'La Bayadere' at The Royal Ballet

The New Year’s resolutions that I’ve set myself this year are all quite self-indulgent. Get regular massages, improve my lasagne recipe, attend an architecture course, are just a few on the list. I’ve tried to theme them all around enjoyment because, let’s face it, a year giving up carbs, alcohol and desserts doesn’t sound too cheery. One of my priority resolutions is to finish the many half-written reviews I have floating around. I’m pretty grateful that I don’t live in Essex but it means my commute into work is short and sweet, providing only a small amount of time for me to write my reviews on my phone before being interrupted by, well, life. Anyway, I hope this is better late than never but if not, I hope to at least take your minds back to these wonderful performances...

As my desperation to watch ballet grew over the summer, I began to tuck in to what was on offer on Sky Arts. Growing up I didn’t have Sky or fancy TV boxes so when I moved in with my boyfriend and he insisted on getting the latest box and TV packages, I didn’t exactly complain. Sky Arts has been a revelation! Not just for dance (where there should actually be a lot more on offer) but for music too. I’ve also weirdly got into those bizarre American docs about Hollywood icons who died too soon. It’s here I wonder if I need to get out more. After searching through the channel I came across the Mariinsky production of ‘La Bayadere’ starring Shklyarov and Tereshkina. My mum had seen the exact same production and cast in St Petersburg a couple of years ago and almost fills with tears every time she talks about it, telling me in intense whispers that it was the best thing she had ever seen. A whisper for a loud New Yorker is not easy so I knew she was being serious. I soaked up every minute of the performance from my couch and Mum was right, what an incredible display of art. When The Royal Ballet announced they would bring back ‘La Bayadere’ after an unnecessarily long hiatus, I knew it would be difficult to put Shklyarov’s passion and Tereshkina’s beauty to one side. There are always concerns when non-Russian companies perform a classic about how different it might be. Would the Shades be as regimented? Would the technique be as strong? In The Royal Ballet’s case I can confirm they were and perhaps even more so. I thoroughly enjoyed this run of 'La Bayadere' and hope it doesn’t take years to see it again on the Royal Opera House stage.

Akane Takada as Nikiya

I was fortunate enough to see most of the casts during this run and I have to say that all of the Principal roles were danced beautifully. Marianela Nunez was an ethereal Nikiya, Natalia Osipova surprised me with a serene take on it and Sarah Lamb played her with thought and beauty. I have to admit though that Akane Takada has to take the throne for the most wonderful interpretation of the role. Her Nikiya was the best I have ever seen, and that includes Tereshkina on the telly. From the moment her veil is pulled away from her face in the opening scenes, to her final walk up those heavenly stairs, Takada was able to do something else with this role that I have never seen others do. She was the epitome of beauty and grace, technically perfect in every step and radiated elegance throughout. Her acting was also wonderful and you really got the sense of the heartbreak this ethereal beauty was having to face. I could have watched her dance for hours. Seeing Takada master one of the great classical roles of the repertoire really does cement her as one of the great classically pure ballerinas at The Royal Ballet. I thought her solo in the wedding scene was heartbreaking and moving, every millimetre of her body showing us how she felt. The way she can move her arms and express so much feeling just through her body is an exceptional gift and she can bring you to tears just by the way her body dances.

Marianela Nunez as Gamzatti and Natalia Osipova as Nikiya

We were also blessed with some fearsome Gamzattis with Nunez and Osipova both also taking it in turns to show their mean streaks on stage. Nunez has to be one of the most evil Gamzattis there is! She seems to relish every moment, sarcastically smiling when faced with Nikiya, manipulating her Solor to the max and slowly regretting it all as she realises she’s lost the fight. I actually think I prefer

her Gamzatti to her Nikiya, it’s that fun to watch. Osipova was also wonderful and not at all what I expected. As she motioned her fists to the floor to show her anger and flashed quite frankly the meanest of faces, it became clear she would be taking this role to some next level diva performance. I found her so deliciously evil and wickedly cruel that she really stole the show for me. Claire Calvert was also superb in the role, nailing her wedding pas de deux with such fire and strength. I’m always so impressed with her Italian fouettes, the height in her jumps and the solid landings she seems to breeze through. Then there was Yasmine Naghdi - another revelation. She made her debut opposite Steven McRae and matched his virtuoso style with confidence. Another cruel Gamzatti but perhaps slightly more cunning and knowing, she oozed drama and manipulation to the highest degree. She was also perfectly balanced against Takada’s ‘Nikiya’ and it was wonderful to watch the two leading classical ballerinas of the Royal’s next generation. It’s here I express again how much I wish to see them both dance with regular partners and of the same classical style. Imagine if Vadim Muntagirov had been their Solor? What a wondrous classical trio that would have been!

Yasmine Naghdi as Gamzatti

Vadim Muntagirov shone as Solor. When doesn’t he to be honest? He was so passionate, and his Solor was one clearly the victim of his social status as he made it obvious that there wasn’t much desire to marry Gamzatti. I think Steven McRae took on a similar approach. He showed off to the palace courtiers during his wedding scenes with Gamzatti but ultimately began to regret every minute as soon as Nikiya made her entrance. And then we come to Cesar Corrales whose injury has prevented us seeing this great star on the stage for some time now. I am glad I got to see his single performance of Solor because it cemented him as one of the next greats at the company. I judged him a little if I’m honest and assumed it would be all fireworks without much depth of character but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Corrales is a good actor. I hope he recovers soon as I’m intrigued to see how he will take on Romeo later in the season. I must also say that the The Royal Ballet’s ‘Shades’ rival that of any other company. Samantha Raine did an incredible job there and they really stole every show. Fantastic lines, all in sync, their serenity and beauty made us all gasp every time.

Natalia Osipova as Nikiya and Cesar Corrales as Solor

Overall this was another great run for The Royal Ballet. I hope we don’t have to wait too long to see 'La Bayadere' return to the stage as it’s such a landmark of classical ballet. It’s also so rich and sumptuous and provides many dancers with some great opportunities. Sky Arts may be great when there’s nothing else, but once in season, it’s just a tube ride away to see one of the greatest ballet companies perform. You can keep your Shkylarov and your Tereshkina, I’m pretty happy with all I’ve got at The Royal Opera House.