RB 'M&A' reviews RB 'Leaves are Fading' reviews RB 'Beyond Bach' reviews Galeazzi in reviews Le Riche in reviews recent RB reviews

Well, I was there last night and have to say that I really enjoyed Beyond Bach (cuts and all... see other thread...). It worked beautifully and far exceeded my expectations. I'd happily see this again. Only real complaints were (a) WHY were the cast not credited? (spotted Galeazzi and Hatley - who has aged - and Watson, but couldn't identify the others) I didn't think that Darcey and Marianela did much more than the other women (Cervera and Cope's roles were obviously better than those for the other men but with the women that wasn't so clear). (b) why pair Bussell and Nunez if symmetry is important? Surely they should have put Yanowsky up against Bussell. (c) why pair Bussell and Cervera? Surely Bussell/Cope vs Nunez/Cervera would be better? (d) WHEN are this troupe going to learn to dance together? Both in this and the Leaves are Fading the dancing was very ragged in timing and stylistic harmony was lacking. That's all well and good in MacMillan but this work really demanded togetherness. The men were better than the women in this respect. It was great to see Cervera in a decent role.

Leaves are Fading - I enjoyed this too, thought there was some good stuff in it (but it did go on a bit and I certainly couldn't match what I saw to the programme notes. The different stages supposedly portrayed in the pdds (how many were there supposed to be? I certainly didn't find four!) weren't at all apparent). I have at long last identified Bennet Gartside, Jaimie Tapper and Chloe Davi(e)s, so I'm in with the in-crowd now... but IMO no-one really held a candle to Kobborg and Cojocaru. They get better and better!

OK, on to Marguerite and Almonds (as we used to call it). By this stage my blocked nose was starting to bother me so maybe my judgment was not top-notch. First, Philip Gammon was playing better than I've ever heard him (the band throughout had been excellent too) - what will they do when HE retires? IS there anyone else who can play "Month"? Second, HOW does Sylvie keep her shoes on? I find this lack of ribbons most disturbing! I scrutinised her feet closely through the bins (8* mag from front of grand tier) and no sign of elastic. Does someone sew her into them? Third, had she changed the costume subtly from Margot's? The red and white ones seemed too satiny, not tulle-y enough and I didn't think the nightie should have been pink. On other trivial matters, Kim wanted to know what happened to her lank greasy hair between death scene and curtain call...

Back to the ballet. I was disappointed. I think it was the best work of the evening, but it didn't catch light for me. Sylvie never really conveyed rapturous love; she looked rather worried throughout, I thought. Le Riche I just found rather dull all round. I'd had such high hopes of this from the reviews and found myself thinking that Viv&Irek would have ripped up the stage with it, and that Cojocaru and Kobborg should be the next couple to dance it. I think I'll watch the (past their prime) Fonteyn & Nureyev video again and see if it moves me in that version - this one didn't do it for me. Sylvie is just too controlled, and Le Riche was just a bit - well, nothing really. Even his spectacular run with the cloak didn't really take off.

What should I see next? Tempted to catch Rojo in Giselle after all this!

I also felt that the whole evening was extremely bad value - two 30 minute intervals were hardly necessary with these sets!