Scene from: The Prince of the Pagodas
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Conductor: Ashley Lawrence
Sir Kenneth MacMillan's glorious version of the fairy-tale ballet The Prince of the Pagodas for The Royal Ballet provides a fascinating and magnificent spectacle of classical dance on the grandest scale.
Aided by Colin Thubron's simplified scenario, MacMillan reinforces John Cranko's original 1957 story and Benjamin Britten's evocative and only ballet score, to produce complex and imaginative choreography that necessitates the highest emotional and physical commitment from the full company of The Royal Ballet.
The production is further enhanced by the exciting and stylish designs of Nicholas Georgiadis which define the essential Englishness of Britten's music by establishing an Elizabethan ambience. These changes, together with fairy-tale references ranging from "Beauty and the Beast" to "Cinderella", combine to assert a strong central theme that runs through the production - that of a young adolescent girl searching for her true identity.
Darcey Bussell, dramatically cast by MacMillan for the leading role as Princess Rose, produces a dazzling performance which confirms her as one of the most sensational dancers to have emerged from The Royal Ballet for many years.
"The principlal players are magnificent. A grand achievement."
FINANCIAL TIMES
Cast: The Prince - Jonathan Cope, Princess Rose - Darcey Bussell, Princess Epine - Fiona Chadwick, The Emperor - Anthony Dowell, The Fool - Simon Rice, The King of the North - Antony Dowson, The King of the South - Ashley Page, The King of the East - Bruce Sansom, The King of the West - Mark Silver.
Out of Line is a bonus feature, a documentary portrait of Kenneth MacMillan with extracts from many of his ballets including The Burrow, Romeo & Juliet, Gloria, Manon and The Prince of the Pagodas.
Catalogue: 9031738262