volcanohunter

DW Classical has posted the Makhalina-Zelensky Swan Lake filmed in 1990.

3 hours ago, dirac said:

Probably this piece has been in the works for awhile. However, I would hope that the status of "box-office dud" doesn't disqualify a movie from critical attention. Peck is a prominent young choreographer and this was a major commission. Naturally Kourlas would want to write about it and I'm glad she works for a publication that will give her the space.

It is natural that the NYT dance critic should write about Peck's choreography for Spielberg's WSS. I'm just scratching my head about why the piece was published so late. Had it appeared within a week of the film's release, it might have generated a lot more attention and clicks. Now it no longer seems especially "relevant," which is kind of the stock-in-trade of dailies. 

People did come out in droves for Spider-Man, and Encanto is holding up a lot better. When was the last time the screen adaptation of a stage musical was a big hit? Maybe the target audience doesn't exist? At least not in a sufficiently large size to justify the production budget.

And since the movie is a box-office dud, why is the NYT wasting space on an article two weeks after the film's release? That baffles me more than the film's receipts, frankly.

At the POB performances of Don Quixote today and tomorrow have been canceled. 

In my parts food and drink were banned from theaters and sports arenas only days ago, in response to Omicron. Prior to that people were seated at full capacity and taking off their masks to eat and drink in very close proximity that wouldn't be allowed in restaurants. That didn't make sense to me.

Owing to new restrictions, Scottish Ballet has been forced to cancel its remaining Nutcrackers.

https://www.scottishballet.co.uk/articles/update-the-nutcracker-tour-cancellations

On 12/19/2021 at 7:10 PM, nanushka said:

In many of those workplaces, when there's one (or more than one but unrelated) positive case — if anyone even knows about it — things don't shut down. I do hope we get to a place where that can be the norm, even if we're not there yet.

On 12/19/2021 at 8:10 PM, canbelto said:

I work in a school and it seems as if every day another teacher goes down. Very rarely is anyone seriously sick because we're all vaccinated. School hasn't been closed. I think moving forward theaters might eventually find a way to stay open despite some positive cases.

I think many ballet companies were trying to continue despite positive cases. When Les Grands Ballets Canadiens canceled a weeks' worth of performances, it cited seven infections among those working on the production, so not one or two. The company didn't specify whether these were dancers or musicians or crew. Perhaps all of the above. When the Royal Opera House announced a number of cancellations, it cited "resource challenges caused by the Omicron COVID-19 variant." (The Rockettes also cited "increasing challenges from the pandemic.") The National Ballet of Canada blamed plural "breakthrough cases" for ending its Nutcracker run ahead of schedule. I suspect all these shows were trying to plug holes left by people forced into self-isolation, until they couldn't plug them anymore.

I suppose musicians could be hired at fairly short notice (even if things were to start resembling the Poliakoff Agency in Some Like It Hot.) Unionized crew might also be readily available, although Nutcracker productions tend to be complex, and I'm not convinced replacing crew members would be safe. In October a super at the Bolshoi Theater was crushed to death during an opera performance by a descending piece of scenery. Dancers would be difficult to replace, especially if a company is already stretched thin by injuries. If pressed, orchestra players can sight-read their parts on the spot. Most dancers can't read notation, and in any case they can't do it while they're dancing.

Birmingham Royal Ballet will not perform its Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall this year.

3 hours ago, Xiaoyi said:

National Ballet of Canada has cancelled two Nutcracker performances today: 

Please note, today's performances of The Nutcracker on December 21 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm are cancelled. Please check your inbox for further information about your options or click here and login to your account and select Ticket Options. We apologize for the short notice.

All remaining Nutcrackers by the National Ballet of Canada have been cancelled because of breakthrough infections in the company.

I didn't see the broadcast, but I believe this was the filmed cast.

https://2011.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/62/roles/#20181223180000 

From now until January 19th, the Royal Ballet is streaming Wayne McGregor's The Dante Project, with Edward Watson as Dante, Gary Avis as Virgil and Sarah Lamb as Beatrice. The stream costs £16 to watch.

https://stream.roh.org.uk/packages/the-dante-project/videos/the-dante-project

On 12/17/2021 at 5:36 AM, volcanohunter said:

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal have also been hit with a new 50% capacity limit during the height of Nutcracker season.

This year the company has been presenting a modified program without young dancers, featuring a new ballet by AD Ivan Cavallari and the second act of The Nutcracker.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens had already cancelled Nutcrackers between December 17 and 23 because seven people working on the production have been infected, and today, in response to a record 4,571 new infections, the government of Quebec is putting the province into a near lockdown, so I have a feeling that Montreal's Nutcracker season is shot.

https://grandsballets.com/en/news/detail/important-update-the-nutcracker-claras-journey/

The Dutch National Ballet will livestream The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, choreographed by Wayne Eagling and Toer van Schayk, on Friday, December 24 at 14:00 CET. (Admittedly, 8:00 am Eastern is not the most convenient start time.) The performance is scheduled to star Anna Tsygankova, Constantine Allen and James Stout, and the cost is €12.50.

https://www.operaballet.nl/en/dutch-national-ballet/2021-2022/nutcracker-and-mouse-king-livestream

Alternately, the same production performed by the Finnish National Ballet can be streamed on demand free of charge.
https://oopperabaletti.fi/en/stage24/the-nutcracker-and-the-mouse-king-recording/

Last summer's 16th World Ballet Festival from Tokyo is being streamed on demand until January 10th. The cost is ¥6,420 for one program, or ¥12,420 for both. (Thanks to @naomikage for the tip.)

Program A
Flower Festival at Genzano
Hannah O'Neill, Mathias Heymann

Romeo and Juliet, balcony pas de deux (Lavrovsky)
Olga Smirnova, Vladimir Shklyarov

Persistent Persuasion (Neumeier)
Madoka Sugai, Alexandr Trusch

Onegin, mirror pas de deux
Dorothée Gilbert, Friedemann Vogel

Le Corsaire pas de deux
Ekaterina Krysanova, Kimin Kim

Onegin, final pas de deux
Elisa Badenes, Friedemann Vogel

The Dying Swan
Svetlana Zakharova

Raymonda pas de deux
Maria Alexandrova, Vladislav Lantratov

Program B
Grand Pas Classique
Madoka Sugai, Daniil Simkin

Still of King (Elo)
Marcelo Gomes

"Black Swan" pas de deux
Elisa Badenes, Vadim Muntagirov

Three Preludes (Stevenson)
Amandine Albisson, Mathieu Ganio

Le Corsaire pas de deux
Hannah O'Neill, Mathias Heymann

Les Chaises (Béjart)
Alessandra Ferri, Gil Roman

"I Got Rhythm" from Shall We Dance? (Neumeier)
Madoka Sugai, Alexandr Trusch

Don Quixote pas de deux
Ekaterina Krysanova, Kimin Kim

https://www.nbs.or.jp/english/stages/2021/wbf-on-demand/top.html

The Netherlands has gone into lockdown, and all performances by the Dutch National Ballet have been canceled until mid January.

https://www.operaballet.nl/en/corona-update 

4 hours ago, Lauren said:

I don't see how a vaccine requirement for audiences has the slightest impact on audience attendance. It certainly doesn't in Russia or the UK, and would be laughable where I live (and attend our national theater often). It's also not considered socially acceptable to ask people whether or not they are vaccinated.

I'm not sure I understand the point here, but in Russia proof of vaccination is required to attend the theater or visit a museum. In response to this requirement, capacity restrictions have largely been lifted. Since Russia doesn't recognize vaccination papers from other countries, foreigners are required to get a PCR test within 24 hours of a performance. (I know because three times this week I was at a 24-hour testing site at 6 am in order to be tested. In effect it added 2900 RUB to the price of each ticket.) The PCR test is not an option for locals, except in the case of a medical exemption from vaccination. Obviously, this is intended to boost vaccination rates among Russians.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal have also been hit with a new 50% capacity limit during the height of Nutcracker season.

This year the company has been presenting a modified program without young dancers, featuring a new ballet by AD Ivan Cavallari and the second act of The Nutcracker.

The National Ballet of Japan has dropped works by William Forsythe and Hans van Manen from an upcoming program, presumably because repetiteurs can't enter the country. The visiting conductor has also been replaced.

https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/news/ballet/yms-2122-change.html

Thanks to @naomikage for flagging this.

Tours by the National Ballet of Ukraine this month and the Stuttgart Ballet in March have been canceled. 

The National Ballet of Canada, which had been selling 100% of seats for The Nutcracker, has been forced to slash capacity to 50% as of this weekend. It must be a logistical and financial nightmare. Sales for remaining shows have been suspended while the company tries to figure out how to re-seat ticket holders.

https://national.ballet.ca/Productions/The-Nutcracker

Details are on the Met site:

Beginning January 17, 2022, the Met will require proof of a Covid booster shot for all those eligible to receive it. Those not yet eligible will be able to continue to enter provided they are two weeks past their second dose in a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine. Those not yet eligible will be able to continue to enter but must receive the booster shot shortly after they become eligible.

For those who are not eligible for a booster until after January 17, 2022, the Met will allow a two-week grace period to schedule and receive the booster upon becoming eligible. After the two weeks have passed, entry will not be allowed until the booster has been received. Recipients of the Pfizer (age 16+) or Moderna (age 18+) vaccines become eligible for a booster six months after their second dose, and recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine become eligible two months after their single dose.

Also:

Vaccines are now available for children ages 5–11, and fully vaccinated children are welcome at the Met two weeks after they have received their final dose. Photo ID for children under 12 will not be required as long as they are accompanied by parents/guardians with valid photo ID.

https://www.metopera.org/information/our-commitment-to-our-audiences/

@Ashton Fan posted about this on another thread, but given the content and quality of the program, it deserves special attention. It is the companion performance to the wonderful documentary @Lynette H posted above.

Especially valuable is the final piece, which Wayne Eagling helped rescue from oblivion. 

Rio Grande, The Sailor's Dance. Dancer: Alexander Grant on vintage film

Foyer de Danse, solo and adage. Dancers: Ginevra Zambon and Harris Bell

Dante Sonata, Children of Light pas de deux. Dancers: Momoko Hirata and César Morales

Sylvia, solo from Act III. Dancer: Anna Rose O'Sullivan

Swan Lake, duet from the Act I pas de quatre. Dancers: Leo Dixon and Joseph Sissens

The Sleeping Beauty, Fair of Joy, the Prologue. Dancer: Isabella Gasparini

Le Rossignol, The Fisherman's Solo. Dancer: Matthew Ball

Hamlet and Ophelia. Dancers: Francesca Hayward and William Bracewell

Samsova as Cinderella in Paris in 1963. (Also featuring Geraldine Chaplin.)

Samsova and Desmond Kelly in Spring Waters in 1984.

There have been tributes to Samsova from former colleagues.

A tribute by Marion Tait:

https://www.brb.org.uk/post/galinasamsova

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galina_Samsova

May she rest in peace.

Macaulay mentioned the flexibility of her back. It was because of a back injury she sustained while trying to imitate Samsova that Veronica Tennant spent the year after she graduated from Canada's National Ballet School in a body cast before joining the National Ballet of Canada, which I always found to be a strangely remarkable tribute to Samsova's abilities. 

La Scala Ballet has been forced to postpone several performances of La Bayadère scheduled for next week because 14 company members have come down with Covid-19. La Repubblica reports that more than a quarter of the company's dancers are unvaccinated and that several of its ballet masters are anti-vaxxers.

https://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2021/12/10/news/alla_scala_troppi_contagi_covid_nel_balletto_salta_la_prima_de_la_bayade_re-329690437/