Mary

I thought Corrales was really on form tonight and well done to both for such an excellent performance with short notice for the partnership. From a technical point of view, anyone would have thought they'd been dancing together all their lives.

The act 3 pdd was most exciting in places and drew whoops. My nephew was impressed with his first SL and kept marvelling at their 'amazing twirls'.

I do think slow tempo is rather dragging down act 2 still though.

What a fine dancer Calvin Richardson is now, - the earlier comments about his  lovely lines really were spot on. Most elegant and refined dancing, surely a prince.

(I must say a word of thanks to the lovely staff at ROH for their kindness and welcoming attitude to my teenage nephew- very good. The cloakroom lady said the skateboard was 'a first' but 'a diverse audience was their aim'!)

Fizzing

Perhaps before we get too embroiled in all this worry about drinks etc, we should remember what this is all about and what's going on in Ukraine- the bombing of the theatre there- the horror.

I wish I could be there but can't- I look forward to a full report, and I am sure it will be a memorable evening.

The main thing is- the cause, and it can't be easy organising at such short notice. So let's hope all goes well and good luck to all involved!

The narrative of Prince of the Pagodas is not very compelling - there are rather a lot of longueurs and at times it verges on the daft. The Britten score is often beautiful but it lacks immediate appeal. 

I have watched the DVD many times for the sake of the young Jonathan Cope. but I am not sure it really works overall.

1 hour ago, KathyE8 said:

Given the reason for the Gala it is a small inconvenience for us who are in the lucky position to be able to buy tickets. 

Absolutely! Great news that it has sold so well.

Shame it's a Swan Lake night at roh.

Yes, if you want to save paper,  cut down on the Friends' magazine, or make the programme shorter and less glossy.

I sat on the red velvet sofa next to the desk in the amphi corridor for half an hour the other night, ( wonderful free entertainment sitting there) and every single person who went up to the desk asked for a cast sheet. I did feel sorry for the usher who had to cope with this and she was very good. But the responses were all in the range disbelief - annoyance.

Very sorry to hear that M Nunez is still not well: it is so very unlike her to be laid low.  Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Thinking about Benno, and earlier versions in which he 'joined in' even more extensively and vigorously, - is this role a precursor to some later Russian versions with the dreaded Jester joining in left right and centre, or is the jester role a precursor of Benno?

(Or am I getting completely confused...)

The Ukrainian Institute in London has a list of ways to help Ukrainian people in crisis on its website. I was not sure whether it would be allowed to post a link to it on the Forum.

I am so glad I have the book, a  fitting memorial to the man.

Thank you Mr Crisp for all your insights, wit, beautiful writing  and many laughs.

19 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

Vadim was floating on air ...never seen him better 🙂

Agree. And with aching sorrow, and passion. He told us what he would be thinking of tonight: and it showed. Deeply moving. 

Fantastic! A privilege,  yes. 

And Prince Charles is really enjoying it.

Ashton always said the use of the eyes is so important in ballet.

Anyway..the thing is

What I really mean

-Yours are the sweetest eyes

I've ever seen

?

😀

Yes he must have a lot to do. 

Farewell to him and thanks for a lot of beautiful performances. 

Mr Hay makes up for a lot. 

Anyway..as it stands, we really need Benno casting in advance. 

Good point ...I see that Jan:  but not sure enough is done to really show their relationship.

On the plus side it's all very pretty. Such lovely sets and atmospherics. And a feast of dancing..and the corps is stunning and well handled. 

Watching it again after 2 years.. I did feel Benno seriously unbalanced things. 

His character is a cipher: carries no emotional weight. So to give him so much dancing while the Prince stands by does make the whole ballet much lighter and weakens the narrative. 

A good point. 

I had forgotten how much Benno there is, too....which the rehearsal has reminded me of. 

Also was reminded of the black tights on black background problem....

60? that's nothing....60 is the new 40,  I thought...

Yes let's comment on the performances after we've seen them, rather than before.

Do we know who is coaching? I might have missed this.

I have some vivid memories of Bonelli giving a marvellous  performance and drawing all eyes- in 2 or 3 ballets I thought very mediocre. I shall not name any names but will just say he looked wonderful in that red dressing gown.

😀

He seemed to have that ability to rise above anything.

His elegance and his presence will stay with me- Winter's Tale is a special memory.

It's just ignorance and lazy copy writing really...presume they have never heard of Diaghilev,  Nijinksy, Nijinska,  etc... over a century ago!