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

I can't resist adding my opinions on Saturday's matinee, which started so early (12.30) that I had to travel to London on Friday or risk missing the first act. I'm glad I made sure of being there, as the first act went quite well, and is also the longest by far. I wouldn't have liked to miss Darcey's dancing in this act - she had a silken lushness that was absolutely right, and wonderful flexibility. Acosta is a natural for Solor, and his performance was strong throughout, as one would expect. Yanowsky was Gamzatti, looking beautiful and dancing very well, but not projecting much personality, I felt - in fact I found characterisation was a weakness in most cases (I usually do find this, I'm afraid). What I couldn't quite work out was whether this is a fault of the dancers or of the production. The Nureyev version seems more dramatic to me. It is also more (even more) unashamedly kitsch. If you are going to be kitsch - and this ballet is - do it properly. Have elephants and the Dead Parrot Dance. I missed them. I also think it is better to end with the Kingdom of the Shades - even the collapse of the Temple, fun though it is, is going to be anti-climax after this. The Shades were much more secure than I have seen in the past, though I'd have preferred more of them. The scene was ravishing as ever, however, and brought the usual tears to my eyes, especially when the arabesque-ing girls resolve themselves into lines - extraordinarily satisfying. Was it still Natasha Oughtred leading them? Whoever it was, she was excellent. The three solos were Galeazzi, Ortueta, and Jaimie Tapper, and they all danced quite well (though not perhaps very musically) but again without projecting much personality - I suppose you can argue that Shades shouldn't have too much. I think I enjoyed Jaimie Tapper most.

Justin Meissner's Bronze Idol was hampered by leaden orchestal tempo, and didn't have the impact this solo can have. I'm also not too sure about its placing at the beginning of the last act.

As I rushed out afterwards for my train, I wondered yet again how anyone could find the ROH forbidding or unfriendly. All the way down the stairs (I was in the balcony) lively conversations were going on between total strangers. Wasn't the corps in good form? Doesn't Darcey look thin? Do you remember Merle Park? Are matinee prices good value? Unfriendly? It's a ballet club!