Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon is revived at Covent Garden as part of continuing celebrations of MacMillan’s profound impact on British ballet, to mark the 25th anniversary of his death. Tonight's opening cast features Francesca Hayward, Federico Bonelli and Alexander Campbell. Production Credits Choreography Kenneth MacMillan Music Jules Massenet Orchestration Martin … [Read more...] about Photo Album: preview of tonight’s opening cast of Manon with Francesca Hayward and Federico Bonelli
Lynn Seymour
Exclusive photo from Royal Opera House archives to remember Kenneth MacMillan
Kenneth MacMillan died of a heart attack on 29 October 1992. It happened during a performance of his 1978 ballet Mayerling. Jeremy Isaacs, then general director of the Royal Opera House, announced his death from the stage after the performance and asked the audience to "rise and bow your heads and leave the theatre in silence". In March of the same year he had … [Read more...] about Exclusive photo from Royal Opera House archives to remember Kenneth MacMillan
Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Merle Park in 1979: Green Park, Hyde Park or Merle Park?
Merle Park, the engine driver’s daughter from Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe), ended up being one of The Royal Ballet’s brightest stars. She says that she first realised she’d become famous when she heard a question on a quiz game on the radio: “Which is the odd name out: Green Park, Hyde Park or Merle Park?” I thought, Goodness, I must have arrived! In 1979, she was contemplating … [Read more...] about Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Merle Park in 1979: Green Park, Hyde Park or Merle Park?
Natalia Osipova is Anastasia – a photo gallery with The Royal Ballet
Last night the curtain at The Royal Opera House went up on Kenneth MacMillan's Anastasia, with Natalia Osipova in the title role. One of MacMillan’s first creative acts on becoming Director of The Royal Ballet was to adapt Anastasia into a three-act, full-length work, his first for the Company since Romeo and Juliet. He had created a one-act version for Deutsche Oper Ballet … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova is Anastasia – a photo gallery with The Royal Ballet
50th Anniversary of MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet
The Royal Ballet 2015/16 Season opens this September with the return of Kenneth MacMillan’s landmark Romeo and Juliet, celebrating 50 years since its première at the Royal Opera House in 1965. It will be relayed live to cinemas on Tuesday 22 September 2015. Originally created on Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable, it was, of course, Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev who … [Read more...] about 50th Anniversary of MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet
Royal Ballet Season 2015 – 2016 with 4 World Premières
Four World Premières feature in the line-up for the Royal Ballet's 2015 - 2016 Season and, for the first time, all three of The Royal Ballet's associated choreographers present new works for the main stage. Liam Scarlett will choreograph his first full-length ballet for Covent Garden's main stage based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet Season 2015 – 2016 with 4 World Premières
The Royal Ballet celebrates founding choreographer Frederick Ashton
From 18 October until 12 November The Royal Ballet will present a glorious mixed programme of four of Frederick Ashton’s finest ballets, celebrating not only his vast and impressive body of work but also the distinctive English balletic style he shaped. Frederick Ashton was the founding choreographer of The Royal Ballet and is now widely regarded as one of the world’s … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet celebrates founding choreographer Frederick Ashton
Evan McKie answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? In the womb. Why did you start dancing? I will probably never know the answer to that. I just know why I keep doing it. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Rudolph, Pina, Kazuo Ohno, Gregory Hines, Erik Bruhn , Karen Kain, Evelyn Hart, Robert Tewsley, Lynn Seymour, Roberto Bolle, Shirley Maclaine, Ulyana Lopatkina, Margot … [Read more...] about Evan McKie answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Rebecca Caine answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? As a professional at 19 thanks to being chucked out of the Guildhall. I always sang as a child. Why did you start singing? I simply loved it. I grew up with no tv and only classical music played at home. My parents were wonderful at taking us to opera. I saw Sutherland, Price, Gobbi and so on at a very young age. I decided to be a … [Read more...] about Rebecca Caine answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Paul Chalmer answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? Age 6, then National Ballet School, Toronto, age 9. Why did you start dancing? Saw ballet on TV. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Nureyev. Which dancer do you most admire? Anthony Dowell. What’s your favourite role? Onegin by John Cranko. What role have you never played but would like to? Des Grieux in Manon by … [Read more...] about Paul Chalmer answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition