RB Summer Period Casting

[Jan McNulty]

16 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

I like Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Ashton's The Dream equally!  😊  For me personally, one can never have too much Mendelssohn.   I'm still hoping to catch John Neumeier's version one day! Hamburg Ballet, hint hint, please come and dance  here. (Hope Kevin O'Hare, Alex Beard and Alistair Spalding are all reading this!)  😀 

 

I don't mind whether they have the wig or use their own hair. Perhaps it can be left up to the dancer to choose. If a ballerina has fine straight hair or dry hair, she might prefer a wig rather than having it damaged by being curled and restyled repeatedly for performances.  Takada's wig was blonde- have a look on the ROH YouTube channel clips (or they do post it at least 3 times a year ....someone in the social media team loves seeing Takada as Titania. Must admit they have good taste there!) I saw her in 2017, and yes, it was blonde. She looked great!

 

I saw (I think it was PNB) perform the Balanchine at Edinburgh years ago and I was bored rigid!

 

Obviously Ashton's Dream reigns supreme but David Nixon did a wonderful version for Northern Ballet.

[jmhopton]

5 hours ago, Scheherezade said:

Can we start a petition, please, to ditch the blonde wig. And who decreed that Titania had to be blonde anyway?

 

Edited to add that I have half a recollection of seeing a non-blonde Titania but can't be sure and I don't think it was Hayward. Takada perhaps?

Takada was certainly blond in the film with Steven.

I have just emailed Kevin thanking him for his efforts in promoting Ashton with this splendid celebration but also asking for the blond wig to be ditched, and if any of the performances could be filmed for streaming as they're not being filmed for cinema.  I've no great hope of getting a positive answer to either but thought at least I've asked.

[Emeralds]

12 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

I saw (I think it was PNB) perform the Balanchine at Edinburgh years ago and I was bored rigid!

 

Obviously Ashton's Dream reigns supreme but David Nixon did a wonderful version for Northern Ballet.

I'm afraid I didn't get to see them in Edinburgh nor did I ever get to see David Nixon's version, Jan- maybe Northern Ballet will be tour it south in future and I'll check it out. I saw PNB perform Balanchine's version at Sadler's Wells and the first cast was excellent.

 

It's quite an unusual format in that Titania and Oberon don't dance together even when they reconcile at the end. The big showpiece pas de deux and variations are Titania's pas de deux with her cavalier, Oberon's solo in the Scherzo (admittedly my benchmark for that is Edward Villella in the film version where Suzanne Farrell danced Titania), the Wedding divertissement couple's pas de deux. Possibly Titania's solo before she falls asleep also.

 

It needs a big cast with several principals or experienced soloists in the key roles so it's possible they didn't have enough at the performance you attended.  Patricia Barker danced Titania at the performance I saw and she was magnificent. I didn't want the show to end! (Apologies to readers for a brief detour into a different "Dream"- ie not the RB June 2024 one!) 

Edited March 29 by Emeralds

[myrtle]

17 minutes ago, jmhopton said:

Takada was certainly blond in the film with Steven.

I have just emailed Kevin thanking him for his efforts in promoting Ashton with this splendid celebration but also asking for the blond wig to be ditched, and if any of the performances could be filmed for streaming as they're not being filmed for cinema.  I've no great hope of getting a positive answer to either but thought at least I've asked.

 

Thank you for taking the time to write--I would so appreciate streaming of the Ashton programming and especially the ditching of the wigs, but I lack your gift for diplomacy!

 

 

 

[TSR101]

7 hours ago, myrtle said:

Perhaps this is a special privilege granted to members and friends, not just any random member of the ticket buying public, who will (finally) be informed when the actual website gets updated later?

 

6 hours ago, Dawnstar said:

Per today's links, the casting has been published on the Gramilano website so it is in the public domain & therefore presumably not supposed to be just for Friends. However more casual potential ticket buyers are probably less likely to know of the existance of specialist dance websites such as Gramilano (I certainly didn't know of it until I joined here & started to see mentions of it) & are therefore less likely to find the casting info on it.

