2013/14 Royal Ballet and Dance Season announced

[eliamato]

Don Quixote New

• Marius Petipa
• Music: Ludwig Minkus arranged by Martin Yates
• Carlos Acosta, Royal Ballet Principal Guest Artist and one of the finest dancers of his generation, presents a new production of this exuberant tale of friendship, love and loyalty.
• 30† September at 7.30pm
• 5 (mat) | 5 (eve) | 6 (mat) | 8 | 11 | 15 | 16x | 18 | 25 | 26 October
• 2 (mat) | 2 (eve) | 6 November

† Special gala performance
x Live cinema

Romeo and Juliet

• Kenneth MacMillan
• Music: Sergey Prokofiev
• A tragic tale of star-crossed lovers: Kenneth MacMillan’s poignant ballet is a 20th-century classic.
• 19 | 22 | 23 | 30 October
• 14 | 16 (mat) | 16 (eve) | 21 | 22 | 26 (mat) | 26 (eve) | 28 November
• 3 | 7 December

 

Chroma / David Dawson New / The Rite of Spring

• Wayne McGregor / David Dawson / Kenneth MacMillan
• Music: Joby Talbot / Greg Haines / Igor Stravinsky
• One hundred years of visionary ballet – from Stravinsky’s 20th-century masterpiece to innovative choreography by Wayne McGregor and David Dawson.
• 9 | 13 | 19 | 20 | 23 (mat) | 23 (eve) November

 

New Petronio / Noces / Virtual Descent (National Dance Company of Wales, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Stephen Petronio / Angelin Preljocaj / Eleesha Drennan
• Music: Atticus Ross / Igor Stravinsky / Mark Bowden
• The National Dance Company of Wales makes its first visit to the Linbury Studio Theatre with a mixed programme celebrating its 30th anniversary.
• 30 | 31 October
• 1 November

 

MacBeth (De Oscuro, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Eddie Ladd
• Music: Conor Linehan
• Cardiff-based theatre company De Oscuro brings a radical reinvention of Shakespeare’s tragic tale to Covent Garden.
• 12 | 13 November

 

Eden / Pictures We Make (Company Chameleon, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Gemma Nixon and Jonathan Goddard/Anthony Missen and Kevin Edward Turner
• Music: John Matthias/Miguel Marin
• The London premiere of works by acclaimed choreographic duo Gemma Nixon and Jonathan Goddard, and Company Chameleon founders Anthony Missen and Kevin Edward Turner.
• 15 | 16 November

 

Repetition of Change / Tender Crazy Love / Ki / All Alight (Phoenix Dance Theatre, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Sharon Watson / Douglas Thorpe / Jose Agudo / Richard Alston
• A boldly inventive new programme from leading contemporary dance company Phoenix Dance Theatre.
• 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 November

 

The Nutcracker

• Peter Wright after Lev Ivanov
• Music: Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
• A young girl’s enchanted present leads her on a wonderful adventure in this classic ballet, accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s glittering score.
• 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 12† | 14 (mat) | 14 (eve) | 20 (mat) | 20 (eve) | 23 | 24 (mat) | 27 (mat) | 27 (eve) | 31 (mat) | 31 (eve) December
• 2 (mat) | 2 (eve) | 4 (mat) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 January
• †Live cinema

 

Jewels

• George Balanchine
• Music: Gabriel Fauré (Emeralds), Igor Stravinsky (Rubies), Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (Diamonds)
• George Balanchine’s evocation of the sparkle of emeralds, rubies and diamonds is a ballet gem in its own right.
• 17 | 21 (mat) | 28 | 30 (mat) | 30 (eve) December
• 7 January

 

London International Mime Festival (Linbury Studio Theatre)

• The annual celebration of visual theatre returns, with spectacular, cutting-edge and inspiring performances.
• 9-11 January; 30-31 January

 

Hansel and Gretel (Linbury Studio Theatre)

• Liam Scarlett
• Artist-in-Residence Liam Scarlett’s first full-length work for The Royal Ballet – a dark, adult take on a classic fairytale.
• January

 

Giselle

• Marius Petipa after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot
• Music: Adolphe Adam revised by John Horovitz
• The greatest of all Romantic ballets – Marius Petipa’s classic work is a dramatic story of betrayal, supernatural spirits and love that transcends death.
• 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 25 (mat) | 25 (eve) | 27† | 30 (mat) | 30 (eve)
• 1 (mat) | 5 | 6 | 10 February
• † Live cinema

 

Rhapsody / Wayne McGregor New / Gloria

• Frederick Ashton / Wayne McGregor / Kenneth MacMillan
• Music: Sergey Rachmaninoff / J.S. Bach / Francis Poulenc
• A celebration of three defining choreographers of The Royal Ballet: Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan and Wayne McGregor.
• 7 | 8 (mat) | 8 (eve) | 11 | 13 | 15 (mat) February

 

Ballet Black (Ballet Black, Linbury Studio Theatre)

• Programme TBC
• Cassa Pancho’s company of black and Asian classically trained dancers returns to the Linbury Studio Theatre with a dynamic new programme.
• 26 | 27 | 28 February
• 1 | 3 | 4 March

Young British Dancer of the Year Final 2014 (Linbury Studio Theatre)

• Programme TBC
• A celebration of the best of British emerging dance talent – sixteen finalists vie for the hotly contested award.
• March

 

The Sleeping Beauty

• Marius Petipa
• Music: Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
• Journey with The Royal Ballet to an enchanted world of princesses, fairy godmothers and magic spells in Marius Petipa’s classic ballet.
• 22 (mat) | 22 (eve) | 26 | 27 February;
• 13 | 15 (mat) | 22 (mat) | 22 (eve) | 19† | 21 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 31 March
• 1 | 5 | 8 | 9 April
• †Live cinema

 

The Winter’s Tale New

• Christopher Wheeldon
• Music: Joby Talbot
• The world premiere of a new full-length ballet by Christopher Wheeldon, based on Shakespeare’s enduring tale of love, loss and reconciliation.
• 10 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 26 (mat) | 28† | 29 April at 7.30pm
  1 | 8 May
  †Live cinema

 

Headspace Dance (Headspace Dance, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Programme TBC
• Dancers, creators and producers Christopher Akrill and Charlotte Broom bring a programme of new work by contemporary choreographers to the Linbury Studio Theatre.
• April

Spectrum (bgroup, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Ben Wright
• Music: Jules Maxwell
• Choreographer Ben Wright and his company bgroup present a vivid new work that explores the emotional power of colour.
• May

 

Mayuri Boonham / Alexander Whitley (Royal Ballet Choreographic Affiliates, Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Mayuri Boonham / Alexander Whitely
• A mixed programme from Royal Ballet Choreographic Affiliate Mayuri Boonham, featuring a newly commissioned piece in which South Asian dance engages with classical ballet.
• Cutting-edge technology meets thrilling choreography in a mixed programme by Royal Ballet Choreographic Affiliate Alexander Whitley.
• April/May

 

Serenade / Sweet Violets / Danse à Grande Vitesse

• George Balanchine/Liam Scarlett/Christopher Wheeldon
• Music: Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky/ Sergey Rachmaninoff/Michael Nyman
• A mixed programme of exhilarating contrasts, from a dark Victorian melodrama to a celebration of hi-tech modernity.
• 14 | 17 (mat) | 21 | 23 | 24 |26 (mat) | 26 (eve) May

 

The Dream / New Marriott / The Concert

• Frederick Ashton/Alastair Marriott/Jerome Robbins
• Music: Felix Mendelssohn/TBC/Fryderyk Chopin orchestrated by Clare Grundeman
• A world premiere and two comic masterpieces make this a charming evening of exuberant humour and whimsical delight.
• 31 May
• 5 | 6 | 10 | 12 |13 June

 

Draft Works (Linbury Studio Theatre)

• Programme TBC
• Experience choreography in its most elemental form – Royal Ballet and guest dancers perform work in development.
• June

 

The Royal Ballet School (Linbury Studio Theatre and Main Stage)

• Programme TBC
• An exuberant showcase featuring a wide range of heritage and contemporary repertory, performed by students of The Royal Ballet School.
• Linbury: July | Main Stage: 12 July (mat)

 

Springboard (Linbury Studio Theatre)

• Programme TBC
• Compelling work from young professionals at Verve, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and Ballet Central.
• June/July

 

Wendy Whelan: Restless Creature (Linbury Studio Theatre) New

• Wendy Whelan with Kyle Abraham/Joshua Beamish/Brian Brooks/Alejandro Cerrudo
• New York City Ballet Principal Wendy Whelan collaborates with four young choreographers to create a suite of duets.
• Programme TBC
• July

[Sim]

Gosh....this looks like a very interesting and varied season, especially at the Linbury. So pleased to be seeing Serenade again...that and Symphony in C are my favourite Balanchine pieces. I look forward to seeing the castings for all the productions!  Many thanks for posting this up, eliamato.

[Jan McNulty]

Don Q and Winter's Tale sound exciting to me!

[John Mallinson]

Condensed summary here. Link to ROH news item with Kevin O'Hare's introductory video here.

[Marine]

I'm quite excited for the full lenght ballets, 3 of my favourites are on: Don Q, Romeo & Juliet and Giselle. I'm also looking forward to Sweet Violet that I missed last year.

[Beryl H]

Glad to see that Don Quixote will be the Petipa choreography in a new production by Carlos Acosta, should be great, The Winter's Tale sounds exciting too, and Serenade/Sweet Violets/GDV looks a perfect triple bill!

Edited March 13, 2013 by Beryl H

[MrsBBB]

From Bruce's live coverage of the press launch on Twitter we also know that the tour is to Moscow (Bolshoi) and that Johan Kobborg is choreographing the "Four Seasons" ballet in Verdi's Sicilian Vespers (opera co-production with Denmark directed by Herheim). This ballet will feature 4 RB and 4 RDB Principals and a corps of 32.

[bangorballetboy]

From Bruce's live coverage of the press launch on Twitter we also know that the tour is to Moscow (Bolshoi) and that Johan Kobborg is choreographing the "Four Seasons" ballet in Verdi's Sicilian Vespers (opera co-production with Denmark directed by Herheim). This ballet will feature 4 RB and 4 RDB Principals and a corps of 32.

The corps will be made up of dancers from The Royal Ballet Upper School.

[alison]

Well, I raised both eyebrows in surprise at some of the choices - until I realised that most of them were in the Linbury, and from visiting companies!

 

Surprised, and rather disappointed, to see that, despite it being toured this summer, Manon isn't on the list.  Confirmation that the new Wheeldon is The Winter's Tale - wonder how that will sell?  Wondering whether they'll be going back to Chosen Maidens for Rite this time?  Also wondering who, apart from McRae, will be doing Rhapsody, bearing in mind the problems they've had casting it suitably in the past.  Delighted as ever to see The Dream, hopefully without the problems of last year.  Glad to see The Concert back, but disappointed that it's still the only item from my wishlist to feature, so I guess from that point of view it looks as though I shall be no better off under O'Hare than under Mason .

 

Have to say I hadn't particularly expected David Dawson to get a commission for the RB, but well done to him.  I note that they're doing the rounds again of the main ballets in the cinemas, so I'm wondering how many times they'll be able to repeat this before the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in.  I wondered whether the The Dream bill might have been worth taking a risk on.

[chrischris]

I agree Alison. I wish they'd do Manon and Mayerling more regularly and cut back on The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. I know they are the money spinners, but still....

[blackdove]

Delighted to see the return of Sweet Violets and looking forward to seeing Wheeldons Winters Tale.Less enamoured with another boatload of Beauties and Nutcrackers.

[Aruna S]

I was rather hoping for Onegin to return, but am very pleased about The Dream and The Concert. Not so excited about the Beauties, Nuts, Giselles and Romeo and Juliets, all of which are lovely ballets but have been recurring a little too often. 

[toursenlair]

For Giselle, it doesn't actually SAY that the first line of dates is in January, but I assume that is the case?

[toursenlair]

I was rather hoping for Onegin to return, but am very pleased about The Dream and The Concert. Not so excited about the Beauties, Nuts, Giselles and Romeo and Juliets, all of which are lovely ballets but have been recurring a little too often. 

You could pop over to Paris for Onegin.... They're doing it in Feb 2014

[Don Q Fan]

Yipee for a new Don Quixote - I hope it's a traditional version!  And Jewels as well is good, just a pity about the short run and scheduling in December. Like the look of Winters Tale.  Chuffed to see The Concert on offer too I loved this when I saw it in Berlin.  The other full length ballets are predictable cash-cows I guess, but it is still a great selection being shown in the cinema (6) this time which is good.

I agree re Onegin - its such a good ballet it would have been nice to see it again.  Trouble with Paris these days is getting tickets is so hard and you STILL can't select your own seat!

Edited March 13, 2013 by Don Q Fan

[Aruna S]

You could pop over to Paris for Onegin.... They're doing it in Feb 2014

I'm planning to do that, but was  hoping the ROH would put it on because it's so much easier to book than the POB. I am also still hoping to see it in Stuttgart!

Edited March 13, 2013 by afds

[jmhopton]

Living in Lancashire really pleased at 5 cinema broadcasts. At first I groaned when I saw the Nutcracker yet again then realised even with this we are still seeing more broadcasts than ever before. Also really pleased Mr O'Hare is continuing his matinee performances. Most ballets have at least 2 matinees which means I can get home without having the expense of an overnight stay. Would have liked one for the Dream which is one of my favourite ballets and the Concert which I've never seen live but I think I've seen it on a Jerome Robins dvd if it's the one with the pianist on stage and everyone gathering round to listen. I thought it was very funny.

