This Is London 23 September 2016

12
CARLOS ACOSTA – THE CLASSICAL
FAREWELL
Carlos Acosta bids farewell to
classical ballet with his final
performances at the Royal Albert Hall
from 3-7 October. The Classical Farewell
celebrates highlights from Acosta’s
career which led him to become the
most famous male dancer of his
generation and marks the final time for
audiences to watch the ballet superstar
dance classical works.
The production follows the popular
format of his 2006 show Carlos Acosta
with Guests of The Royal Ballet, for
which he won an Olivier Award, and
A Classical Selection which was
performed at London Coliseum in
December 2015 to critical acclaim.
The farewell production includes a
number of the most famous pas de deux
from the classical and neo-classical
canon. The programme features Acosta
dancing classical works, including
Winter Dreams, Mayerling and Requiem
by one of the greatest ballet
choreographers of the 20th century
Kenneth MacMillan, George Balanchine’s
story about the Greek God Apollo,
Marius Petipa's Don Quixote and
Memoria by Rambert’s Miguel Altunaga.
Also part of the evening’s programme
is an extract from George Blanchine’s
Rubies set to score by Stravinsky
alongside an extract from one of
Frederick Ashton’s last works, the
playful, romantic, and elegant Rhapsody.
Completing the bill are Raúl Reinoso’s
Anadromous, Manon and Gloria by
Kenneth MacMillan and Michel Fokine’s
Scheherazade and solo Dying Swan.
Acosta has thrilled audiences
throughout the world with his breathtaking
performances, including principal roles in
many ballets in the classical repertoire.
For The Classical Farewell Acosta has put
together a programme presenting some of
his favourite pieces from the classical
repertoire for the final time. Acosta will be
joined on stage by some of his closest
contemporaries from The Royal Ballet.
The programme features Yuhui Choe,
Sarah Lamb, Laura Morera, Marianela
Nuñez and Valentino Zucchetti alongside
Cuban dancers Gabriela Lugo and Luis
Valle.
The evening’s programme is
accompanied by a live orchestra
conducted by Paul Murphy and features
Pegasus Choir, one of London’s most
accomplished chamber choirs. Pegasus
has previously performed with Acosta in
productions at the London Coliseum and
the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Acosta trained at the National Ballet
School of Cuba and won the Gold Medal
at the Prix de Lausanne (1990). He was a
principal with English National Ballet
(1991–2), danced with National Ballet of
Cuba under Alicia Alonso (1992–3) and
was a principal with Houston Ballet under
Ben Stevenson (1993–8). He joined The
Royal Ballet in 1998 and became a
Principal Guest Artist in 2003. Acosta has
frequently appeared worldwide with
companies including American Ballet
Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, Kirov, Bolshoi
and Australian Ballet.
WEST END CASTING ANNOUNCED
FOR AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
Full casting has been announced for
Christopher Wheeldon’s stunning
reinvention of the Oscar® winning film,
that starred Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron.
An American in Paris features the sublime
music and lyrics of George Gershwin and
Ira Gershwin and a new book by Craig
Lucas. Directly following celebrated
engagements in Paris and New York, this
critically acclaimed and multi awardwinning
new musical bursts into life in the
West End from 4 March 2017.
An American in Paris features many
of George and Ira Gershwin’s most
iconic songs including I Got Rhythm,
‘S Wonderful, and They Can't Take That
Away from Me, together with George
Gershwin’s sweeping compositions
including ‘Concerto in F’ and ‘An
American in Paris’.
Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope in
An American in Paris. Original
Broadway Cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy.
Jerry Mulligan is an American GI
striving to make it as a painter in a city
suddenly bursting with hope and
possibility. Following a chance
encounter with a beautiful young dancer
named Lise, the streets of Paris become
the backdrop to a sensuous, modern
romance of art, friendship and love in
the aftermath of war.
Further information available at
AnAmericanInParisTheMusical.co.uk
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e