JMcN

BRB has issued an end-of-season announcement of 3 promotions: Momoko Hirata from senior soloist to principal Tyrone Singleton from senior soloist to principal Yijing Zhang from artist to firts artist. Congratulations to all three on their well deserved promotions. http://www.brb.org.uk/promotions-2013.html An earlier announcement listed several retirements from the company: Ambra Vallo (principal) Victoria Marr (senior soloist) Laura Davenport (artist) Kristen McGarrity (artist) http://brb.org.uk/Announcements-summer-2013.html Principal Matthew Lawrence left in January to join Queensland Ballet Principal Carol-Anne Millar retired in April, her final performance being Swanilda at the Virginia Festival Friday 21st June was a very special performance of Giselle. It marked the retirement of Vicky Marr, who was dancing Myrtha, and the final Birmingham performance of Ambra Vallo, who was dancing Giselle. It was a wonderful performance to mark the retirement of these 2 superb dancers and the curtain calls for them were really magnificent. Standing ovation, bouquets galore, a flower shower of red roses, tears aplenty and ever more cheering from the audience who just did not want 2 favourite ladies to go. Very best wishes to all the leavees for their new careers.

I love Onegin. There are 2 major and powerful duets for Tatiana and Onegin - at the end of Act 1 and in the final scene. There's also a lovely duet for Tatiana and Gremin in Act 3 and for Olga and Lensky in Act 1. The smaller details I like are the girls looking in the mirror in Act 1 to see their future husbands - it's the first time Tatiana sees Onegin. I also like watching Onegin at the card table at the party in Act 2 and the callous way he rejects Tatiana. The end of the garden scene in Act 1 always brings a gasp from the audience. Enjoy!

I think Jerome Kaplan is a very gifted set designer - he has done 2 magical sets for Northern Ballet - Ondine and Great Gatsby

Thanks Katherine.

Has the Barcelona Ballet folded - the website is extremely out of date?

Mathew Bourne's New Adventures has announced tour dates for the USA: USA TOUR 2013 FRIDAY 27 & SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2013 DES MOINES, DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS, CIVIC CENTER PUBLIC ON SALE SOON Box Office: (515) 246-2322 | www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org TUESDAY 1 - SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER CLEVELAND, PLAYHOUSESQUARE PUBLIC ON SALE SOON Box Office: 216-640-8800 |www.PlayhouseSquare.org/broadway TUESDAY 15 - SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2013 SCHENECTADY, PROCTORS PUBLIC ON SALE SOON Box Office: 518-346-6204 |www.proctors.org WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER - SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER NEW YORK, CITY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS ON SALE NOW Box Office: CityTix® at 212-581-1212|www.NYCityCenter.org TUESDAY 5 - SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER CHARLOTTE, NC, BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS, Belk Theater PUBLIC ON SALE SOON Box Office: 704-335-1010 |www. BlumenthalArts.org/Broadway TUESDAY 12 - SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER WASHINGTON DC, KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS ON SALE 7 AUGUST 2013 Box Office: 800-444-1324 |www.kennedy-center.org THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER - SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER LOS ANGELES, AHMANSON THEATRE PUBLIC ON SALE SOON Box Office: 213-972-4444, Groups: 213-972-7231www.centertheatregroup.org http://www.new-adventures.net/latest_news/usa_tour_announced_sleeping_beauty_to_play_new_york_los_angeles_washington_dc_des_moines_cleveland_charlotte_and_schenectady

Principal casting has been announced: Friday 19th (matinee) Swanilda: Maureya Lebowitz Franz: Joseph Caley Dr. Coppélius: Valentin Olovyannikov Friday 19th (evening) Swanilda: Nao Sakuma Franz: Chi Cao Dr. Coppélius: Michael O'Hare Saturday 20th (evening) Swanilda: Carol-Anne Millar Franz: Jamie Bond Dr. Coppélius: Rory Mackay Sunday 21st (matinee) Swanilda: Ambra Vallo Franz: Tyrone Singleton Dr. Coppélius: Jonathan Payn I'm not sure if this is Maureya Lebowitz' debut in role with BRB but the other dancers are already established in the roles. Terrific casts. I think it's one of Carole-Ann Millar's best roles.

The RB had Baryshnikov's production some years ago. In the 90s I saw THE most wonderful performance with Miyako Yoshida (then still with BRB) and Tetsuya Kumakawa. It was also shown in the early noughties.

