Alastair Marriott's new work Connectome gets its world première as the centrepiece of the final programme of the Royal Ballet Season. It is sandwiched between two light-hearted classics: Ashton's The Dream and Robbin's The Concert.
Connectome is Marriott's first commission for The Royal Ballet since Trespass, part of Monica Mason's farewell project Titian 2012. The name of the work describes the comprehensive map of the neural connections in the brain – a ‘wiring diagram'.
Music is by Avro Pärt whose popularity has grown enormously since Christopher Wheeldon used his music for his highly suggestive short piece After the Rain. Marriott's work uses Pärt's Lord's Prayer sung by a boy soprano. Designer Es Devlin is working for the first time with The Royal Ballet, and a , quote – immersive installation – unquote, is by lighting designer Bruno Poet. Natalia Osipova, Steven McRae and Edward Watson lead the cast.
Natalia Osipova will be making her début as Titania in Ashton's The Dream.
BOX OFFICE: 0207 304 4000 – www.roh.org.uk
CASTING
THE DREAM
31 May at 7pm, 5 June at 7.30pm
Titania – Roberta Marquez
Oberon – Steven McRae
6 and 12 June at 7.30pm
Titania – Natalia Osipova*
Oberon – Matthew Golding*
10 and 13 June at 7.30pm
Titania – Laura Morera*
Oberon – Federico Bonelli*
CONNECTOME
31 May at 7pm, 5, 10, 13 June at 7.30pm
Natalia Osipova*
Steven McRae*
Edward Watson*
6 and 12 June at 7.30pm
Sarah Lamb*
Alexander Campbell*
Ricardo Cervera*
THE CONCERT
All performances
Ballerina – Lauren Cuthbertson *
Wife – Laura Morera*
Husband – Bennet Gartside*
Shy Boy – James Wilkie*
*Debut performance
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
