rebekah

As I mentioned at the end of my Sleeping Beauty post I'd love to see Lauren Cuthbertson promoted. Does any one else have any ideas? xx

Hi Everyone, Sleeping Beauty began last night and I wondered if anyone saw it? I went to the rehearsal earlier in the day with Roberta Marquez as Aurora and David Makateli as the Prince. The production has changed in a few places from last season-thankfully Cupid has been removed from a couple of his scene (most noteably when the Prince falls in love with Aurora's vision) Also the changover from the Vision to the Castle had altered in Act 2. Now instead of nothing much happening over the music, and the crows flying past, the Lilac Fairy shows the Prince the way, and Cupid takes him there on a carriage. (Except in the rehearsal the carriage hurtled into the backdrop.) Overall though it was looking pretty good and Roberta Marquez's Rose Adagio was stunning-not a hint of a wobble anywhere. I was impressed. Also worth a mention is Lauren Cuthbertson who was The Lilac Fairy. I think she has come on so much, and would love to see her promoted this summer. I've started a thread for any ideas/preferences for promotions? Would love to hear what you think xx

I am really looking forward to the Watson/Cuthbertson Romeo and Juliet-I have my fingers crossed that it will be a night to remember! (Jane, I think he is about the 30yr old mark-eek!) As for the Mixed Bill, I have only managed to see the rehearsal but it was still pretty good. I enjoyed Agon until I saw Symphony in C which I enjoyed so much more. I thought that there was real sparkle to some of the performances, especially Isabel McMeekan and Deidre Chapman. I really loved The Prodigal Son, but I agree with you, Simon, about Carlos. I find his personality comes through too much in a role, I can't seem to get away from seeing Carlos on stage rather than the character he is playing. That said, he does have a fabulous jump and I thought he and Sylvie worked well together. She was in excellent form. Has anyone seen the other cast for this with Zenaida Yanowsky/Ivan Putrov- it's not a partnership that I can see working, especially that lift with the Siren holding the Son with her thighs? Rebekah xx

Has anyone been to see this yet? I saw the rehearsal last week and remember how much I like this production. I saw Miyako Yoshida as Giselle with Federico Bonelli as Albrecht, Alastair Marriott danced Hilarion. I was very impressed with the acting of the whole comany, and it was good to get into something a bit grittier after Cinderella. Giselle always breaks my heart, and Miyako's was no exception, she really went mad at the end of Act 1. I haven't seen much of Bonelli before but he certainly showed a great deal of depth and you could really feel his remorse. The Wilis were also superb, very very stern, with a hint of dispair. Definatly worth going to, and there are fab casts: Alina Cojocaru/ Johan Kobborg, Tamara Rojo/ Carlos Acosta,M iyako Yoshida/ Federico Bonelli, Leanne Benjamin/Jonathan Cope, Jaimie Tapper/ Jonathan Cope, Roberta Marque/ Ivan Putrov, Leanne Benjamin/Roberto Bolle. Here are some extracts from Debra Craine's review for The Times: "THIS is one of those solid Royal Ballet productions that can be counted upon to bring in an audience and bring out the best in the company. Peter Wright’s superior, naturalistic staging does all the right things. It tells the story of Giselle with intelligent, lucid mime and real dramatic flair. It looks terrific, thanks to John Macfarlane’s autumnal forest designs which give vibrant atmosphere to Giselle’s Rhineland home. And it has the power to make you believe in angry ghosts." The rest of the review is here : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,685-963682,00.html She discusses both the Alina Cojocaru/Johan Kobborg cast as well as the Tamara Rojo/Carlos Acosta cast. She also mentions Zenaida Yanowsky who plays a fearsome Queen of the Wilis, and also won the National Dance Awards for Best Female. Here's link to their site, and the other nominees: http://www.nationaldanceawards.com/dance/best_female.htm And here is Judith Mackrell's review for The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/sto...1123245,00.html Here's an extract: "Cojocaru gives one of those rare, astonishing performances in which the dancer is distilled into the metaphor and music of the choreography." "Rojo finds a radiant stillness in her character, deploying her formidably centred balances to suspend Giselle in a supernatural world." Here is also the review from the Telegraph by Ismene Brown: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml...ixartright.html Enjoy!

Well I have to admit to being pretty disappointed with this production too. I saw Jamie Tapper as Cinderella with David Makhateli as her Prince. Jamie certainly gave a lively performance and conveyed some real enjoyment of being at the ball, and David did sterling work as her Prine, especially as Alymer said it is a thankless role. Thiago Soaresand Tim Matiakis were the Ugly Sisters, and though they gave a spirited performance it was all a bit too pantomime for me, in the wrong way! I was most disappointed with the sets. Before I saw it I was concerned it might look to Sleeping Beauty-ish but now I wish it had been. The kitchen was suitably sparten but the ball room didn't have any glamour about it at all. I also though the guests at the ball had very muted costumes, not the kind of sparkle you would expect from a ball with (albeit a nameless) royal going! Oh well, roll on Giselle!

I agree with you Lynette. I also saw Alina and Johan dance last Wednesday and didn't think it was the greatest performance either. Nothing I could put my finger on, but I think you're right it needs a rest from the rep. Even though its my favourite ballet, there wasn't the ping and sparkle that usually radiates off this ballet, and not just the principles (who I agree are excellent) but the whole cast. Though when it returns in March/April there are some interesting partnerships to watch. Alina is dancing with Roberto Bolle rather than Johan Kobborg, and then the new partnership in Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson which I can't wait to see!

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone is going to the First Drafts in the Clore Studio on the 15th/18th December? http://info.royaloperahouse.org/Performing...dex.cfm?ccs=120 It showcases some works in progress from artists of the Royal Ballet, using their fellow performers, as well as work from established company choreographers. Also, it is only £5!

Hi everyone. I saw the performance on 31st with Daria Pavlenko and Roberto Bolle, with Zenaida Yanowsky as Gamzatti. This was my first Bayadere, and I was a bit annoyed by the overly complicated plot-I kept having to look in my programme, because I found some of the mime a bit meaningless? I also wasn't that inspired by Daria, she seemed a bit expressionless to me compared to Zenaida, who was fantastically venemous! I have read some rave reviews about The Kingdom of the Shades but I must have had a bad night for it because the corps looked pretty wobbly (not that I could even begin to attempt it myself!) Overall though I really enjoyed it, and Ivan Putrov was the Bronze Idol was the icing on the cake-he was brilliant! Has anyone seen his Solor? I hear that's great too. Also is there anyone who's seen Romeo and Juliet and wants to share? I'm not going for ages but I do get to see Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg