Blu-ray
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (The Royal Ballet)
Natalia Osipova (Odette/Odile); Matthew Golding (Prince Siegfried); Elizabeth McGorian (The Princess); Gary Avis (An Evil Spirit); Alastair Marriott (The Tutor); Valeri Hristov (Benno); Pas de Trois (Act I) (Francesca Hayward; Yuhui Choe; Alexander Campbell); Cygnets (Act II) (Francesca Hayward; Meaghan Grace Hinkis; Emma Maguire; Yasmine Naghdi);
"Osipova was riveting throughout... [Golding] demonstrates real brilliance and prowess." (The New York Times)
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (The Royal Ballet)
Marianela Nuñez (Odette / Odile); Vadim Muntagirov (Prince Siegfried); Elizabeth McGorian (The Queen); Bennet Gartside (Von Rothbart); Alexander Campbell (Benno); Akane Takada (Prince Siegfried's younger sister); Francesca Hayward (Prince Siegfried's younger sister);
"Nothing short of a triumph - Such is the good will towards the Royal Ballet’s new Swan Lake that when the curtain rises on Act III, an empty set gets a spontaneous round of applause... Choreographer Liam Scarlett may not have torn up the rule book, but his new production is nothing short of a triumph. Scarlett understands that if the narrative is to make any sense at all the focus must lie with its men. Thus the role of Siegfried is given proper psychological weight, while the sorcerer Von Rothbart also becomes a power-hungry court adviser. Petipa and Ivanov’s iconic lake scene has been left untouched, while Acts I and IV have been sensitively overhauled. It’s all offset by John Macfarlane’s glorious sets and the best-looking tutus anywhere. Leading the opening night’s magnificent cast were Marianela Núñez and Vadim Muntagirov, fast becoming the Royal’s dream partnership. While Nuñez is never less than exceptional, the evening belonged to Muntagirov, who even managed to outshine the famous 32 fouettés with a series of whip-fast pirouettes of his own." (Evening Standard ★★★★★)
Tchaikovsky: The Ballets (The Royal Ballet)
Natalia Osipova (Odette/Odile (Swan Lake)); Matthew Golding (Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake)); Lauren Cuthbertson (The Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker)); Federico Bonelli (The Prince (The Nutcracker)); Francesca Hayward (Clara (The Nutcracker)); Alexander Campbell (Hans-Peter/The Nutcracker); Marianela Nuñez (Princess Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty)); Vadim Muntagirov (Prince Florimund (The Sleeping Beauty)); Claire Calvert (Lilac Fairy (The Sleeping Beauty));
"Osipova was riveting throughout... [Golding] demonstrates real brilliance and prowess." (Swan Lake - The New York Times)
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (The Royal Ballet)
Miyako Yoshida (The Sugar Plum Fairy); Steven McRae (The Prince); Gary Avis (Drosselmeyer); Iohna Loots (Clara); Ricardo Cervera (Nephew / Nutcracker);
"All in all a fine performance of a justified favourite is given the presentation it deserves." (Musicweb International)
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (The Royal Ballet)
Lauren Cuthbertson (The Sugar Plum Fairy); Federico Bonelli (The Prince); Francesca Hayward (Clara); Alexander Campbell (Hans-Peter/The Nutcracker); Gary Avis (Herr Drosselmeyer);
"fresh and reinvigorated - Nutcrackers come and Nutcrackers go but the Royal Ballet's version is a hardy perennial. Peter Wright's version of Lev Ivanov's original 1892 ballet has undergone changes since its debut in 1984 but it remains the one by which all others must be judged." (The Stage ★★★★★)
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (The Royal Ballet)
Marianela Nuñez (The Sugar Plum Fairy); Vadim Muntagirov (The Prince); Anna Rose O'Sullivan (Clara); Marcelino Sambé (Hans-Peter/The Nutcracker); Gary Avis (Herr Drosselmeyer);
"The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker is both opulent and cosy. The heroine’s magical journey takes her from a family party to the glitter of the Land of Sweets, where Marianela Nuñez is a Sugar Plum Fairy of radiant warmth and grandeur. Anna Rose O’Sullivan, who danced Clara on opening night, is rising through the company’s ranks. She’s a poised, stylish dancer, with a vivid response to the music – I love the way she’ll slow or open out a phrase as she dances it, highlighting the rhythm and emotional impact. There was gorgeous dancing from Nuñez’s Sugar Plum, partnered by Vadim Muntagirov. With burnished technique and elegant line, they also make the grand pas de deux a conversation: those formal gestures are full of give and take, connection and response. As the magician Drosselmeyer, Gary Avis directed the action with heart as well as swagger, while the company dancing was bright and confident." (The Independent ★★★★)