Dvd
Marston: The Cellist / Robbins: Dances at a Gathering (The Royal Ballet)
Lauren Cuthbertson (The Cellist); Marcelino Sambé (The Instrument (The Cellist)); Matthew Ball (The Conductor (The Cellist)); Marianela Nuñez (Dances at a Gathering); Francesca Hayward (Dances at a Gathering); Yasmine Naghdi (Dances at a Gathering); Laura Morera (Dances at a Gathering); Fumi Kaneko (Dances at a Gathering); Alexander Campbell (Dances at a Gathering); Federico Bonelli (Dances at a Gathering); William Bracewell (Dances at a Gathering); Luca Acri (Dances at a Gathering); Valentino Zucchetti (Dances at a Gathering);
"…Francesca Hayward, Laura Morera and a dropdead- magnificent Alexander Campbell the first among excellent equals in this first-rate work." (The Telegraph ★★★★★)
Marston: Victoria (Northern Ballet)
Abigail Prudames (Victoria); Joseph Taylor (Albert); Pippa Moore (Older Princess Beatrice); Miki Akuta (Young Princess Beatrice); Mlindi Kulashe (John Brown); Sean Bates (Liko); Filippo Di Vilio (Benjamin Disraeli); Riku Ito (Lord Melbourne); Gavin McCaig (William Gladstone / Uncle Leopold); Minju Kang (Victorie); Matthew Topliss (Conroy);
"Thoughtful, ambitious and vividly danced, it’s another success for a company going from strength to strength" (The Independent ★★★★)
Massenet: Manon
Justine Summers (Manon); Steven Heathcote ();
"...graceful, beautiful and moving, action-packed and highly entertaining." (The Telegraph-Mirror)
McGregor / Richter: Woolf Works (The Royal Ballet)
Alessandra Ferri (Dancer); Gary Avis (Dancer); Matthew Ball (Dancer); Federico Bonelli (Dancer); Francesca Hayward (Dancer); Paul Kay (Dancer); Sarah Lamb (Dancer); Steven McRae (Dancer); Natalia Osipova (Dancer); Calvin Richardson (Dancer); Beatriz Stix-Brunell (Dancer); Akane Takada (Dancer); Eric Underwood (Dancer); Edward Watson (Dancer); Anush Hovhannisyan (Soprano); Gillian Anderson (Speaker);
"At its creation in 2015, Woolf Works felt like a breakthrough for choreographer Wayne McGregor, adding a new emotional weight to his athletic force and fascination with technology. In this first revival, it’s even stronger, with Alessandra Ferri luminous as the Virginia Woolf figure… It’s a thoughtful, heartfelt performance in a ballet that is both intelligent and tender." (The Independent ★★★★)
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Pacific Northwest Ballet)
Patricia Barker (Tatania); Paul Gibson (Oberon); Seth Belliston (Puck); Lisa Apple (Helena); Julie Tobiason (Hermia); Ross Yearsley (Lysander); Jeffrey Stanton (Demetrius); Timothy Lynch (Bottom);
"It is a fine company with an enviable reputation and some altogether excellent principal dancers: Lisa Apple's Helena and Julie Tobiason's Hermia are particularly fine, and the scene between Titania and Bottom is most affecting. The fairy scenes are imaginatively handled and staged." (The Penguin Guide)
Minkus: Don Quixote (The Royal Ballet)
Marianela Nuñez (Kitri); Carlos Acosta (Basilio); Christopher Saunders (Don Quixote); Philip Mosley (Sancho Panza ); Gary Avis (Lorenzo ); Bennet Gartside (Gamache ); Ryoichi Hirano (Espada ); Laura Morera (Mercedes );
"... when Acosta and Núñez, as the story’s sweethearts, start sparring, they manage a natural, coquettish rapport that’s quite irresistible, Acosta’s megawatt charisma balanced by Núñez’s fizzy, feisty, fan-wielding vigour. This translates seamlessly into their partner work and firecracker solos... Meanwhile, there are terrific supporting character performances from Gary Avis and Bennet Gartside, and a sharp and humorously turbo-machismo turn from Ryoichi Hirano as the toreador Espada." (Metro)