The Royal Ballet are set to perform a programme of one act ballets by Frederick Ashton, the Company’s founding choreographer at the Royal Opera House from June.
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From the 2nd to the 10th June, the Royal Ballet will present The Dream / Symphonic Variations / Marguerite and Armand.
This triple programme of works will see Marguerite and Armand performed by Royal Ballet Principals Zenaida Yanowsky, Natalia Osipova and Federico Bonelli with guest performances by Roberto Bolle, Sergei Polunin and Alessandra Ferri.
Other Royal Ballet principles performing in the triple programme of works include Alexander Campbell, Lauren Cuthbertson, Sarah Lamb, Steven McRae, Vadim Muntagirov, Laura Morera and Marianela Nuñez. The programme will also see exciting role debuts in The Dream by Francesca Hayward as Titania and Alexander Campbell andMarcelino Sambé as Oberon.
Talking about the news of the casting, Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet said: “Frederick Ashton created the distinctive English balletic style so treasured by The Royal Ballet. These one-act masterpieces demonstrate his impressive talent and legacy and I’m especially delighted that Alessandra Ferri, Roberto Bolle and Sergei Polunin return to guest with The Royal Ballet alongside our wonderful Principals in what promises to be a series of very special performances.”
The Dream was created in 1964 to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, with Ashton distilling the play into one act and casting Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley, as Oberon and Titania – the start of a celebrated partnership.For this revival, Sarah Lamb and Steven McRae will perform the roles of Titania and Oberon at opening night and at the live cinema relay, while also featuring debuts from Francesca Hayward, dancing with Marcelino Sambé, and Alexander Campbell, paired with Laura Morera.
Considered to be one of Ashton’s finest pieces, Symphonic Variations was the first piece that he created for the company after they took residence in the Royal Opera House after the war in 1946 and features music by César Franc. The ballet will be led in this revival by Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov, who feature in the live cinema relay, and Lauren Cuthbertson and Reece Clarke.
The Dream / Symphonic Variations / Marguerite and Armand will be performed at the Royal Opera House from the 2nd to the 10th June. To book tickets visit: Ticketmaster.co.uk , Discount Theatre.com, Love Theatre.com, Theatre People.com and UK Tickets.co.uk.