Looking forward to Don Q and Winter's Tale. At least we haven't had to wait another 17 years for a new commissioned ballet! I've said it before; how can a Company like Northern Ballet put on a new full length production every year while RB has to wait years? I know Northern have their own choreographer, but still... Their Great Gatsby sounds really good.

Also intrigued by the idea of Hansel and Gretel. However it is an 'adult take' on a children's story. ENB and Northern Ballet are creating short ballets specifically aimed as 'starters' for small children. Should the Royal Companies not be doing something similar?

My only (small) gripe is that most of the mixed bills have a modern ballet in there. Surely there are many lesser known classical, Ashton or Macmillan short ballets that it would be great to revive and see. It seems ages since the Royal Ballet (or anyone else ) did Les Sylphides. Last year went to Birmingham to see Daphnis and Chloe and Two Pigeons (would love to see the latter again). Also saw Checkmate, Symphonic Variations and Pineapple Poll. Those are the sort of mixed programmes I really like and would make an effort to see.   Joan

[Guest chinafish]

Link here for more info about the season (interview of Kevin O'Hare by the Dancing Times)

[nottsballetlover]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and been scared to post but here goes on this topic! Overall I'm pleased by the 2913/14 ballet season announcement - Mr O'Hare seems to have put together a good mix of classics plus new works. I live in the Midlands so have to travel down to London to see performances so I have to be sure my limited funds are well used! I tend to stick to classics so am pleased to see Romeo and Juliet on the bill as that is my all time favourite. But I'm really excited by the Acosta production of Don Q and also very excited by the new full length ballet Winter's Tale which could be amazing. So they are both on my ticket list. Living way from London I agree with jmhopton above  - really glad matinees are all still there. This is the biggest thing that for me makes going to see ballet at ROH possible as I live outside London.

[alison]

Glad you've overcome your scaredness, nottsballetlover!  Welcome.

[toursenlair]

Just noting that Winter's Tale is a coproduction with the National Ballet of Canada (like Alice).

[aileen]

I'm looking forward to seeing Carlos' Don Q, Giselle and the new Winter's Tale. There are some ballets making up the triple bills which I've not seen before and which I would be interested in seeing but there is at least one other ballet in the bill which I'm not keen to see again. Even as a relative newcomer to ballet, I feel that the programmes offered by the companies, home and visiting, overlap a lot eg two Apollos, two Rites, two Raymondas, two Don Qs, two Bayaderes, two Serenades and two Polyphonias within a year.

[DavidW]

There's certainly some big roles that I'm hoping to see some exciting debuts in this season - I've got a few R&J and Giselle pairings I'd love to see happen! The triple bills all look interesting (especially the Serenade/SV/DGV one) and although I wont be going to see Nutcracker, I understand why O'Hare has scheduled it and appreciate that he's putting on Jewels as a "grown-up" Christmas treat. Not so keen on Sleeping Beauty - would have preferred something like Coppelia or La Fille in its place! 

[loveclassics]

Only 2 Ashton works (The Dream & Rhapsody) and 3 by MacMillan (R&J, Gloria and Rite) but so many new works?  And that sad old warhorse Don Q?  A Winter's Tale looks interesting but apart from that I am not thrilled with the choices on offer.

[eliamato]

Does anyone know when will be communicated the casts of the Autumn Season?

I mean Don Quixote, Romeo&Juliet and Chroma / David Dawson New / The Rite of Spring.

 

Elia

Edited March 24, 2013 by eliamato

[MrsBBB]

About the House for period 1 will be issued in April.

[Ian Macmillan]

In today's Times 2 (as ever, behind a paywall if online), Debra Craine has a long feature on National Ballet of Canada's coming London visit.  So it's mainly about the Ratmansky R&J.  However, confirming Katherine Barber's post 2, above, that the Wheeldon Winter's Tale for the RB next year will be a co-production with NBC, Karen Kain also states that the same artistic team that created the co-produced Alice will be involved in next year's production.  So perhaps we expect a Joby Talbot score, lavish Bob Crowley staging, and lots of projected visual effects?

[toursenlair]

In today's Times 2 (as ever, behind a paywall if online), Debra Craine has a long feature on National Ballet of Canada's coming London visit.  So it's mainly about the Ratmansky R&J.  However, confirming Katherine Barber's post 2, above, that the Wheeldon Winter's Tale for the RB next year will be a co-production with NBC, Karen Kain also states that the same artistic team that created the co-produced Alice will be involved in next year's production.  So perhaps we expect a Joby Talbot score, lavish Bob Crowley staging, and lots of projected visual effects?

definitely a Joby Talbot score.

