Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Rhapsody, ballet en 1 acte

André Messager (1853-1929)
Les Deux Pigeons, ballet en 2 actes (arr. J. Lanchbery)

Natalia Osipova
Steven Mcrae
Orchestre du Royal Opera House
Barry Wordsworth, direction
Frederick Ashton, chorégraphie (Rhapsody)
Lauren Cuthbertson
Vadim Muntagirov
Laura Morera
Ryoichi Hirano
Orchestre du Royal Opera House
Barry Wordsworth, direction
Frederick Ashton, chorégraphie (Les deux pigeons)

Two Frederick Ashton ballets in one exquisite evening performance. Principals Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae dance Ashton's Rhapsody, created for The Royal Ballet in 1980 by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lesley Collier, with spectacular choreography to suit the dancers' star reputations. Lauren Cuthbertson and Vadim Muntagirov lead a charismatic cast in Ashton's poignant and heart-warming reflection on Love, The Two Pigeons, based on an old French folk tale and first performed on Valentine's Day 1961. These two ballets by the Company's Founder Choreographer capture The Royal Ballet's famous skill and distinctive style. Barry Wordsworth conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in the rapturous Rachmaninoff and Messager scores.