Competition: Win Swan Lake tickets
Tell us your favourite production from the 2011/12 season for a chance to win.
The 2011/12 season has been an exciting one for The Royal Ballet. Monica Mason’s final season as Director offered a number of new works and old favourites.
To mark the end of The Royal Ballet’s season – and encourage you to tell us what you think - we’re offering the chance to win a pair of tickets to Swan Lake. All you have to do is tell us which was your favourite production from the 2011/12 season and why. To enter, leave a comment here or tweet us with the hashtag #RoyalBalletReview.
Please note this competition is now closed. Congratulations to Sophie Ibbs who won the tickets.
The productions performed by The Royal Ballet during the 2011/12 season were:
- Jewels
- Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem
- The Sleeping Beauty
- Manon
- Asphodel Meadows/Enigma Variations/Gloria
- The Nutcracker
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Dream/Song of the Earth
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
- Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life
- La fille mal gardée
- Ballo della Regina/La Sylphide
- The Prince of the Pagodas
- Birthday Offering/A Month in the Country/Les noces
- Metamorphosis: Titian 2012.
We’ll be running a similar competition for The Royal Opera’s 2011/12 season later in the week. The winner will be drawn at random on Friday 27 July and entry is open to all ages. The prize is two tickets for the performance of Swan Lake on 12 October 2012. Travel and accommodation costs are not included. Entrants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult when attending a Royal Opera House performance. Tickets are non-transferrable, our decision is final and no alternative prize will be offered. We reserve the right to change prizes and/or end the competition at any time.
I loved the Prince of the Pagodas! So great to see such an amazing revival!
Prince of pagodas
Alice in wonderland was magical, enchanting and very fresh! thank you
Jewels.
I absolutely loved Alice in Wonderland, it was fun, beautiful and fabulous, I loved every minute of it! The music, choreography, costume, set and performances were all spot on!
Personally, my favourite production was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the one I saw the most: Romeo and Juliet. Having the chance to see 5 performances by 4 different world-class casts allowed me to see different interpretations of the eponymous roles, and MacMillan's choreography always shone.
The chance to also see this production at my local cinema in Bath (a week after seeing the same Cuthbertson/Bonelli cast at the Royal Opera House) also allowed me deeper insight into Cuthbertson and Bonelli's performances. Glimpsing different viewpoints than I had seen from the Amphitheatre the week before it was perhaps even more moving in the cinema. In particular the shot of Cuthbertson's face after Romeo leaves her in Act III was heartbreaking, the single tear rolling down her cheek being singularly moving. No wonder the New York Times raved about it! I can't help but urge you to consider a DVD release of this recording, I would buy a copy in a heartbeat!
Outside of Romeo & Juliet I have enjoyed all the productions I have seen with the Royal Ballet (and the Royal Opera) this year. Particularly pleasing were the two bills featuring new works: Sweet Violets and Trespass being the stand-out favourites for myself.
Thanks for a fantastic season and I can't wait for 2012/13.
I can't echo your comment about a DVD of the Cuthbertson/Bonelli Romeo and Juliet strongly enough! It would be a real pleasure to have a record of such a special performance!
The Nutcracker, it made me feel so Christmasy and look forward to Christmas after a tough year. It was the first ballet I’ve seen and the atmosphere was amazing with everyone getting into the spirit. The dancers were so graceful and you could tell a lot of hard work had gone into preparing such an amazing performance. The thing that impressed me the most was the set, it was so intricate and colourful. I can’t wait to go back to the ballet again.
The Nutcracker. I watch it every year in December!
My favorite production was La fille mal gardée. Mostly because it was the same costume design, backdrops etc as I had seen when I watched it the first time as a child.
Great production!
Fave has got to be Romeo & Juliet, athletic, magnetic and above all cinematic. Having said that how really can you choose.. all productions were and are QUALITY.
My favourite production was Romeo & Juliet - I've always loved it and this time I got to share Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta's performance with my sister. It was the first time she'd seen it and she was blown away by the drama and emotion and the incredible performances. I'd love to take her to see Swan Lake next season!
my favourite was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
I think it would be a difficult thing to choose just one production of any Royal Ballet season as the highlight, but Monica Mason's absolute stellar final choices as Director make it even harder!
