RB 'La Bayadere' reviews 'La Bayadere' reviews Corella in reviews Bussell in reviews recent RB reviews

Hello to you all,

I have only ever used this message board a few times before to post a few topics , but i read all the messages posted on each subject avidly with great interest.

I am always impressed by the standard and quality of the writing ( along with the depth of knowledge ) by most of the contributers to this message board and to be honest this has slightly put myself off in leaving a review , as i may not be up to your usual high standard, but i have now decided to throw caution to the wind and start to contribute to the reviews of the recent performances of La Bayadere i have attended.

Remember this is my first attempt,so please be kind :>)

Having being lucky enough to see three performances so far of La Bayadere with, Acosta/ Rojo , Acosta / Bussell and last night's pairing of Cojocaru / Corella I would just like to say how much i have enjoyed all the performances, not just the performances of the central characters but the performance of the company as a whole.

Unlike some of you who contribute regulary I am no technical expert when it comes to the dancing , but i know what pleases my eye , and i think all round praise needs to be given to the company for their efforts.

On Tuesday and at last nights performance the corp in the Shades scene were as one, all in magnificent unison.

M Nunenz was a revealation on Monday and Tuesday as Gamzatti, her acting was superb , menacing , aloof , but dazzlingly beautiful, how could Solor turn down a ravishing beauty such as her.

At last night performance Mara Galeazzi was even more menacing with her acting , those eyes of hers speak volumes as to what she is thinking and scheming in her mind, but just on a personnal level i did not think she and Corella were well suited together when dancing.

Being in the Balcony for last nights performance i viewed a lot of the action through my binoculars and at one point I noticed Angel grimmace his face in pain when lifting Mara , and throughout the rest of the performance he was not his usual smilling self( i know it not a role that requirs him to be his smiling usual self as in Don Quixote ),and from that point he looked to be in some discomfort when partnering either of the two female leads. I hope he has not hurt himself. Even when it came to his solos (which were of his usual breath taking high quality ) he seemed to be putting a lot more effort into them than usual.Hope fully i may be wrong about him hurting himself.

I have been extremely lucky to see Cojocara an many occasions at the ROH , and she never fails to amaze me with her dancing and acting . She totally encapsulates herself in every role that she undertakes and i have not seen her give even one luke warm performance , all are of the highest quality. Everything that she is given to dance she shines in , like a star.

As in Don Quixote, her and Corella were perfectably matched and judging by the bravos and applause the audience seemed to love them

I honestly believe that at only 21 , Alina is a true star and will be one of the greats ballerinas of our time.I know that she has yet to dance her first Sleeping Beauty or Swan Lake at Covent Garden but judging by her performances so far she has so much still to offer . We are so lucky to be seeing her perform with the Royal Ballet, and long may we do so.

I will even go as far to stick my neck out here and put her on a par with the divinely ravishing Altynai Asylmuratova when she was 21 .Now I know that will ruffle a few peoples feathers but what do other contributers think of Alina , is she destined to be one of the true greats or am i wishfull thinking.

If you take into account her age , the quality of her dancing, her actiing capabilities , to me it all adds up.

What do you all think , perhaps we should open a new thread about Alina, as i suppose this is about La Bayadere.

Just as a side note, at last nights performance floweres were thrown onto the stage from the top tier at the side.

I know there is a girl who sometimes organises this and various people contribute funds to help buy the flowers, does any one know the e mail of the person who buys the floweres ????? , and secondly what is the criteria for this type of occasion .I would like to contribute some money for when this type of occasion happens agian.

Thank You

David