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Cygnet

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Posts posted by Cygnet

  1. A comedy legend has died.  Comedian, actor, screenwriter and director, Jerry Lewis passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 91.  He worked tirelessly for the cause of muscular dystrophy and many charities.  His brash, frank style, and his physical slapstick wasn't for everyone, but he was a mentor to many comedians who perform today.  The Nutty Professor will be sorely missed.  Mr. Lewis, RIP.

     

     

     

  2. On 8/15/2017 at 1:48 PM, volcanohunter said:

    That's true. YouTube suggests up to 40 other videos to watch, and I don't take up the suggestions all that often, but I've made some really splendid discoveries through those links.

     

    I don't know how last year's live-on-Facebook numbers compared with previous years' live-on-YouTube numbers. Supposedly more people were "engaged," although I don't know how long the average viewing was. There were far more "on-demand" (i.e., YouTube) views than live views. I do recall that some people encountered streaming difficulties with the Facebook feeds. I would be curious to know how many on-demand views the Bolshoi's segment received after it was moved to a different site and behind a password. The Bolshoi's video site doesn't indicate how many times a video has been watched. I do know that the ballet class from Royal Ballet Live, the precursor of World Ballet Live, has been "viewed" on YouTube more than 3 million times, which is rather the point of doing these sorts of broadcasts. I think it's a safe bet that nothing on the Bolshoi's resource has been watched nearly as often. From the point of view of outreach or promotion, the Bolshoi's position counterproductive, but that's politics. Probably copyright, too. YouTube videos are easy enough to download. The Bolshoi hasn't shut down its YouTube channel. It's just the marquee streams that have become a lot less accessible.

     

    As for 2017, it will be interesting to see what the National Ballet of Canada will do, since the company will be on tour in Paris on October 5. It has broadcast its segment on tour before, but this time it will be way outside its usual time zone. Instead of a continual relay around the world, there will be more of a zigzag across Europe. I think it could be fascinating to show a "countdown" to a performance rather than repeating the morning class+rehearsals format five times over, although I don't know how happy the dancers would be to have a camera roaming through the dressing rooms as they apply their makeup. I have a feeling the company will be ordering longer pre-recorded segments from its "guest" companies on the Eastern seaboard.

     

    Thanks Volcanohunter for your post.  I'm ITA with you.  If I had my druthers, WBD would have never left youtube for Facebook live.

     

     

     

     

  3. I feel blessed to have lived in the time of Uliana Vyacheslavovna Lopatkina's, career and to have seen her IRL on many occaisions.  She is and will always be a magnificent prima ballerina and I add the title "assoluta."   

    As she retires from the stage, she has set a standard of artistry and professionalism for all aspirants to emulate. Since her graduation from Vaganova Academy in 1991, Uliana never ceased to polish her art, and for that I will be forever grateful!  Spasibo Uliana and brava forever!:clapping::bow: :flowers:

     

     

  4. The Bat Signal's light has dimmed.  Adam West, best known as "Batman" in the 1960s TV series has died at the age of 88. 

    He found that he was typecast after the series ended.  However, he was able to make the transition to voiceover work.

    His most recent voiceover character was the Mayor of Quahog in "Family Guy." Caped Crusader, RIP.

     

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/adam-west-dead-batman-star-832264

     

     

  5. Re "Sleeping Beauty," the Prologue's scenery was sometimes used for the masquerade scene of the Mariinsky Opera's 1984 production of "Pique Dame."  Other than that, it has been rarely deployed (if ever).  Now there's a new production of that opera which premiered two years ago. When Vikharev produced "Beauty" in 1999, the production's realization was a costly enterprise, as the country was in the middle of financial crisis and devaluation of the rouble at the time.  The extravagance of the production was debated in the midst of economic uncertainty and upheaval.  I guess that was another point of contention against the production in addition to Sergei's revelatory work.  The Mariinsky's management wasted the opportunity to film "Beauty," "Bayadere" and "Flora."  They all should have been filmed for the sake of record, ballet history, and posterity.  

  6. I'm devastated to learn of Seriozha's passing.  He was courageous.  He staged Petipa's reconstructions in a Theatre which didn't appreciate him, or his efforts.

    Through it all, he never lost his pleasant personality, or his love for life.  Nor was he dissuaded, discouraged or deterred from his goals.  RIP Sergei Vikharev.  

    You will be sorely missed :crying:.  

     

     

  7. Roger Moore, best known as Agent 007 during the 1970s - mid 1980s has passed away.  He was 89.  Moore replaced the one film-one time 007, George Lazenby, and was the favorite to replace the original 007, Sean Connery.  He didn't make his debut as 007 until 1973 in "Live and Let Die."        

     

    Before he landed the role of James Bond, he was under contract as the original Simon Templar in the 60s television show, "The Saint."  He also starred in "The Persuaders."  Moore worked tirelessly as a goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF until his declining health no longer allowed it.  His suave demeanor, and the smooth irony by which he delivered some of the most ridiculous lines in the 007 films, will be missed.  Sir Roger Moore, RIP.

     

    http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40018422

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