capybara Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 I know the piece of music to which Des Grieux comes on but MacMillan was, I think, keen to avoid any welcome clapping. Maybe just this once 😉 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 3 minutes ago, Richard LH said: But if we all wait for others to start, no-one will...🤔😂 I might just sob loudly... 😁 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 17 minutes ago, bridiem said: I might just sob loudly... 😁 I've started (internally)!! Never been so ridiculously emotional and on the edge of my seat for Manon before. Even guest artists! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cescablue Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 No Yuhui! Must admit to being a little disappointed given her history of performing with Alexander. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 I think I was the only person clapping and I my small hands make very little sound. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cescablue Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 1 minute ago, capybara said: I think I was the only person clapping and I my small hands make very little sound. I'd have joined in had I heard you! That said, I hardly ever notice Des Grieux making his entrance! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 (edited) "Ladies and gentlemen, there is a cast change. Meaghan Grace Hinkis replaces Yuhui Choe in the role of Lescaut's Mistress." [The PA announcement we should have heard. The cast list is currently still showing Yuhui's name. The rest of the Act 1 cast looks unchanged.] Beautiful Act 1 solos and gorgeous two pas de deux from Frankie and Alex. And excellent pirouettes from Valentino. Great dancing and acting from Meaghan again as the Mistress and Marco on fire as Beggar Chief- he seems to be saying "today I pinch your watch, GM, in 20 years your whole empire will be mine!' 😄 I was so transfixed watching everything I forgot we we were planning to clap the entrances! (Sorry @capybara and @Cescablue... it was so quiet where I am. Everyone just absorbed!) Edited March 8 by Emeralds 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Well here we go. The final 30 minutes of his career. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missfrankiecat Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 It all feels a bit understated up here in the gods of the amphitheatre-I am feeling mournful 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 Just now, lady emily said: Well here we go. The final 30 minutes of his career. I was just thinking the same. @lady emily- when this act is over, our Alex will no longer be dancing on this stage. Seems like only yesterday and he joined RB (I missed BRB visits a lot when he was with them because of work shifts) and was a very memorable Bluebird and then our Hans-Peter for several seasons (for a while we couldn't imagine anyone else dancing it) and Mercutio, cheekily teasing various Tybalts....and soon he'll be off to RAD. Where did all that time go?? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 (edited) Well, I'm not sure if I was teary eyed in the final pas de deux from the beauty of the dancing, the pathos in the music, Des Grieux's despair, Manon dying, or the thought that this was Alex's last pas de deux on this stage.....probably all of the above. Lovely to see bouquets for Alex brought out after Francesca's, and a long stemmed rose from each of his balerinas (Nunez, Lamb, O'Sullivan, Naghdi, Cuthbertson, Kaneko, Takada, Morera, Hayward) fellow principals (Hirano, Ball, Corrales, McRae, Sambe, Muntagirov) coaches Collier, Chapman, and wife Claire, and Kevin O'Hare with flowers and magnum of champagne. Right, we need @lady emily or anyone who recorded the speeches.... 😀 . Standing ovation for Alex of course. (Apologies to anyone I missed out in the flower parade!) Edited March 8 by Emeralds 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 I have uploaded the speeches on YouTube! Apologize for any sobbing and whooping and shaky camera work! 22 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cescablue Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Emeralds said: Well, I'm not sure if I was teary eyed in the final pas de deux from the beauty of the dancing, the pathos in the music, Des Grieux's despair, Manon dying, or the thought that this was Alex's last pas de deux on this stage.....probably all of the above. Lovely to see bouquets for Alex brought out after Francesca's, and a long stemmed rose from each of his balerinas (Nunez, Lamb, O'Sullivan, Naghdi, Cuthbertson, Kaneko, Takada, Morera, Hayward) fellow principals (Hirano, Ball, Corrales, McRae, Sambe, Muntagirov) coaches Collier, Chapman, and wife Claire, and Kevin O'Hare with flowers and magnum of champagne. Right, we need @lady emily or anyone who recorded the speeches.... 😀 . Standing ovation for Alex of course. (Apologies to anyone I missed out in the flower parade!) It was all of the above for me @Emeralds! Edited March 8 by Cescablue 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Not even sure what to say. So very sad but so very privileged to have been able to enjoy such an incredible artist for so many performances. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 2 hours ago, Emeralds said: "Ladies and gentlemen, there is a cast change. Meaghan Grace Hinkis replaces Yuhui Choe in the role of Lescaut's Mistress." [The PA announcement we should have heard. The cast list is currently still showing Yuhui's name. The rest of the Act 1 cast looks unchanged.] It did get updated on the screen version, but not elsewhere. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycitybird Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 3 minutes ago, lady emily said: Not even sure what to say. So very sad but so very privileged to have been able to enjoy such an incredible artist for so many performances. Lovely to meet you and it was comforting to know that someone nearby was also sobbing 😭🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cescablue Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 3 minutes ago, lady emily said: Not even sure what to say. So very sad but so very privileged to have been able to enjoy such an incredible artist for so many performances. I think that in time it will feel like a privilege, but now I'm just sad! Saw his Lescaut earlier in the run too and thought he was brilliant. I know it's supposed to be good to retire at the height of your powers....but it feels like a bit of a waste! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 1 minute ago, nycitybird said: Lovely to meet you and it was comforting to know that someone nearby was also sobbing 😭🤣 lovely to meet you too! Not sure the lady next to me appreciated the sobbing but oh well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 5 minutes ago, alison said: It did get updated on the screen version, but not elsewhere. Thank you Alison! Saw it after the performance as I was leaving! I always thought the online one could be updated as and when, but I guess not! I think I guessed it wasn't Yuhui the moment I saw the wig as she got out of the carriage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 12 minutes ago, lady emily said: I have uploaded the speeches on YouTube! Apologize for any sobbing and whooping and shaky camera work! Thank you @lady emily! By the way, hope you weren't feeling pushed to upload it immediately or at all! I recorded most of it but I don't even have a YouTube account (I'm quite a dinosaur when it comes to anything digital!) Wasn't he charming and funny? "When I started my hour long speech... " 😄 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agatha Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Well I’m crying just watching the video! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 1 minute ago, Emeralds said: Thank you @lady emily! By the way, hope you weren't feeling pushed to upload it immediately or at all! I recorded most of it but I don't even have a YouTube account (I'm quite a dinosaur when it comes to anything digital!) Wasn't he charming and funny? "When I started my hour long speech... " 😄 No not pushed at all! Well, not by anyone here but by a friend not on the board who couldn’t go! 😂 it was a beautiful speech and so nice to see all the other principals out as well. Lost it when Vadim came out, and the lovely shout out! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MildConcern Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Thank you so much for the video upload @lady emily. What a gem for all of those unable to attend. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycitybird Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 3 minutes ago, lady emily said: Lost it when Vadim came out, and the lovely shout out! When Vadim picked him up! 😭 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 3 minutes ago, MildConcern said: Thank you so much for the video upload @lady emily. What a gem for all of those unable to attend. No problem, I know I would have wanted it if I hadn’t gone! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Thank you @lady emily for recording that - I was hoping someone would as I couldn’t be there and I love to see these send offs! What a lovely man he is. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 10 minutes ago, nycitybird said: When Vadim picked him up! 😭 A hug-lift! 😄 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scheherezade Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 I couldn't be there tonight - although thankfully I was there on the 2nd - so thank you so much for uploading the curtain call and speeches, Lady Emily. It is all much too soon! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmarose Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Thank you for the video, I always like to see them but they make me cry. Well... wasn't that just lovely. What a lovely, humble and generous man he is. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisG Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Another thank you for the video - I wish I could have been there! I'm so glad he finished his career with Francesca. Over the last ten or so years their's has been the partnership I've most looked forward to seeing. I've seen them together in Nutcracker (both as Hans Peter/Clara and as Sugar Plum/Prince), Swan Lake, Manon, Giselle and Cinderella and there's always been an instinctive connection between the two. One final thought - as a youngster he had to choose between ballet and cricket and remains a big cricket fan (anyone remember him being interviewed by Jonathan Agnew on Test Match Special?). Now that he doesn't have to worry about injury I'd love for him to get his bat and pads out of storage and make the odd appearance on the cricket field - I'm sure the Lord's Taverners would welcome him into one of their XIs! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophoife Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 (edited) Thank you so so much @lady emilyfor the comprehensive video 😢😢😢 How lovely so many other company principals came out - and Vadream's huge hug!! I don't think I've seen a retiring dancer handed a microphone on stage before - happy to be corrected - and the speech was brilliant. He's a very special person and I hope the RAD job is all that he wants it to be. Yes @ChrisGI actually have a recording of that TMS chat. Edited March 9 by Sophoife 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Federico Bonelli got a microphone, too. And I see that Rob S has managed to capture the "hug-lift". I was hoping he would, because I didn't! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophoife Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Thanks @alison. I think it should happen more often. Never seen an AusBallet dancer given a microphone. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now