London is being inundated with Swan Lakes this year, with eagerly anticipated visitors, ABT, actually playing in direct competition with the RB at Covent Garden. ABT's Kevin McKenzie claims he knew nothing about the clash of dates, though I find that difficult to believe as the RB announces its programmes almost a year in advance. Here is Debra Craine's take on the situation in The Times:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 903093.ece

By the way the Royal Ballet has staged something of a coup as far as their run of Swan Lakes is concerned by engaging the Kirov's most interesting talent, Ekaterina Osmolkina, to dance Odette/Odile on 23rd and 26th of this month. Even the thought of sitting through the hideous Dowell production hasn't put me off from booking tickets for the divine Katya. Hope she's allowed to bring her own costume though.

The Dowell production can't be any worse than ABT's unfortunate concoction. The first act is fine, but things go downhill from there, especially with the swamp-thing Von Rothbart.

My advice for ABT is to pick a cast you want to see, because you don't want to sit through the ballet for its own sake. If possible, see Marcello Gomes as Von Rothbart - he makes the role worth watching because he has so much fun being slightly comic-bookishly evil.

Kate