- Ticket price:
- From: £22
- Running time:
- 3h
- Audience guidance:
- Suitable for all age 5+
Sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre in four distinctive short works.
Fool’s Paradise, The Two of Us, Us, An American in Paris: four works showing the remarkable choreographic range of The Royal Ballet’s Artistic Associate, Christopher Wheeldon.
Background
Four distinctive ballets from one choreographic imagination.
Christopher Wheeldon’s remarkable career spanning ballet to musical theatre has brought him from London to New York and beyond, and has earned him international acclaim. Recently nominated for an Olivier award for his choreography in MJ The Musical, Wheeldon and his versatile artistry is celebrated in this mixed programme.
Fool’s Paradise
Luminescent and shimmering, Fool’s Paradise marked the first of Wheeldon’s many collaborations with composer Joby Talbot. It was created in 2007 for Wheeldon’s own company, Morphoses, and first performed in 2012 by The Royal Ballet.
Conducted by Koen Kessels
Cast – Akane Takada, William Bracewell, Marianela Nuñez, Lukas B. Brændsrød
The Two of Us
The wistful songs of Joni Mitchell set the scene for the UK premiere of The Two of Us, a duet of deep intimacy and yearning. It was created in 2020 for the Fall for Dance Festival in New York, and had American ballet dancers Sara Mearns and David Hallberg in its original cast.
Conducted by Koen Kessels
Cast -Lauren Cuthbertson, Calvin Richardson, Julia Fordham
Us (Duet)
Us is a tender duet danced by two men. It was created in 2017 for BalletBoyz and is set to Keaton Henson’s music.
Conducted by Koen Kessels
Cast -Matthew Ball, Joseph Sissens
An American in Paris (Ballet)
The Royal Ballet celebrates Wheeldon’s extraordinary success in musical theatre by performing the ballet scene from his Tony Award-winning musical An American in Paris. Set to Gershwin’s jazzy melodies, the musical is inspired by the 1951 film of the same name starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. The musical went on to win four Tony awards. The full musical depicts a blossoming romance between the American G.I. Jerry Mulligan and a French ballerina, Lise Dassin. The ballet excerpt was Wheeldon’s take on one of the most memorable scenes from the film – an extended sequence in which the two central characters dance through Paris.
Conducted by Koen Kessels
Cast – Francesca Hayward, Cesar Corrales
Learn more about Wheeldon’s contemporary choreography in our Guide to Contemporary Ballet and Dance.
Creatives:
Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
Conductor: Koen Kessels
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Music:
Joby Talbot
Joni Mitchell
Keaton Henson
George Gershwhin