Some of my very favourite ballets have been shown this year, including Song of the Earth, Manon and Romeo and Juliet. These are ballets at which the Royal Ballet truly excel and, given the company's appreciation and loving care for MacMillan's work, at which, I'm sure, they will continue to excel for years to come!
I'm grateful too to the Royal Ballet for helping me to better appreciate Ashton's work in a way I didn't think possible with moving performances of Marguerite and Armand and A Month in the Country thanks to the great casting choices and the immeasurable skills of the company!
In spite of all the praise I have for the long-established greats of the the Royal Ballet's repertoire, in choosing my favourite production of the season I'm going to have to bear in mind Monica Mason's parting words promoting change and progression as the very stuff that drives the company and makes it great! With that in mind, I think my highlight of the 2011/12 season was the Polyphonia/Sweet Violets/Carbon Life Triple Bill.
Polyphonia, being the 'safe' choice as a ballet already established (or as safe as a ballet can be with a Ligeti score), was beautifully danced every time I saw it and it was great to see younger dancers like Yasmine Naghdi and Beatriz Stix-Brunell giving such assured and technically beautiful performances!
Sweet Violets was such an achievement for Liam Scarlett and the hype surrounding it felt well-deserved. Despite some creases in terms of the clarity of the narrative which I'm sure will be ironed out by the time we next see it, it seemed a very mature offering choreographically speaking. I felt from watching Royal Ballet Live rehearsals that the Company's dancers really seemed to get behind the work too - perhaps it helps to work with 'home-grown' talent from the Company itself?
Carbon Life was a bit of a leap into the unknown. Some had already decided they wouldn't like it before they had seen it (anti-McGregor sentiment, I have found, is rife!) and I will admit to having reservations about the choice of music and costumes, despite liking all of McGregor's previous work. In the end, the ballet blew me away. There was something about the incredible lighting design, McGregor's choreography (as strong, I thought, in ensemble pieces as in his exquisite pas de deux) and the combination of Mark Ronson's live band that I found exhilarating far beyond my expectations. There was something visceral about Carbon Life. Admittedly, it's not necessarily what I will always want to see at the Opera House but, as new material goes in the ballet world, I thought it was a fantastic contribution and a great stepping stone for further new work which falls outside of classical ballet norms.
It would have to be The Nutcracker, after a tough year The Nutcracker helped me to feel Christmasy and look forward to Christmas. The atmosphere was just amazing and the dancers were so graceful. You could tell just how much hard work had gone into the performance. I especially loved the set and the costumes, everything was so colourful and intricate.
With no doubt, the best production of the year was Marguerite et Armand... a pure delight, with Rojo suiting perfectly the role, I can hardly imagine a more intense and convincing performance. Polunin was also perfect on the role.... I can't wait for next season revival
My first visit to the ROH was to watch La fille mal gardée. I absolutely loved it and so did my grand-daughter who has since started to have ballet lessons. Thank-you so much for the "family days" which are so generously supported without which we would not have had the opportunity.
Romeo and Juliet
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was fabulous!
I love Birthday offering and La Sylphide! Tamara Rojo was amazing!
For me Alice in Wonderland was absolutely mesmerising.
Sleeping Beauty was just wonderful and had a very special impact on my daughter who danced one of the fairies in her dance school production.
It has to be Carlos Acosta and Tamara Rojo in Romeo and Juliet. It was just amazing. I was so emotionally drawn into it that I could not speak for an hour after the performance because I was sobbing!
It would be a privilege to take my daughter to Swan Lake, especially to see Carlos Acosta and Natalia Osipova!
It has to be Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It was all so amazing, the choreography, the costumes and the wonderful sets, together with the fabulous music. Such a lovely ballet for a little girl to watch and be encouraged to dance. I adore the Nutcracker, and we also saw Romeo & Juliet again as it's a favourite. Everything the Opera House does is just the creme de la creme. Absolutely wonderful. To also see Swan Lake again would be fantastic.
La fille mal gardée! My very first time to the ballet in London after giving up studying ballet donkey years ago. Studied from 3 till 16 years old. Watching the dancers made me remember why I wanted to learn ballet in the first place. Amazing memories :)))
My favourite production was Marguerite and Armand.
The Sleeping Beauty!
For me, the deliciously alluring and choreographically sumptuous Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 is experimental as well as delicate, groundbreaking as well as classical. Such an inspiring new work! Hope it will be performed again.
