I hope you have enjoyed, or still are enjoying, World Ballet Day 2020. During the long segment from The Royal Ballet you will have seen Marianela Nuñez and Yasmine Naghdi during class and in rehearsal. Lauren Cuthbertson is in the last stages of her pregnancy so this year wasn't present as she chose probably the best time in the history of the company to take time off. … [Read more...] about Interviews with 3 Royal Ballet principals: Nuñez, Cuthbertson, Naghdi
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[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage
The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, says about lockdown, I needed [the dancers] as much as they probably needed me. I think we have managed to keep the company spirit. Of course, we have missed each other, but I don’t think it’s naive to say that through it all, the Zoom classes, the Pilates, the daily updates, we’ve constantly made sure we’re all in it together. It … [Read more...] about [Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage
Nureyev on staging the “ballet of ballets” The Sleeping Beauty
Rudolf Nureyev first staged Sleeping Beauty at La Scala in Milan. On 22 September 1966, the curtain went up on La Bella addormentata nel bosco with sets and costumes by Nicholas Georgiadis, Nureyev was Prince Florimund and Aurora was Carla Fracci. In 1989, Nureyev said, When I was first learning to dance in Ufa, my ballet master, who had belonged to the Kirov ballet, used … [Read more...] about Nureyev on staging the “ballet of ballets” The Sleeping Beauty
[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi: a time to reflect
I’ve interviewed The Royal Ballet’s principal ballerina Yasmine Naghdi several times over the past five years. The first time, she was a soloist and preparing to debut as Juliet with Matthew Ball as Romeo. The last time was 18-months ago, a few months after her debut in Swan Lake, a role she was scheduled to reprise this spring, but then The Royal Opera House closed its … [Read more...] about [Interview] The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi: a time to reflect
In conversation with Marianela Nuñez
The Royal Ballet’s Argentinian principal dancer, Marianela Nuñez, is in lockdown in Buenos Aires. She went there to be near her family and partner, because now home, for Nela, is London, which also happens to be home to her beloved company at The Royal Opera House. We caught up via Skype in June: I was in my office in Milan, and Nela was 11,000 km away, sitting against an … [Read more...] about In conversation with Marianela Nuñez
[Interview] Meet Nikisha Fogo, San Francisco Ballet’s new Principal Dancer
Swedish ballerina Nikisha Fogo will soon take up a new position in a new company when she becomes a principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet. After seven years with the Vienna State Ballet, passing through the ranks from the corps de ballet to the company's highest rank, first soloist, director Manuel Legris' decision to leave the company after ten years (he will take over at … [Read more...] about [Interview] Meet Nikisha Fogo, San Francisco Ballet’s new Principal Dancer
Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Lauren Cuthbertson – so much passion
On 14 March 2020, The Royal Ballet’s principal dancer Lauren Cuthbertson was dancing Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. A rare honour. She was partnered by former Royal Ballet dancer and Mariinsky principal dancer Xander Parish and cheered on by her mother, her boyfriend and his parents. Two days later, they were returning to London on the … [Read more...] about Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Lauren Cuthbertson – so much passion
Riccardo Chailly on life in the time of the coronavirus
My wife and I have spent our lives travelling and usually we've returned home exhausted by the weight of our bags full of books and music we'd bought. I could only glance at part of this vast library as there was never enough time available. Now we have an unexpected oasis of calm in our family. It gives time to reflect and mature. Maturity is not something that comes … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly on life in the time of the coronavirus
Alessandra Ferri: The art of becoming a couple is the gamble of a lifetime
Alessandra Ferri has been interpreting Eleonora Duse in John Neumeier’s ballet Duse, most recently in Venice at the beginning of February. Does she feel she has anything in common with Italy’s most famous 19th-century actress? Much, starting with my approach to a work, stripping away the façades that for me have no part in an art that is an internal journey. You must know … [Read more...] about Alessandra Ferri: The art of becoming a couple is the gamble of a lifetime
Katia Ricciarelli at 74 returns to the opera stage and talks about being a diva
At 74, after many years away from the stage, and often from singing (the wear and tear on her voice means that even singing a popular song on TV can lead to surprising results), Katia Ricciarelli returns to opera in Cavalleria Rusticana. It was Cecilia Gasdia, now intendant of Verona’s Arena, who convinced her. It will be paired with Pagliacci, and film director Gabriele … [Read more...] about Katia Ricciarelli at 74 returns to the opera stage and talks about being a diva