michael O'Hare, and all the very best wishes on your next chapter. 

Edited November 16 by Emeralds

[Jan McNulty]

I second everything everyone has said about the wonderful Michael O'Hare.  I knew the day would come but I had hoped it was further away.

 

Emeralds mentioned "various other roles in Sleeping Beauty".  I remember one performance where he was dancing Gallison - the Prince's aide in the hunting scene.  At one point he was sat at the side of the stage getting drunker and drunker.  If people noticed (and he was not OTT enough to steal the scene) he stole the scene!  (If you see what I mean.)

 

Very best wishes to Michael for the future.

[AnneL]

According to my personal performance database, I saw Michael O’Hare in the Nutcracker, Fille, and Le Tricorne, all with BRB, all 1994-5 and in three different London theatres, all presumably the principal roles. I would like to thank him for the entertainment he gave me and wish him a pleasant retirement.

[Emeralds]

Would love to have seen Michael in Le Tricorne! Actually, would have loved to see Le Tricorne full stop. 

[SheilaC]

I had assumed- and hoped!- that Michael would be dancing Drosselmeyer (the website gives very little information on casting) but an email from BRB today states that he will be the grandfather. However, the good news is that, for his final performance, he will be joined by Marion Tait as the grandmother. How special.