Although I have been absent from writing this first half of 2012 due to my yoga certification and teaching assignments, I have not been away from my favourite stage houses Saddler’s Wells and the Royal Opera House. I have had the opportunity to watch a mixed bill from my favourite contemporary dance company NDT2 back in March and the Royal Ballet’s revival of The Prince of the Pagodas in June and the last programme under Dame Monica Mason’s directorship: Metamorphosis Titian 2012 in July just in time for the Olympics and her retirement from The Royal Ballet.
First of all, NDT2 mixed bill included Passe-Partout by Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot, Gods and Dogs by Jiri Kylian and Cacti by Alexander Ekman. In general, they could not have chosen a better programme than this as it was exciting from beginning to end, but I have to admit the last piece by Alexander Ekman was my favourite. It was as funny as brilliantly choreographed.
Then, in June I saw The Prince of the Pagodas by Kenneth MacMillan out of curiosity given that it was one of his ballets that I had never seen before on stage. It was a delight to see Tamara Rojo and Marianela Nunez in the leading roles as half-sisters. It was fun to see Tamara as the evil one and I am becoming a real fan of Marianela and her perfect balanced arabesques.
Finally and most exciting was attending the Metamorphosis Titian 2012 performance at the Royal Opera House by The Royal Ballet. I was considering watching it on the Big Screen at Trafalgar Square but was able to get tickets to see it live and I am so glad I did. It was amazing! This unique collaboration between The Royal Ballet, The National Gallery, seven talented choreographers, three composers and three visual artists is only the beginning of many promising collaborations to come I hope. There were three ballets inspired by Titian: Machina (Brandstrup and McGregor), Trespass (Marriott and Wheeldon) and Diana and Actaeon (Scarlett, Tuckett and Watkins). Edward Watson was brilliant in Machina; he just gets McGregor so well! It was bittersweet to see Tamara Rojo in her last performances as Principal with the company. She will be greatly missed as well as Dame Monica Mason who has been a great visionary as director of The Royal Ballet. Trespass reminded me of why I love Christopher Wheeldon’s work so much. It was the most coherent and beautiful piece of the night. Marriott and Wheeldon’s styles blended so well in this ballet, and I don’t know if it was just me, but I saw plenty of yoga in this piece!
Now, I cannot wait to see the closing ceremony for London 2012, as there will be a surprise for ballet fans! Don’t miss it!
First of all, NDT2 mixed bill included Passe-Partout by Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot, Gods and Dogs by Jiri Kylian and Cacti by Alexander Ekman. In general, they could not have chosen a better programme than this as it was exciting from beginning to end, but I have to admit the last piece by Alexander Ekman was my favourite. It was as funny as brilliantly choreographed.
Then, in June I saw The Prince of the Pagodas by Kenneth MacMillan out of curiosity given that it was one of his ballets that I had never seen before on stage. It was a delight to see Tamara Rojo and Marianela Nunez in the leading roles as half-sisters. It was fun to see Tamara as the evil one and I am becoming a real fan of Marianela and her perfect balanced arabesques.
Finally and most exciting was attending the Metamorphosis Titian 2012 performance at the Royal Opera House by The Royal Ballet. I was considering watching it on the Big Screen at Trafalgar Square but was able to get tickets to see it live and I am so glad I did. It was amazing! This unique collaboration between The Royal Ballet, The National Gallery, seven talented choreographers, three composers and three visual artists is only the beginning of many promising collaborations to come I hope. There were three ballets inspired by Titian: Machina (Brandstrup and McGregor), Trespass (Marriott and Wheeldon) and Diana and Actaeon (Scarlett, Tuckett and Watkins). Edward Watson was brilliant in Machina; he just gets McGregor so well! It was bittersweet to see Tamara Rojo in her last performances as Principal with the company. She will be greatly missed as well as Dame Monica Mason who has been a great visionary as director of The Royal Ballet. Trespass reminded me of why I love Christopher Wheeldon’s work so much. It was the most coherent and beautiful piece of the night. Marriott and Wheeldon’s styles blended so well in this ballet, and I don’t know if it was just me, but I saw plenty of yoga in this piece!
Now, I cannot wait to see the closing ceremony for London 2012, as there will be a surprise for ballet fans! Don’t miss it!
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