The email with casting was to Friends of the ROH. So it was clearly intended to go to Friends as they could have used their wider mailing lists they use for other things (like general promotions) to inform everyone about the casting update. Furthermore, there is nothing to suggest that Gramilano got it from the ROH, they could as easily got it from here (they will definitely monitor this site). So whilst they have published an article on it, there is nothing to suggest ROH have put the information out to the general public, nothing on their social media I can see, no news update on the website, and the booking page is blank. Gramilano certainly would not have felt obliged to not release the information however they got hold of it. 

I would assume the intention was to tell friends in advance of any general update of the website. 

Non-friends are lucky, if moderators were to be consistent with their fatuous rationale on not allowing the posting of the Macmillan offer code on to the forum, they would remove all of these posts until casting was officially announced by the ROH to the public. 

 

Edited March 30 by TSR101

[bridiem]

6 hours ago, TSR101 said:

Non-friends are lucky, if moderators were to be consistent with their fatuous rationale on not allowing the posting of the Macmillan offer code on to the forum, they would remove all of these posts until casting was officially announced by the ROH to the public. 

 

This is very rude and also a false equivalence. A special offer intended for Friends obviously cannot legitimately be shared; all that has now been shared is casting information that brings no benefit except knowledge. Who knows why the ROH hasn't got round to publicising the casting more widely, but it's clearly not privileged information.

[Tebasile]

2 hours ago, bridiem said:

 

This is very rude and also a false equivalence. A special offer intended for Friends obviously cannot legitimately be shared; all that has now been shared is casting information that brings no benefit except knowledge. Who knows why the ROH hasn't got round to publicising the casting more widely, but it's clearly not privileged information.

Knowledge which leads to informed booking or exchange of tickets. It makes perfect sense to me that Friends were notified of casting in advance and, as a Friend, I am grateful to the ROH for giving us the heads up. 

[Mary]

Friends had lost the benefit of early - informed- booking- which is the main benefit of the membership we pay for - so the ROH were trying to make this up to them a little by emailing them the casting first and directly. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

i am sure it will appear on the website very soon.

[alison]

Yes, I'm assuming that the casting will appear on the website probably after the Easter break.  It's just a shame the timing was so unfortunate.

[Sim]

4 hours ago, bridiem said:

 

This is very rude and also a false equivalence. A special offer intended for Friends obviously cannot legitimately be shared; all that has now been shared is casting information that brings no benefit except knowledge. Who knows why the ROH hasn't got round to publicising the casting more widely, but it's clearly not privileged information.

Thank you Bridie for explaining our 'fatuous rationale' so clearly to those who don't understand.

[jmhopton]

20 hours ago, myrtle said:

 

Thank you for taking the time to write--I would so appreciate streaming of the Ashton programming and especially the ditching of the wigs, but I lack your gift for diplomacy!

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't lay any great claim to diplomacy which is probably why I don't always get a reply! Though in farness Kevin usually does reply... eventually.

 

I know it's too late to do anything about the wig at this late stage. Perhaps as soon as it's announced next time may have greater effect, but I would love to see some of the performances streamed. I thought that's what the streaming service was all about. Not just for older established works but for new ventures that people would love to see again and probably won't be released as dvds. I feel especially strongly as 2 Macmillan works are being filmed for cinema but nothing for the launch of a 5 year Ashton celebration. I know there are problems with rights for Ashton works that you don't have with Macmillan because of the scattered ownership. However, during lockdown, Sarasota ballet streamed many Ashton works seemingly without any problems so why can't RB do the same?

[JNC]

1 hour ago, jmhopton said:

I would love to see some of the performances streamed. I thought that's what the streaming service was all about. Not just for older established works but for new ventures that people would love to see again and probably won't be released as dvds

I wholeheartedly agree with this! As someone who no longer lives in London the streams are something I’ve become increasingly interested in, whether that’s at the cinema or I probably wouldn’t pay for ROH’s monthly stream and get “locked in” to a monthly contract but I’d like to see the option to pay £x amount to see one-off performances via their streaming service. 

