English National Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty

Music by Tchaikovsky

English National Ballet

Opera House, Manchester

28 November 2012

This marvellous production of the classic ballet clocked in at close to three hours of well-nigh perfect dance.

The two leads, Tamara Rojo in the role of Princess Aurora and Vadim Muntagirov as Prince Desire, are spectacular dancers; and one only realised how good – how breathtakingly good – a dancer Muntagirov is during the third and final act.  His solo was wonderful.  They all – all of the troupe – pull their weight, mind.  And they have to, for the intricacy and variety and, yes, let us be in no doubt about it, the sheer technical difficulty of Marius Petipa’s choreography demands it.

There is a clue here, too, as to why the ballet has stood the test of time: for there is so much here, an embarrassment of rich delights, to savour and enjoy.  Be in no doubt, English National Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty will awaken and revitalise all your senses.

The Sleeping Beauty is at the Opera House until 1 December then tours the UK up until March 2013.  Details of future tour dates can be found here.

Strictly Gershwin @ the Palace

Strictly Gershwin

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

English National Ballet

Palace Theatre, 12 October 2011

Never mind ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, this was a rhapsodic show in celebration of the Gershwin brothers.

We were given wonderful performances of many of their songs, among the highlights being ‘The Man I Love’, a heartfelt rendition by Sarah Fuller, and ‘Someone to Watch over Me’,  tenderly delivered by Hannah Richmond.  The spectacle of the dance also engaged one’s attention and there were many happy moments when one saw the two working together in perfect harmony.  A case in point being the pageant that occurred on stage while the score of ‘An American in Paris’ played.  It was plenty special.

But what caught the eye most was the tango in the second act, this dance accompanying ‘Summertime’, that curiously unsettling song.  Another case of ‘a ballerina stole my soul, broke my heart and torpedoed my weak flesh’, I’m afraid.  Her name was Daria Klimentova.  Saints would be tempted to sin, such a sensual ballerina is she.  They’d happily can their canonisation, let it go all to hell.

You can be assured of a splendid evening’s entertainment when you go to see this show.  And watch out for the song (you know the one) that rhymes Pollyannas with bananas.

Strictly Gershwin is playing at the Palace Theatre until 15 October and then tours the UK.  Details here.