lady emily Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 I was fantasizing about taking the train to Paris today to see Myriam Ould-Braham's retirement performance at the Opéra in Giselle (far too expensive!) when I noticed that Marianela Nunez will be performing Giselle for two performances in Paris with Hugo Marchand on 25th and 27th May! The RB principals are frequently crossing the Tunnel this spring, it seems. Apologises if there is already a thread on this, I looked but did not see one! 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Capricorn Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 18 hours ago, lady emily said: I was fantasizing about taking the train to Paris today to see Myriam Ould-Braham's retirement performance at the Opéra in Giselle (far too expensive!) when I noticed that Marianela Nunez will be performing Giselle for two performances in Paris with Hugo Marchand on 25th and 27th May! The RB principals are frequently crossing the Tunnel this spring, it seems. Apologises if there is already a thread on this, I looked but did not see one! Yes, Myriam Ould-Braham will retire as Giselle in May. I'm glad to see her as Giselle one last time. Marianela's guest appearance was already announced last year, and there was long speculation about her partner. Hugo Marchand has already confirmed his partnership on social networks. I am already looking forward to this performance, I think it will be something extraordinary. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 19 minutes ago, Silver Capricorn said: Yes, Myriam Ould-Braham will retire as Giselle in May. I'm glad to see her as Giselle one last time. Marianela's guest appearance was already announced last year, and there was long speculation about her partner. Hugo Marchand has already confirmed his partnership on social networks. I am already looking forward to this performance, I think it will be something extraordinary. I only saw her for one spectacular performance of Manon last June with Mathieu Ganio. Got COVID at the Opéra but it was worth it! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josette Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 I am attending Mlle Ould-Braham’s final performance and purchased my tickets for three Giselles as soon as they became available. I am surprised that there are still available sheets at the Palais Garnier. I remember noticing her when she was in the corps de ballet and so this is full circle for me to be able to see her final show. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 I'm going too, having loved her performances in Fille, when Alexander Grant selected and rehearsed her in Fille in 2007. But unfortunately her performance in the celebration of Yvette Chauvire was very disappointing, the Paris Opera Ballet failed to organise, or rehearse, a gala that suitably honoured that great ballerina. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 (edited) I remember seeing Myriam Ould-Braham in the Peasant Pas de Deux as a youngster.....soon she will be dancing her retirement performance in May! Where does all that time go?? I do like this production a lot- let us know what you think after the show, @lady emily(if you do go), @Silver Capricorn, @Josette, @SheilaC and everyone who is going! Edited March 19 by Emeralds 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanprincess Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Are there still tickets available? I looked last week online at the booking for Paris opera’s Giselle and swan lake but both said sold out for every performance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Capricorn Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 2 hours ago, Emeralds said: I remember seeing Myriam Ould-Braham in the Peasant Pas de Deux as a youngster.....soon she will be dancing her retirement performance in May! Where does all that time go?? I do like this production a lot- let us know what you think after the show, @lady emily(if you do go), @Silver Capricorn, @Josette, @SheilaC and everyone who is going! I saw this production of Giselle at ONP 2 years ago and for me it is the most beautiful Giselle I have seen. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Silver Capricorn said: I saw this production of Giselle at ONP 2 years ago and for me it is the most beautiful Giselle I have seen. Beautiful designs by Benois (what a treasure) and a lovely production by Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov.....I hope they keep it forever. Glorious and beautiful- and they even take it on tour abroad. A gem! Edited March 19 by Emeralds 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josette Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 I saw the Paris Opera Ballet in Giselle in June of 2012 when the company danced in Chicago. It was an unforgettable week and I saw three performances of Giselle and was bowled over by it. We did Peter Wright’s production in Toronto, which is excellent, but the Paris Opera Ballet’s production was a revelation. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSR101 Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 Is she actually retiring or just leaving the POB given their ridiculous retirement age rule? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 (edited) I know some etoiles like Elisabeth Platel, Aurelie Dupont, Nicolas Le Riche etc continued dancing elsewhere after their official Paris Opera retirement, but I don't know if Myriam Ould-Braham has announced any plans either way. Edited March 20 by Emeralds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missfrankiecat Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 3 hours ago, TSR101 said: Is she actually retiring or just leaving the POB given their ridiculous retirement age rule? What is their rule? @FionaM - love that little film. The parade is sensational. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSR101 Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 2 hours ago, Missfrankiecat said: What is their rule? POB has a mandatory retirement age of 42 (which is what Myriam has reached). I presume the rule is due to French labour laws and the grant of a pension at 42 but I mean imagine the Royal Ballet forcibly retiring Marianela next year! Sarah Lamb would have been retired last year! Possibly the pension conditions may limit whether they could join another company/how much they perform. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 I believe RDB also has a mandatory retirement age. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 57 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said: I believe RDB also has a mandatory retirement age. Yes - 40. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naomi M Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 6 hours ago, Emeralds said: I know some etoiles like Elisabeth Platel, Aurelie Dupont, Nicolas Le Riche etc continued dancing elsewhere after their official Paris Opera retirement, but I don't know if Myriam Ould-Braham has announced any plans either way. Myriam Ould Braham said in a Japanese interview that she will not dance after her retirement, only a few summer galas that had already been scheduled https://madamefigaro.jp/series/ballet/240203-myriam-ould-braham.html 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missfrankiecat Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 (edited) 10 hours ago, TSR101 said: POB has a mandatory retirement age of 42 (which is what Myriam has reached). I presume the rule is due to French labour laws and the grant of a pension at 42 but I mean imagine the Royal Ballet forcibly retiring Marianela next year! Sarah Lamb would have been retired last year! Possibly the pension conditions may limit whether they could join another company/how much they perform. How ridiculous. I assume it applies to the men too? I was astonished the French put up with that. Having done some googling, though, I see they are fully in favour and angry that Macron may change the pension rules - apparently, according to one ballerina "Once you reach the age of 42, you're already suffering from arthritis, stress fractures, hernias and in some cases titanium hips." Edited March 21 by Missfrankiecat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 2 hours ago, Missfrankiecat said: How ridiculous. I assume it applies to the men too? I was astonished the French put up with that. Having done some googling, though, I see they are fully in favour and angry that Macron may change the pension rules - apparently, according to one ballerina "Once you reach the age of 42, you're already suffering from arthritis, stress fractures, hernias and in some cases titanium hips." Yes it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I should perhaps point out that unless the rules have changed dancers, along with footballers, in the UK are allowed to draw a pension from the age of 35. (How many dancers can afford to is another matter). But there's a large gulf between being able to retire at that age and being forcibly retired 7 years later. We've commented many times on here on dancers giving excellent performances way beyond 42 - I think Bonelli was over 42 when he took over as AD of Northern Ballet? - and people like Miyako Yoshida, Leanne Benjamin and of course Alessandra Ferri are just a few examples. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I think if there is going to be a statutory retirement age for dancers it will have to be continually revised as knowledge of how to safeguard technique for longer and recover from injury more successfully progresses. So 42 might become 45 and so on. However in the end most dancers will probably end up wanting to retire somewhere in that 45-55 age range as the general stresses on dancers bodies are pretty high and recovery from injury definitely takes longer as you age but each dancer is an individual so as long as performances are not losing too much quality should be able to decide for themselves when they no longer want to continue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 There ought to be a balance between dancers being compelled to retire too early and missing out on the chance to enjoy some fulfilling role debuts (the company might acquire a new work) or acclaimed performances vs having that option of retiring earlier if their bodies need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm365 Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 Mukhamedov - early 60s -appeared as Virgil in the POB Dante - I wonder how that was managed? Maybe as ballet master he isn't covered by the retirement age of the company dancers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiari Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 With Émilie Cozette retirement at the beginning of the season and now Myriam Ould-Braham, I