[Roberta]

1 hour ago, jmhopton said:

However, during lockdown, Sarasota ballet streamed many Ashton works seemingly without any problems so why can't RB do the same?

 

 I suspect because they want to sell tickets to live performances at the ROH. A stream at a hugely reduced price may not bring in the revenue to compensate for that lost to those actually attending. During lockdown the RB did stream ballets too. 

 

Cine relays I think possibly do bring in large amounts of cash, worldwide, though I suspect the DVDs made from those are an added benefit,

 

(I don't mind the wig...) 

[myrtle]

6 minutes ago, JNC said:

I wholeheartedly agree with this! As someone who no longer lives in London the streams are something I’ve become increasingly interested in, whether that’s at the cinema or I probably wouldn’t pay for ROH’s monthly stream and get “locked in” to a monthly contract but I’d like to see the option to pay £x amount to see one-off performances via their streaming service. 

I am subscribing to the stream but would appreciate the option of one-off performances!   La Scala lets you 'rent' 3 day access for a fixed fee, so this model is not unknown.   I hope at some point ROH adopts this additional option.

 

It would be really helpful of ROH could expand the world wide scope of the cinema screenings too!   

[Roberta]

4 minutes ago, myrtle said:

I am subscribing to the stream but would appreciate the option of one-off performances!   La Scala lets you 'rent' 3 day access for a fixed fee, so this model is not unknown.   I hope at some point ROH adopts this additional option.

 

It would be really helpful of ROH could expand the world wide scope of the cinema screenings too! 

 

Yes Glyndebourne also has a 'buy a one off' option of certain operas on site, though it used to be the case that a free livestream of the cine broadcast was also made available online with catchup time which I thought odd but who was I to question it? Especially the time when the cinecast  broke down, it was useful to go home and catch up. 

 

https://www.glyndebourne.com/encore/

 

I suspect the cine screenings are not altogether in the hands of the ROH but partners in the enterprise, who will expand, presumably, as they see profitable. 

 

 

[Anna C]

16 hours ago, TSR101 said:

Non-friends are lucky, if moderators were to be consistent with their fatuous rationale on not allowing the posting of the Macmillan offer code on to the forum, they would remove all of these posts until casting was officially announced by the ROH to the public. 

If you don’t like the “puritanical” and “fatuous” way we moderate the forum, do feel free to start your own. 

[myrtle]

2 hours ago, jmhopton said:

 

I wouldn't lay any great claim to diplomacy which is probably why I don't always get a reply! Though in farness Kevin usually does reply... eventually.

 

I know it's too late to do anything about the wig at this late stage. Perhaps as soon as it's announced next time may have greater effect, but I would love to see some of the performances streamed. I thought that's what the streaming service was all about. Not just for older established works but for new ventures that people would love to see again and probably won't be released as dvds. I feel especially strongly as 2 Macmillan works are being filmed for cinema but nothing for the launch of a 5 year Ashton celebration. I know there are problems with rights for Ashton works that you don't have with Macmillan because of the scattered ownership. However, during lockdown, Sarasota ballet streamed many Ashton works seemingly without any problems so why can't RB do the same?

 

I think Kevin must have regard for the fans who write balanced (not all gloom and anger) messages patiently time after time.   Even though Ashton has been scant on the stage at ROH for a long time, these fans acknowledge the difficult times British arts institutions are facing and help the administration brainstorm up solutions as well as continue to politely point out that Ashton is missed.   And kindly write to mention how much they appreciate class on stage, giving the administration an opportunity to share fan appreciation with all the hardworking staff and dancers, etc. 

 

That level of support is worth appreciating.    I for one am grateful someone who gives so much care and time to the ROH also finds the wigs a detraction, because my feelings have now a more persuasive voice than my own.  

