Royal Ballet and Opera double bill pairing Jerome Robbins's 'Dances at a Gathering' and Kenneth MacMillan's 'Song of the Earth'.
The Royal Ballet and Opera are bringing Visionaries: Robbins and MacMillan to the Royal Opera House on Bow Street from 9 to 28 November, a double bill that pairs two of the 20th century's most influential choreographers in one evening. It's a stark contrast of two very different ways of looking at people, and seeing them back-to-back is the whole point.
The first half is Jerome Robbins's Dances at a Gathering (1969), a series of abstract, characterful dances set to Fryderyk Chopin's piano melodies. It's built on fleeting moments of human connection, full of spontaneity and warmth, and it entered The Royal Ballet's repertory in October 1970 when Kenneth MacMillan was Director of the Company. The second half is MacMillan's Song of the Earth (1965), a work of sculptural beauty that draws on Gustav Mahler's symphonic song cycle Das Lied von der Erde and ancient Chinese poetry to explore mortality, impermanence and emotional transformation. One is light and conversational, the other heavy and meditative.
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Between them, they run for around two hours and 40 minutes, including one interval. It's open to audiences of all ages, though children under five aren't permitted. Performances are at 7:30 PM on Mondays and Thursdays, with a double-header on Saturday 28 November at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Tickets range from £7 to £153, with the lower end being young RBO prices for selected performances.
Date
9 November – 28 November
19:30
Location
Royal Opera House, Main StagePrice
Paid
Recommended Age
+14 years
