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In Checkmate only Nunez, who gave surely one of the most complete technical performances of the season and the two Black Knights survived with any credit. If the RB cannot put on a cast that shows respect for the work they should not present it. Even the corps was uneven some unable to complete the end of an enchainment without almost a stumble and in the 'back row' some truly un-ballet shaped feet.

Symphonic Variations was created for a stellar cast with three ballerinas a Danseur Noble and two senior soloists. Yesterday only Sarah Lamb was able to show something of the meaning and the demands of the role which I personally think does not as yet quite suit her. The rest of the cast was woefully out of their depth both in technique and style.

The Royal Ballet had appeared to recover from the doldrums of the fairly recent past, this performance for me at least did not show it.

I did not stay for Song of the Earth as I do not think the Royal Ballet is capable of performing this work any longer. For me it has really never survived with any quality after the first two casts although there have been notable performances by certain leading dancers. My opinion may seem extreme, but I think anyone who saw the original performances in which the whole ensemble were magnificent and in which both Haydee and Seymour were superlative, would I am sure agree.

I think most of the MacMillan repertoire is generally poorly performed by the Royal Ballet Company of today (with the exception of certain principals) which beggars the question why is it performed so often?

Added PS
In Symphonic Variations, the female costume are now made in a material that neither hangs in the way that it used to or moves in the way it did in the past. The costume for the male costumes are also made from a different material to the past.