 

 

 

Edited March 30 by myrtle

[San Perregrino]

30 minutes ago, JNC said:

I wholeheartedly agree with this! As someone who no longer lives in London the streams are something I’ve become increasingly interested in, whether that’s at the cinema or I probably wouldn’t pay for ROH’s monthly stream and get “locked in” to a monthly contract but I’d like to see the option to pay £x amount to see one-off performances via their streaming service. 

If you don’t want to take out a subscription, you can currently pay a one-off £7.99 to stream the 2018 version of Swan Lake. 
 

• ONLINE ONLY
• BALLET AND DANCE

STREAM SWAN LAKE (2018)

RENT FOR THREE DAYS

Unable to get tickets for Swan Lake on our Main Stage? Rent now for £7.99 or subscribe to Royal Opera House Stream to watch more ballets, operas and episodes.

Rent for £7.99

Edited March 30 by San Perregrino

[art_enthusiast]

On 28/03/2024 at 20:28, Dawnstar said:

 

I can't help wondering cynically if someone saw an opportunity for getting a little extra income for the ROH with all the £4 exchange fees!

I do have to agree a bit there, it’s seems rather sneaky! Especially as they must have decided right before public booking opened. At least there were no issues with getting casting for the Winter’s Tale. 

 

I managed to get 2 different casts for each Ashton bill by booking blindly, but not necessarily the ones I wanted to see the most (plus one of the same Rhapsody casts I saw in 2022). I haven’t changed my booking yet as the seat I want isn’t available for my preferred cast option.

 

Could anyone let me know what to expect from the Five Brahms piece? Looking forward to see Osipova performing it, I’ve never seen it before.

[Emeralds]

I must say I'm impressed that Kevin O'Hare replies at all, as many artistic directors of similar sized arts organisations or dance companies don't, not even a form letter or note to say thanks for writing/your feedback. Kudos to him for that. 

[Emeralds]

3 minutes ago, art_enthusiast said:

I do have to agree a bit there, it’s seems rather sneaky! Especially as they must have decided right before public booking opened. At least there were no issues with getting casting for the Winter’s Tale. 

 

I managed to get 2 different casts for each Ashton bill by booking blindly, but not necessarily the ones I wanted to see the most (plus one of the same Rhapsody casts I saw in 2022). I haven’t changed my booking yet as the seat I want isn’t available for my preferred cast option.

 

Could anyone let me know what to expect from the Five Brahms piece? Looking forward to see Osipova performing it, I’ve never seen it before.

Music (Brahms waltzes, naturally) played on a piano on stage, one dancer in an orange/golden dress, barefooted, dances alone. Not a very helpful description, so hopefully this ROH video gives a better idea....

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DFcqzmFl0DhI&ved=2ahUKEwjV4oXn1ZyFAxX4X0EAHXZMAwgQwqsBegQIDRAG&usg=AOvVaw1W2newTg2TWiFSqxI6atRW

Edited March 30 by Emeralds

[jmhopton]

I thought you could just subscribe for a month for the streaming and didn't havevto take out an annual subscription. I'm sure I've done that in the past. Isn't it £7.99 for Friends and £9.99 for non-friends.

 

Incidentally  whenever I email Kevin (not very often, 2 or 3 times a year ar most as I don't want to be a nuisance, and only when I feel strongly about something),  I always praise the work he's doing and the splendid company he runs as I don't want to be seen to be negative and only getting in touch to complain. The Ashton festival is a great initiative as was inviting Sarasota so I mention these things.

[San Perregrino]

1 hour ago, jmhopton said:

I thought you could just subscribe for a month for the streaming and didn't havevto take out an annual subscription. I'm sure I've done that in the past. Isn't it £7.99 for Friends and £9.99 for non-friends.

it seems that there is another alternative. To rent Swan Lake 2018 for 3 days rather then subscribe. Not sure if it’s the same price or different as I’m already subscribed.

 

SWAN LAKE (2018)

RENT FOR THREE DAYS

Rent this performance for £7.99 or subscribe to Royal Opera House stream to watch all our ballets, operas and episodes.

