Posts with the label Matthew Ball
Showing posts with label Matthew Ball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew Ball. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
The Firebird / A Month in the Country / Symphony in C, Royal Opera House | Review
The Firebird / A Month in the Country / Symphony in C
Royal Opera House
Reviewed onTuesday 4th June 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
The Royal Ballet are wrapping their summer season up with a trio of delightful works by three of the greatest choreographers. Together they form a night entertainment that is full of surprise, and more importantly variety. The versatility of ballet is showcased, as are the spectacular dancers who fizzle with precision and energy at once.
The proceedings open with The Firebird which is strange but feisty. Combining Russian folklore with Stravinsky's score and classical ballet, the result is a crackling piece of theatre which is exciting and superbly easy on the eyes. The Firebird herself, Yasmine Naghdi really does flame across the stage as she vanquishes the sorcerer and creates moments of magic. Naghdi is nail bitingly sharp in every step and her technical precision screams out. Alongside her musicality, gentleness and stage presence, her interpretation is powerful and inviting.
Christina Arestis is beautiful and graceful as the Tsarevna; and alongside Edward Watson's persistent Tsarevich the pair make a lasting statement. Gary Avis is suitably gnarled as Kostcheï and brings both humour and menace to the theatrical character.
The Royal Ballet staple, A Month in the Country is the stand out of the trio, proving what a masterful choreographer Frederick Ashton was. Marianela Nuñez is divinely light as precise as Natalia who truly is The Nutcracker's Clara, all grown up. Her delightful performance and flirtations throughout the piece are marvellous to watch and the grace she moves with is truly mesmerising.
Matthew Ball is handsome and powerful as Beliaev the tutor who has the ladies of the house fawning after his. The pax de deux's Ball dances with both Francesca Hayward and Romany Pajdak are impeccably strong and emotive.
Chopin's sumptuous melodies also add to the enthralling nature of this piece and one can't help but find themselves wrapped up in the sweetness and warmth of it all.
The final treat of the series is Balanchine's Symphony in C which rattles along to close the programme on a high. Anthony Dowell's simplistic backdrop perfectly highlights the magic of ballet, with the dazzling white tutus creating a striking and magnificent contrast to the blue screen behind them. Each dance, both solo and in the corps de ballet gave stellar performances. Special mention must go to Fumi Kaneko who stepped in at the last minute to give an enchanting performance.
Together, these works create a triple bill that is a swoon worthy, explosion of exuberant dance.
photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Romeo and Juliet, Royal Opera House | Review
Romeo and Juliet
Royal Opera House
Reviewed on Tuesday 26th March 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Romeo and Juliet is arguably Shakespeare's most well known play and a regular feature in the Royal Opera House programming, having been performed by The Royal Ballet more than 400 times since its Covent Garden premiere in 1965. This season beautifully revives Kenneth MacMillan's dramatic monument in a smooth and moving way, with a number of Company debuts making it feel fresh even after all these years.
In the title roles, Matthew Ball and Lauren Cuthbertson are a match made in heaven as they bounce off of one another, in their sweetly romantic choreography which showcases young love (and obsession) especially well. The tension as they build to their first kiss is palpable. Romeo lifts his Juliet onto pointe as they kiss and creates a very calm and heartwarming moment before the fast paced drama of the next two acts. Ball and Cuthbertson are masters of their craft and give performances which completely justify their successes.
Act One drags a little but the pageantry from the offset is marvellous. The sword fights are choreographed memorably and sharply and stand out against Nicholas Georgiadis' set as they fill the vast stage. The contrast between the intimate pas de duex and large scale ensemble numbers does well to bring variety and allows moments of extreme action as opposed to storytelling alone. A particular stand out is certainly Marcelino Sambe who leads the mandolin dance perfectly and creates a buzz as the audience are drawn in by his fantastic technique and performance skills. Itziar Mendizabal also shines as she brings brief moments of humour and light to the three harlots who appear throughout.
The melodrama is prevalent, with Mercutio's death (Valentino Zucchetti) and Lady Capulet's break down providing emotionally impactful moments. Mime is used perfectly by the pair as well as by Cuthbertson who acts beautifully throughout.
Brief moments where dancers fell out of time are noticeable but do little to detract from the story and flow. Whilst MacMillan's choreography does everything it should, there are times when it feels too much is being done in too little time, and there isn't a second to really appreciate the intricacies of the basics. The musicality of movements feels undervalued in comparison with storytelling.
MacMillan's telling really puts Juliet at the heart of the story which brings a fragility and power that makes it so special. A wonderfully danced and highly luxurious production, Romeo and Juliet is sure to delight audiences.
Romeo and Juliet runs at the Royal Opera House until 11th June 2019 and will also be screened at cinemas on the 11th.
photo credit: Helen Maybanks
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