ROH Filmcasts

 We've seen a  couple of these recently and I didn't write up the first one which was Swan Lake. What can I say? It was a very traditional production with very traditional sets (think a courtyard that could have come straight out of something lived in by Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria, and a lakeside that could have come straight from any lateC18/early C19  watercolour by an artist desperately attempting to picture The Sublime.) Couldn't fault the dancing much, although the corps de ballet weren't always quite in sync. I did learn a couple of things though. Firstly the pas de deux in Act 3 is called the Black Swan  and it's phenomenal. And secondly I prefer my ballet to tell a more complex story  but in a more straightforward way. This is possibly/probably down to my ignorance of a lot of the techniques and narrative modes of classical ballet. Summed up as, I wouldn't rush off to sit through Swan Lake again but give me another  chance to see A Streetcar Named Desire ( which I wrote about here ) and I'll be at the top of the queue. 

And yesterday we went to see Turandot. We've never seen it live and the only other time I saw it was many years ago on TV and I don't remember a great deal about that. Considering how long it is I'm surprised it was televised at all really. Anyway, again, what can I say about this one. Sumptuous production, and great singing; it didn't get all those rave reviews recently for nothing. But all in the service of a nasty and silly story. All that talent deserves a better vehicle really. I'm really glad we went but I wouldn't be desperate to see the opera again, it leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth. 

On both occasions we were irritated as always by the girl with the mike, and the crocodile teeth exposed by a meaningless smile,  doing trite interviews with cast members and production staff. I appreciate that the ROH is mindful that some people might be unfamiliar with the plot of the opera/ballet they are about to see. So put up a screen at the beginning with a synopsis and spare us the patronising nodding blonde; this would also considerably cut the running time which came in about 40 minutes longer then necessary yesterday. 

Sorry there's no photo today but I didn't have the time/patience to source one that was copyright free. I probably have a photo I've taken myself with a few swans on it but goodness knows how long it might take to find. However, tomorrow I intend to celebrate the coming of spring, so there will be lots of photos for that.