I only watched the first 2 episodes and was bored rigid! I just happened to be flicking between channels when I saw the Pavlova bit. The BBC has done some tremendous dramas over the last couple of years that are only shown on daytime TV. Three examples are Land Girls, WPC 56 and the truly sublime Indian Doctor. Do watch them if you ever get the chance!

The ballroom scene in Massimo Morricone's version for Northern Ballet leaves no doubt that there is "something" between Tybalt and Lady Capulet, if you notice what is going on at the time! There is the hint of a suggestion that Lord Capulet knows what is going on too!

I believe there are 2 casts. That may well have been expanded by now as the Company has been touring extensively in the UK since last Autumn.

Matthew Bourne's Facebook page published a link to Youtube for the Christmas Special programme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mBW0Iqb4kg https://www.facebook.com/MBNewAdventures?ref=ts&fref=ts

Matthew Bourne has never described his productions as ballet and people going and expecting to see ballet will have a shock! Go for the production values and committed performances and you will enjoy. I'm not a slave to his productions - I'm not at all keen on Cinderella or Car Man but I adore Highland Fling (being performed by Scottish Ballet this coming Spring!), Swan Lake and Edward Scissorhands. Early Adventures earlier this year was an absolute hoot too!

Here are the current tour dates: http://www.new-adventures.net/productions/sleeping_beauty/venue_tour

I loved it when I saw it at the Lowry a few weeks ago (it premiered in Plymouth and came to the Lowry before opening in London). Matthew Bourne is not a classical choreographer but he certainly gives nods to Petipa in this production in the Fairy dances in the prologue. His main strength for me is his ability to put on a production that is visually stunning and thought provoking. This production is no different - the set and costumes (by long-time collaborator Lez Brotherston) are utterly fabulous. As the linked preview says his Aurora is a wild child who has a Lady Chatterly moment with the gardener, her true love (or is he??). I love the way the gardener is given a way of staying around for when Aurora wakes up in 100 years. IMHO, it's definitely worth a view!

How do the dancers feel about Swan Lake? One young Royal Ballet dancer has just tweeted about dancing in 2 Swan Lakes today at ROH: "Another 8 acts day! I know you guys love swan lake,but its a killer on the body&wrecks your toes.Blah.Ergh #adayinthelifeofacorpsballerina " PS - the Royal Ballet dance a lot of the "classics"!

As an outsider looking in, I think the proposals for the MCB rep look really good. Can a company of 40 dancers plus a couple of apprentices do justice to a full length traditional Swan Lake. I remember Scottish Ballet (a similar sized company to MCB) having a gorgeous Swan Lake mounted by Galina Samsova who worked closely with Sir Peter Wright on BRB's wonderful production. It worked fine for me but a lot of people criticised it because of the "small" number of swans (I think it was 12). BRB has 18 swans in total, including the cygnets and 2 big swans. What is ballet? I would have classed Balanchine's work as ballet and as he seems to be considered worldwide as one of THE choreographers, I would have thought that followers of MCB would be jealously guarding their Balanchine heritage. Edited to add in parentheses.

Thanks Helene. Currently watching The Team GB Victory parade through London live on TV. What a joyous occasion. The atmosphere on the route must be absolutely amazing - ginormous cheering crowds.

Pointe Magazine has tweeted that Edward Vilella is standing down today (4th September).

You should sit through his Raymonda!

I gather from other chums that they are very popular with the NNB audience.

I've seen Ms Delgado dance both Giselle and Kitri and thought she was awesome in both. Very contrasting styles but both wonderful. I saw her and Carenno guesting with RDB in Copenhagen. It was interesting seeing them against the backdrop of the RDB style. One of the most exhilerating nights at the ballet!

Ooooooooooh - and some of Act 3:

Sorry, I hadn't read the original caption. My comment still stands re my preference though. Here's another little clip of Mr Careno from Norway this time - and act 1

Looking at the clip of Osipova and Vasiliev, I would agree that it is spectacular but I wouldn't like to see that degree of showmanship in an overall performance. My preference has tended to be towards restrained virtuosity. This couple is much more to my taste: I have had the privilege of seeing them perform this pdd live, but I have never seen Ospiova and Vasiliev live. Perhaps my opinion would be different if I had.