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Post by chicchantal on Sept 12, 2008 13:04:21 GMT -5
I really want to go to a ballet during my Chrimbo visit, but it's the same thing on the whole time, ballet called Raymonda. Anyone know it? Is it any good? Might seem an odd question but it's choreography is by Nureyev, and the only other ballet I've seen that he did is Romeo and Juliet which was so DULL I left in the interval (and this is at Covent Garden, no sneaking out quietly) although I'd paid £80 (count them) for the ticket.
So, can anyone express an opinion on Raymonda? What's it about?
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Post by Shoesy on Sept 12, 2008 15:55:10 GMT -5
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Post by chicchantal on Sept 13, 2008 8:22:06 GMT -5
Honestly Shoesy, it was dreadful. Almost no dance in it: the choreography for Juliet was described by a critic in one of the papers as 'perfunctory', basically she just stands and watches Romeo preening. And it's dangerous to have a ballet that awful. I have a colleague who's also a friend and would dearly love to persuade her to see the Nutcracker with me at Christmas but she's only been to two ballets and one of them was R&J and she refuses to spend £95 on a ticket and I don't do cheap tickets for the ballet so that's that. She's rather put off ballet.
So getting back to my original question, I'm relying on you to tell me what Raymonda is like . . . cheaper than the ROH anyway, I hope! Basically I have the choice being going to see that in Paris, or dropping the idea of seeing something in Paris this time around and spending the money on the Nutcracker at the ROH again.
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Post by Shoesy on Sept 13, 2008 9:53:59 GMT -5
Honestly speaking, I know nothing about this ballet. I'm not even familiar with the music.  Then there's also the issue of how good a production this is going to be. As you know from your experience, the choreography can determine whether you like or dislike a particular version of a ballet. As a ballet lover, I'd gamble and buy a ticket. I'd be willing to take the risk and hope that it turns out to be a memorable experience that I would not regret. But even if it's a great disappointment, then that's all it would be.....a disappointment. I'd feel a lot worse spending a lot on a very expensive meal and not being satisfied than on a ballet that I didn't enjoy. |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Sept 13, 2008 10:21:58 GMT -5
I don't know this one either but my reaction is that a full length ballet that's unknown just might be unknown for a good reason. Here's an idea - maybe you can find (e.g., at a library) a DVD you can rent to check it out?
In general, I don't care much for full length ballets (that includes "Nutcracker") so this is partly my personal prejudices showing - the San Francisco ballet does a "R&J" that's well regarded (I think the choreography is either Smuin or Christensen) and it's quite popular and well regarded, but doesn't do much for me. My personal preference is a program with three or four shorter pieces, preferably of different styles, etc. But - I might go to something at OG just to have gone there.
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Post by Jody on Sept 13, 2008 11:21:27 GMT -5
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Post by afds on Sept 13, 2008 15:08:11 GMT -5
I agree that choreography is terribly important, last month I suffered through a dreadful performance of Giselle in Rome, it was the "original, complete" version as supervised, if that's the right word, by Carla Fracci. And when I saw it I realised that the people who had cut bits out of it to produce the "abridged" version with which all balletomanes are familiar knew what they were doing! For instance, the mad scene (when performed well, natch) is moving, but when it goes on and on it becomes ridiculous. There were lots of rhetorical touches which added nothing but were often irritating. On the other hand, the performers were mediocre, this would never happen at the Opera Garnier. I'd say go, the ambience alone is worth it, and the dancers are superb. The ballet itself, well, I've never seen it, but it's been around for a long time so may be worth watching. I don't think I would have had the nerve to walk out of R&J, in fact I didn't walk out of Giselle, probably you would have ;D
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Post by chicchantal on Sept 14, 2008 8:04:16 GMT -5
AFDS, I definitely would have because Giselle is one of my favourites, I have seen it several times at ROH and would hate to see an inferior version of it.
Demarais, thanks for the review, interestingly the choreography on that production is by other people. The pix from OG show interesting traditional costumes, lots of red and gold. I think I'll wait a bit and see if I can catch a review when it opens. You'd assume that whatever the OG put on between Chrimbo and new year is something special . . . am tending more towards going than not, at the moment.
What's the visibility like at OG, anyone know? One reason I always pay top whack at ROH is that the cheaper seats generally only allow you to see part of the stage or something, which makes it pointless buying them at all IMO for ballet which is 90 per cent visual.
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Post by Shoesy on Sept 14, 2008 8:07:06 GMT -5
Definitely go for the best seats, CC. In a TR Geordy once complained about how awful it was to be sitting in an inexpensive seat at OG.
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Post by chicchantal on Sept 14, 2008 8:09:19 GMT -5
Hello and will do! I should have spent more time considering angles when I was looking round the building in July but have to say I was just so slackjawed at the Chagall that I didn't think to check out which were the best value seats!
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Post by afds on Sept 14, 2008 8:15:31 GMT -5
You don't have to worry about choosing your seats because the website automatically allocates the best available seats in the price range you select, and also gives you a preview of what your view will be before you confirm the purchase. I paid 80 Euros apiece for orchestra seats in July and they were great.
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Post by afds on Sept 14, 2008 8:17:11 GMT -5
Giselle is also one of my favourites, I read somewhere that the ROH is staging it in May 2009, but haven't seen any confirmation of this on the ROH site. Do you have any idea? I need to see a good performance to wipe out the Rome one  |
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Post by sunshine817 on Sept 14, 2008 9:31:53 GMT -5
Does anyone know if the Nutcracker will be presented at any time during the Chrimbo season?
We have gone several years here, and it sure would be nice to be able to go to something familiar this year. Doesn't have to be at OG -- and even amateur presentations would work -- one of our faves here is one put on by a ballet school. Even with a school budget, the dancing and costumes are really, really good, and the price is unbeatable!
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Post by mez on Sept 14, 2008 10:02:30 GMT -5
I sat in the middle of the Balcon area last year.
While the orchestra section is closer, I liked the more elevated position. From memory the ticket was about 75-80euro.
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Post by sandypaws3 on Sept 14, 2008 20:40:20 GMT -5
When we went to the Opera Garnier, I paid 65 EUR each -- admittedly, it was 3 years ago -- and was very surprised to find we had box seats, right in the very front! A couple of people were seated behind us. Amazing!
Last time we went to Paris I tried to get tickets to Cendrillon, but they were sold out immediately. I've been looking at our dates for April, and the only thing that's offered is what looks like a recital of the Paris Opera Ballet school. It might be interesting to see dancers who will be up and coming, but I was hoping to see a ballet and preferably at the Opera Garnier, but I'm looking elsewhere.
Sandy p.s. Shoesy, like you, I studied years of ballet when I was young -- 13 years -- and then got back into dance as an adult. I took classes when I was in my 50's.
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Then there's also the issue of how good a production this is going to be. As you know from your experience, the choreography can determine whether you like or dislike a particular version of a ballet. As a ballet lover, I'd gamble and buy a ticket. I'd be willing to take the risk and hope that it turns out to be a memorable experience that I would not regret. But even if it's a great disappointment, then that's all it would be.....a disappointment. I'd feel a lot worse spending a lot on a very expensive meal and not being satisfied than on a ballet that I didn't enjoy. 
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha