silvermash

Let's hope so because I must say a lot of ballet fans are not opera fans and vice-versa

Ghislain This season the new direction introduced differrent prices for the same show depending the day of week. Usually for example Mondays are cheaper while Fridays and Saturdays have top prices. The McGregor is really cheap and all the more they are offering half prices on all categories right now!

Well not fully true. Admittedly, shorter programmes, except the Neumeier creation this year, are a bit less expansive, have no optima, etc.

Nothing really new in these words ... POB has always invited guest artists, and even Roberto Bolle quite a few times

well, I didn't say they will replace Cinderella, it's just random thoughts about the situation I have no insights about what's going on...

Not sure. I think he said it was a special evening due to the reunification with the opera. I can't find a written reference so perhaps it's something I heard when attended a couple of presentations of the season... But on the other hand, he said that he will keep some Nureyev and replace some others... If you have a look at the ballets, up to me, Bayadère and Romeo & Juliet are really untouchable. Swan Lake, I find it really beautiful, but I know some disagree (except for Act 4 which is beloved by all)... What about Cinderella, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Raymonda and Sleeping Beauty... Raymonda has been put aside since 2008 because the stage sets were too old (and they have been destroyed), so the ballet can't be danced. The version is up to me very good with a dancing role for Abderam... I would love to see it again… Cinderella should be replaced, definitely, I think everyone agree on that... and well Don Quixote, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, why not? The choreography has been heavily criticized as unnatural, more than the other Nureyev ballets (Overall it’s one of the main criticisms: too much steps, too much technical prowess for little musicality and artistry)

Well being in Paris, I don't find the situation so much filled with drama ... It has been quite a few years Eleonora Abbagnato is guesting with Roma opera (as well as Alessio Carbone, POB Premier danseur) and she was talking a lot about her involvement in the artistic direction for at least the past two years, so it's no real surprise... but it is true that the next season programming is not a one that seems to fit her style, but it's the case of most other POB Etoiles...

About 150 on around 12 different bills...

The most surprising is to impose a guest for 5 shows!!! Admittedly, there is Paquita running at the same time and I'm really wondering what will be the updated casting...

When the curtain rises, Siegfried is sleeping, so perhaps he’s dreaming. He’s dreaming of this princess transformed into a swan, and when Wolfgang is waking him up, perhaps he is still dreaming, but perhaps not… I think you have to be accustomed to this version, especially since there is a lot to see in the first act, and that you have to accept that Odette/Odile is not the main character of the story, but only a side effect. She's one of these creatures made by Wolfgang (as Rothbart) to distract Siegfried from his royal destiny. Up to me (but it's personal), Wolfgang/Rothbart is the most important character of the ballet, the entire story can be explained around his personality and his desires. But you really need a strong actor to take this lead and a cast to act accordingly. What I really like is that depending the choice of interpretation of the two male dancers, you can see a different story. It can be a love story between Wolfgang and Siegfried, a one way love story from either one or another, it can be a political story, it can be just a romantic story of a depressive prince, etc. I must admit it’s really frustrating and a bit complicated to follow the ensembles when you have to watch the two characters building their particular story, but if you miss it, you are losing a lot of what is going to happen. Anyway at the end, if Odette/Odile is not in line with what Siegfried and Wolfgang is making up, it’s also disturbing because it breaks the narrative. So with all these characteristics, I really love this version of Swan Lake. When I watch another one, I only go for a simple evening of beauty and dance, while with Nureyev, I’m excepting a danced thriller, even if I know the ending.

They probably want a maximum of principals for the broadcast (on the 18th) as Bullion and Renavand are dancing Lescaut and Mistress. But Renavand was supposed to be in a middle of a Paquita run, so maybe more cast changes on Paquita???

Well I attended three different casts so far (2 more expected next week)… Up to me, the most interesting was Bezard/Bullion/Hecquet (yesterday). They have the maturity, the technical possibilities and the intelligence to really build up the story and to draw you into it. The other casts, I found, were more an addition of personalities, more or less interesting unfortunately, and I had to focus to really think about what was going on stage! Yesterday, all was really smooth and clear... Nureyev Swan Lake is really special in a sense that the presence of Wolfgang/Rothbart is paramount. The relationship between him and Siegfried is the center of the ballet and perhaps more important than the one between Siegfried and the Swan. Nureyev added this long slow variation introduced by Wolfgang and with his shadow moving in the back of the stage during the variation, and also he added a variation in the second act. Then, in the third act, there is this beautiful pas de trois with each dancer (Odette/Siefgried/Rothbart) having a variation. In the last act, although there is this beautiful pas de deux, there is still a lot of attention drowned by the Corps lament… and the end is again a small pas de trois… If you have a strong Wolfgang/Rothbart (Bullion or Paquette in this run), it can change all the narrative because the first act is quite long and you have all these interractions between Siegfried and Wolgang which are prevailing over everything else, and the pas de trois in the third act, well, Rothabrt is leading it! Well perhaps it’s the beginning of the explanation why you are a bit puzzled on the Swan queen

She said in today's Le Monde interview that she didn't. Sometimes, there are leaks and sometimes, there are high probablities like when a dancer is often cast in main roles. Sometimes, it's so well organised that the whole world knows even before it's done

Benjamin Millepied just did this one which is very moving http://t.co/rUOV9n6CuY

Laura Hecquet has been promoted Etoile after Swan Lake. Congratulations Laura! It has been announced in the News topic http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/39940-new-etoile-at-paris-opera-ballet/ but I think it deserves to be in the POB thread as well...

This is very difficult to know who and when non-étoiles artists are going to retire. Nolwenn Daniel and I think Yann Saïz are born in 1973 so it may be this season or the next...

Thank you, silvermash! I was wondering if there was any point in going physically to the box office. I'll keep that in mind as an option. best, Sasha Yes, the box office always releases day tickets but for Swan Lake, probably not much so you need to queue early.

I also have used this "Bourse" successfully, but you really have to be quick draw McGraw on nabbing a ticket when it comes available. This is so true.... it's frustrating. I've clicked over within 2-3 minutes of getting the email alert, and it's still too late. (I'm trying to get a Swan Lake ticket.) It also looks like the resellers are sold out. Does anyone believe that the hotels may have access to some of the tickets? I'm just trying to figure out out if there is any hope left. It's not a dire emergency (I already have tickets to see the production on two nights), but I was really hoping to get a ticket for one more evening. Well keep trying the ticket exchange nearer the time, I noticed that when you come closer to shows, tickets become available (changes of plans and also changes of casting)... Also keep checking the opera website as tickets appear... The last solution if you're in Paris is to queue for return tickets the day of the show.

Marie-Agnès Gillot, Mathias Heymann and Stéphane Bullion

Meanwhile, the season microsite presents portraits of Etoiles on video format. here is the trailer

well,not if you live in Paris, you can't. yes but admittedly, there is no point of having a Paris City Ballet . What I find interesting and not only as a traveller, is to see different cultures in my own discipline around the world and not having a transposition of another culture in mine.

Yes. It was highly praised when created in 2002 and also when it returned in 2006.

This is Valentine Colasante in Nicolas Paul's Répliques costume

A small official trailer with rehearsals from next bill, Répliques from Nicolas Paul, Salut from Pierre Rigal and AndréAuria from Edouard Lock http://youtu.be/fegFwC6Y-Fc?list=PL6Tt4-k721iNe7mmo2-TlVZGjQUUEpR2y and some pictures on POB website http://www.operadeparis.fr/blogopera/les-repetitions-de-la-soiree-paul-rigal-lock