Edited March 30 by San Perregrino

[TSR101]

8 hours ago, Sim said:

Thank you Bridie for explaining our 'fatuous rationale' so clearly to those who don't understand.

Ah Mods out in force, curiously silent when one of their own was aggressive and rude. 

 

Sorry but advance casting insight does provide an advantage, it allows you to get the right seat for the right performance ahead of those who might be waiting to book. Thus before further seats are sold. It also limits any need to suffer a £4 cost, to change, if you hadn't booked already. Thus the email to friends was a specific advantage given to a limited group of people. Whilst the advantage is arguably not as great, it is therefore clearly comparable to the advantage of lower prices given to a specific group via the Macmillan offer. The rationale being used for the latter, was that ROH had not specifically given permission to enable it to be shared (although they hadn't done or said anything to prevent it being shared or to suggest they didn't want it shared). That rationale applies if you apply the same puritanical logic. As such your argument Mods + friends, is just wrong. I am not going to not say it, just because you don't like it sorry. The decision making is inconsistent and the decision on the offer was asinine - like this casting, it should have been freely allowed to be shared.   

Edited March 30 by TSR101

[Lizbie1]

@TSR101 I'm not entirely sure what it is that you want. Is it that casting shouldn't be posted here until published on the website, or that discount codes sent to a subset of Friends should be shared here?

 

(I'm not trying to make a point, I'm just curious.)

[Roberta]

1 hour ago, San Perregrino said:

it seems that there is another alternative. To rent Swan Lake 2018 for 3 days rather then subscribe. Not sure if it’s the same price or different as I’m already subscribed.

 

SWAN LAKE (2018)

RENT FOR THREE DAYS

Rent this performance for £7.99 or subscribe to Royal Opera House stream to watch all our ballets, operas and episodes.

 

I somehow missed that, is this new? Though I suspect most people would prefer a more recent performance. 

[San Perregrino]

1 hour ago, Roberta said:

 

I somehow missed that, is this new? Though I suspect most people would prefer a more recent performance. 

It’s the first screen that pops up when i click on ‘What’s On’. Been there for long enough for me not to think of it as new.

2018 version is the original cast recording inc Nuñez/Muntagirov/Campbell/Gartside so a potentially large audience. 

2022 version is also available to stream to subscribers. 
I’m not aware of any other recording. 

[Roberta]

13 minutes ago, San Perregrino said:

2018 version is the original cast recording inc Nuñez/Muntagirov/Campbell/Gartside so a potentially large audience. 

 

Yep I remember it.  I also know there is the later version.  So the old one is the pay to hire the later one is also... pay to hire really. Or free if you do the right sign up then cancel.  It does get complicated. 

[art_enthusiast]

3 hours ago, TSR101 said:

advance casting insight does provide an advantage

 

Not in this case though, as no one knew the casting before booking, not even Friends.

[art_enthusiast]

On 29/03/2024 at 18:25, jmhopton said:

Takada was certainly blond in the film with Steven.

 

I watched this on the Stream recently. Absolutely stunning and it's a shame they aren't both doing it again, as I would have loved to see them both live. I agree the blond doesn't look that great, and much prefer her natural hair colour, but I don't think it really detracted from her beautiful performance.

[Richard LH]

On 29/03/2024 at 00:24, JNC said:

It is odd Ball isn’t appearing at all, nor James Hay!

Nor Hirano.....😕

[Silver Capricorn]

On 28/03/2024 at 20:29, Lesley said:

Looks like Vadim and Fumi are no longer appearing at the World Ballet Stars gala in Geneva on June 10th unless they can time travel. They are still being advertised as appearing.

Yes, at the Gala in Geneva Yasmine Naghdi and William Bracewell (black pdd Swan Lake) will perform in their place.

[Dawnstar]

3 hours ago, Richard LH said:

Nor Hirano.....😕

 

Hirano doesn't seem to do much Ashton, does he? He wasn't in Cinderella last season & I can't think of any other Ashton pieces he's been in in recent years.