Norwegian National Ballet are in London for the first time in a very long while. Sadler's Wells was full for the opening night, which is remarkable given the Company's virtually unknown status. I enjoyed the evening, but Michael Corder's reading is rather a fairy story version and doesn't have the emotional punch of the MacMillan version. <P>Nevertheless, the two Principals danced well and the ensemble work was well drilled. NNB have the misfortune of following almost immediately after SFB. It is noteworthy that, whereas SFB gave us 3 programmes including Swan Lake with 4 different casts, NNB with one performance less, are just doing R&J and with two casts. Still, the worst thing is to overreach one's capabilities. Here are a couple of contrasted reviews.<BR> <A HREF="http://www.newsunlimited.co.uk/reviews/story/0,3604,104670,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.newsunlimited.co.uk/reviews/story/0,3604,104670,00.html</A> <P> <A HREF="http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/11/18/timartdan02001.html?1376249" TARGET=_blank>http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/11/18/timartdan02001.html?1376249</A>

Stuart, how big is NNB? Is it mostly Norwegian in composition?<P>I think SFB's programming with multiple programs and casts is not normal. It creates such a logistical nightmare to have so many people and so many works.

The NNB has about 57 dancers and do both norwegian and international choreography. Mostly international.
I saw Swanlake a few weeks ago and it was amazing.

The principals of the NNB 05:
Ingrid Lorentzen
Alexandra Santana
Beatrix Balaz
Christine Thomassen
Christopher Kettner
Dirk Weyershausen
Kaloyan Boyadjiev
Line Alsaker
Maiko Nishino
Marek Jez
Mariusz Malecki
Nuri Ribera
Richard Suttie
Sissel Maria Aarseth

Their next performance will be "Momentum"
3 different ballets coreographed by:
-Santon Welch (Maninyas)
-Douglas Lee (has not got a title yet, world premiere!)
-Lila York (Celts)

Premiere: March 12 2005

If you want more info go here:
www.operaen.no