New English eXcellence at the Ballet
Going to the Ballet is always an enjoyable experience but going to new productions is even better. I have had the chance twice in the last few weeks to do this and both have been great entertainment.
The first is the new Carlos Acosta production at the Royal Ballet. He has reworked Don Quixote and although you cannot do much to improve the story he has managed to make it more cohesive and fun to watch. Purists do not seem to feel the same and say that it is rather pantomime-ish but for less serious balletomanes it is a chance to watch some fabulous bravura dancing. The sets and costumes are, as always, beautiful - although rather too much (intended) movement of the village set is slightly annoying. I saw Steven McRae dancing the role of Basilio and Iana Salenko as Kitri. McRae is always very enjoyable to watch and this is a perfect vehicle for him His jumps and spins are terrific and he makes a very good partner for Salenko. She is one of two new guest artistes at the Royal and Don Quixote does seem to suit her very well too. Delightful to watch.
The other new production is at the English National Ballet. They have managed to get the rights to Le Corsaire which has not been seen in full in Britain for many a year except when the Kirov brought it to London in 1987. There is a very well-known pas-de-deux made famous by Fonteyn and Nureyev in the 60's which makes one feel we have seen the ballet. The story is much stronger than Don Q. although very complicated with pirates, concubines, slaves and much more. The main story is obviously a love story between the pirate leader, Conrad, and Medora, the slave trader's daughter. Conrad was danced on the night I saw, by Matthew Golding, who is guesting at the ENB at the moment, and Tamara Rojo, who, although not giving up her dancing by any means, has left the Royal Ballet and is now the Artistic Director of the ENB. The whole feel of the ballet was great fun and there was some lively dancing by the corps. The ENB seem to have raised their game so much since Rojo joined them and of course they have also received with delight Alina Cojocaru who left the Royal rather suddenly in July. To be able to watch both Rojo and Cojocaru in the provinces over the country must be wonderful for ballet fans who cannot make it to London. Both Rojo and Golding were perfect in their roles and indeed Rojo has lost none of her superb technique since the move. Her spins and balances are mesmeric. I also must mention young Vadim Muntagirov who continues to astonish. He took the Nuryev part the night I saw and certainly is on his way to equalling the great man with his jumps.
The Season with both Companies is now under way and I would urge anyone interested in the ballet to try and catch both productions. Wonderful escapist entertainment in these hard times.
www.ballet.org.uk/
www.roh.org.uk/