wonder if they will promote someone during the run of Giselle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophoife Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 On 25/03/2024 at 02:51, Chiari said: With Émilie Cozette retirement at the beginning of the season and now Myriam Ould-Braham, I wonder if they will promote someone during the run of Giselle Bleuenn Battistoni, who will dance the opening night as her full rôle début, has beaten speculation to it 😉 She danced most of act II in 2022 when Alice Renavand, in her retirement performance, was injured and unable to continue. Battistoni had learned the rôle as a cover, and was dancing in the corps de ballet that night, so was the most available in terms of warmed up, costume, makeup etc. As it was a retirement there were of course other étoiles in attendance but not ready to go on. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 I've just seen this on Twitter. I don't know anything about the Paris Opera Ballet dancers but if Myriam Ould-Braham is having to retire because she's reached their mandatory age then she certainly doesn't look like it, she looks about 20! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady emily Posted May 18 Author Share Posted May 18 She will be so greatly missed! I wish I had been able to be there! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paco Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 (edited) Yes, at POB it is a purely administrative obligation to retire at a certain age. However, in 99% of cases the regarded dancers are really tired and technically diminished. I don't know why there is such a gap btw POB dancers and RB dancers physical conditions. For instance, when Bonelli, Acosta or Yanowsky retired from the RB, they were still in excellent technical and physical conditions, able to dance classical ballet almost like youngsters. Just look at Marianela Nunez at 42, or Sarah Lamb still delivering an amazing Odette/ Odile at 43. This very seldom happens at POB, where after 35 most dancers start to face difficulties in front of some classical ballets (though there have been exceptions, like Legris, Ciaravola and Le Riche). Sometimes I guess it stems from different, almost opposite approaches of dancing (more "muscled" legs at RB, too thin legs at POB - resulting in frequent injuries), but there may be a convergence of several reasons (different stage floor, different floor at the studio, etc.). Edited May 19 by Paco 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 10 hours ago, Dawnstar said: Myriam Ould-Braham Thank you so much Dawnstar for posting those photos. I adored this dancer, one of the loveliest French dancers i ever saw. For me she was the definitive Olga in Onegin and I'll never forget the audience reaction, an absolute explosion of applause, when she danced Nutcracker with Tsiskaridze at the Bastille. I last saw her in Balanchine's Le Songe d'une nuit d'ete, as they call it in France, where she led the second act divertissement so perfectly. Her warm personality and innate charm hid her formidable technique, she was always a joy to watch. I'll miss her so much. Au revoir ma deesse de la danse 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 I was at Myriam 's final performance. There was huge applause when she came on stage from her cottage, all her solos and pas de deux were wildly applauded ( including in act 2 when, like some others on the forum, I feel it breaks the atmosphere). And it was tumultuous at the end. She hugged her Albrecht (Paul Marque) a long time, obviously overcome with emotion, and then a long series of the great and the good from the Paris Opera, some present, many past, came to embrace her. Most touching was her two little boys, in their school uniform. She has never been a showy dancer but someone who danced choreography musically and expressively, which is why she excelled in Ashton's Fille. In act 2 there were moments of stillness which enhanced the emotion. Marque partnered her well, acted convincingly and impressed with his high, light, jumps. In the Peasant pas de deux Jack Gasztowtt danced impressively, with a charming personality not yet matched by his partnering skills. Arthus Raveau was a passionate Hilarion. Valentine Colasante was a commanding Myrtha. The corps danced in unision, the choreography sets them in beautiful patterns. The conductor's main experience is in opera, but he conducted Adam's score with great sensitivity and the violin solos were unusually poignant- I was pleased to see the 2 violinists took a bow on stage last night, unlike the night before. Altogether a night to remember; and a fitting tribute to a fine dance artist. 14 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estreiiita Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 I saw Myriam Ould-Braham just once, in "Paquita", when Paris Opera ballet came to Copenhagen, and she conquered me from the start. A beautiful star indeed! I hope she'll find other position to employ her talents or probably discover some new. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missfrankiecat Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 From Instagram posts, it looks as if Marianela Nunez and Hugo Marchand had a great reception at their first performance of Giselle last night. Did anyone see it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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