[Fonty]

Only 2 Ashton works (The Dream & Rhapsody) and 3 by MacMillan (R&J, Gloria and Rite) but so many new works?  And that sad old warhorse Don Q?  A Winter's Tale looks interesting but apart from that I am not thrilled with the choices on offer.

 

Can't say there is anything there that grabs my interest to the extent that I am already putting dates in my diary.  I think we have been asking for RB to do the Two Pigeons for a long time, haven't we?  Is there some rule that RB and BRB cannot perform the same ballets ever? 

 

I agree with Joan above, that triple bills with something like Symphonic Variations to balance  out the "modern" pieces with angular choreography and scratchy musical scores would be more to my liking.   I appreciate they are doing The Dream and Gloria, both wonderful ballets, but the latter I have seen so many times I feel I could dance it myself!  And I was disappointed the last time I saw The Dream.  I can't remember who was dancing, but I felt they were doing it as if it had been choreographed by MacMillan, not Ashton. 

 

And the RB never used to do the Nutcracker, because everyone else was doing it.  Is there really nothing else that would attract the once a year, Christmas treat audience? 

Edited March 28, 2013 by Fonteyn22

[zxDaveM]

Can't say there is anything there that grabs my interest to the extent that I am already putting dates in my diary.  I think we have been asking for RB to do the Two Pigeons for a long time, haven't we?  Is there some rule that RB and BRB cannot perform the same ballets ever? 

 

And the RB never used to do the Nutcracker, because everyone else was doing it.  Is there really nothing else that would attract the once a year, Christmas treat audience? 

 

I'd say, that after the way its sold, 'Alice' is on its way to being a family. Christmas fave.

 

Also, for me anyway - lots to enjoy. Giselle, I'll be there for every one I can get to; same for Jewels, same the mixed bills; I'll probably get to a good few Nutcrackers as I love the last 2/3rds; will look forward to a bit of a romp at a couple of DQ's, a couple of Beauty's, maybe a couple of R&Js (depending on casting). Actually, casting will probably play a big part in how many I see of the 'warhorses' - especially if the young emerging dancers I particularly like, get a shout

[alison]

Is there some rule that RB and BRB cannot perform the same ballets ever? 

 

No, especially since BRB next season will be performing a bill including both Tombeaux and "Still Life" at the Penguin Cafe (both originally created on the RB).  And they overlap with Symphonic Variations, Daphnis and Chloe, Scènes de Ballet, R&J, to name just a few.

 

 

And I was disappointed the last time I saw The Dream. 

 

So was I.  Hoping for better things this time.

 

 

And the RB never used to do the Nutcracker, because everyone else was doing it.  Is there really nothing else that would attract the once a year, Christmas treat audience? 

 

Seems to me it's really only since the House reopened that it's been performed as often as it is now.

[Fonty]

Alison, I was typing quite quickly when I made the comment about the respective repertoirs of BRB and RB, and should have been a bit more specific.  Of course they both perform the big block busters such as R & J, but I was thinking more of the shorter works by both Ashton and MacMillan. 

 

Symphonic Variations is one of my favourites, but I am struggling to remember the last time I saw it at Covent Garden.  I think it was with Cojocaru when she was still in the Corps.  I was away for a few years, so they have performed it many times since then, of course.  

 

Likewise The Two Pigeons.  When was the last time it was on at Covent Garden?  I've never seen it done there at all. 

 

I appreciate that both companies do Daphnis and Chloe, Scenes de Ballet and so on, but it is my perception, (and of course I may be wrong) that BRB perform the shorter Ashton ballets more regularly then RB.

 

And consequently perform them much better IMO.

. 

[Bluebird]

Alison, I was typing quite quickly when I made the comment about the respective repertoirs of BRB and RB, and should have been a bit more specific.  Of course they both perform the big block busters such as R & J, but I was thinking more of the shorter works by both Ashton and MacMillan. 

 

Symphonic Variations is one of my favourites, but I am struggling to remember the last time I saw it at Covent Garden.  I think it was with Cojocaru when she was still in the Corps.  I was away for a few years, so they have performed it many times since then, of course.  

 

Likewise The Two Pigeons.  When was the last time it was on at Covent Garden?  I've never seen it done there at all. 

 

 

I've just checked the Performance Database and it hasn't been done since 1985 (and was only performed once in that year!)

http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/production.aspx?production=13022&row=1

 

Edited to point out that the 1985 performance can only have been an excerpt as it was the seventh item in a mixed bill. 

Edited April 2, 2013 by Bluebird