United Kingdom Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Koen Kessels (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ross MacGibbon) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 3.2.2024. (JPr)
Ballet and Dance Reviews
All ballet reviews
The music of La Strada, the visual inventiveness, and Alina Cojocaru hold the audience’s attention
United Kingdom Natalia Horečná’s La Strada: ACWorkroom Ltd, Sadler’s Wells, London, 25.1.2024. (JO’D)
Seen in cinemas: Dutch National Ballet’s Giselle with Olga Smirnova is conceived on a grand scale
Netherlands Dutch National Ballet’s Giselle: Dancers of Dutch National Ballet, Dutch Ballet Orchestra / Ermanno Florio (conductor). Filmed (directed by Isabelle Julien) at the Dutch National Opera & Ballet. Amsterdam, on 26 and 29.10.2023 and released worldwide in cinemas only from 21.1.2024. (JPr)
English National Ballet’s must-see Giselle revival will give you a touch of the Wilis
United Kingdom English National Ballet’s Giselle: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (principal guest conductor). London Coliseum, London. 11.1.2024. (JPr)
The gender mystery element makes Scottish Ballet’s Cinders! fresh and surprising
United Kingdom Cinders!: Dancers of Scottish Ballet, Scottish Ballet Orchestra / Wolfgang Heinz (conductor). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 5.1.2024. (SRT)
Alexei Ratmansky reinvigorates and re-choreographs Coppélia for La Scala Ballet
Italy Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia: Dancers of La Scala Ballet, Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Paul Connelly (conductor). Broadcast (directed by Stefania Grimaldi) from La Scala, Milan, 17.12.2023. (JPr)
The Royal Ballet’s cosily familiar The Nutcracker returns to welcome in Christmas yet again
United Kingdom Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Schola Cantorum of The London Oratory School, London Oratory Junior Choir (director: Charles Cole), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Andrew Litton (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Peter Jones) for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 12.12.2023 and seen at Everyman Chelmsford, Essex, 18.12.2023. (JPr)
ENB’s Nutcracker has changed with the times but is no less magical
United Kingdom English National Ballet’s Nutcracker: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Daniel Richardson (guest conductor). London Coliseum, 14.12.2023. (JO’D)