Jewels was my favourite last season. I saw it the night before I left the country for 3 months and it was definitely the perfect way to spent my last night in England.
Alice in Wonderful - an amazing production - great costumes, music and of course, DANCE!!! simply wonderful!!!
My favourite production from the 2011/2012 season was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The stage design was incredible and Lauren Cuthbertson was amazing as Alice.
Tough choice but I really enjoyed the Birthday Offering triple bill. I could feel the ghosts of Ashton and the great 7 ballerinas all around me in the stalls. Month in the Country brought the usual copious tears (I am 67, after all) and Les Noces was simply magic, with the dancers exhibiting corps work at its excellent best.
Alice's adventures in Wonderland. Such fun, colour, magical effects and hypnotic orchestration, And it was my special birthday treat so it is a wonderful memory of the day. Beatriz Stix- Brunell was a delight to watch.
I went to see Manon last year for my birthday and really enjoyed it. Beautiful and intense at the same time, so many emotions. Will be back for my birthday this year!
Fille mal gardée was such fun, especially the hens dancing. My grandsons loved it
It has to be between alice in wonderland or romeo and juliet! Both amazing performances but personally alice was incredible, things that were done just made me confused how it was done, very clever indeed!
The Nutcracker! It's my all time favourite.
My favourite was La fille mal gardée... and also my first ballet at the ROH!
Sleeping Beauty - the set and costumes are amazing. And it holds true to the nature of such a fairy tale (versus NY Ballet's - which is more athletic, less story telling involved). This production is truly fantastical, romantic, and grand.
Carbon Life! Extraordinary!
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - such an amazing spectacle!
Without a doubt it was 'Carbon Life'. I've been to the ballet many, many times over the last twenty years and can honestly say that this was the first time I really felt I was seeing something new and exciting. Loved every minute!
It has to be Alice in Wonderland. Went to a matinee performance on a cold, wet day in April (our wedding anniversary!) and the performance made the sun shine! Witty, amazing effects and design and beautiful dancing. The finest full-length production in a very long time.
Personally my favourite ballet is la fille mal gardee as it is a very humorous but girly ballet very different to any other original ballet ! the music is lively although graceful so there is great variation ! it is also a very challenging role therefore it allows you to work to your full ability !!
My boyfriend and I really enjoyed Manon.
Many wonderful productions to choose from, but I would have to vote for "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"; a new full-length ballet with great performances, imaginative design, plenty of humour, and a perfect way to introduce new young audiences to ballet.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was fantastic. The sets and effects were excellently done - it really gave you a feeling of what what happening to Alice, without overshadowing or distracting from the wonderful dancing.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty were my favorites. Alice for its fun touch, the colors, the costumes, the choreography. Nutcracker because its THE Christmas ballet and the Royal Ballet's version is the most christmasy, the one that makes you wish it was Christmas every day. And Sleeping Beauty because it makes you believe fairy tales exist (the set, the costumes, the magic, the romance). Thank you the Royal Ballet for the dreams come true feeling and the magic you give us et each performance.
The nutcracker! Absolutely beautiful!!
I have never had the money to come to the ROH but i saw Alice In Wonderland on tvd and it got inside my soul
The Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life triple bill was fabulous! I love my classical ballets, but the ROH new triple bills have turned into something I really look forward to. It was really interesting to see Scarlett developing into such a dark ballet, which worked perfectly with his Macmillan-esque choreographic style - loved it! It would be brilliant to see where this ballet has moved in a year's time as I can see how Scarlett could develop it further and iron out some of the rucks. As for Carbon Life - wow! It was absolutely electric, the house was buzzing with life and energy and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
La Fille Mal Garde, such a joyous and witty Ballet.
The Nutcracker - most magical performance ever.
La fille mal grade was beyond enchanting - first time I've seen it.
the dream, alina and steven were amazing!
The Nutcracker - for raising my christmas spirits higher :-)
Loved the probing mechanical arm of Metamorphosis: Titian 2012.
It would have to be Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I was not able to buy tickets last season - they had sold out and could not believe I got some for this season. It was an absolute delight to watch, your costumes and stage sets surpassed even the Royal Ballet's standards. True decadence for the eyes and soul!
I loved Manon
Heyyy, what about Asphodel Meadows? That one would be my favourite of the year, a year in which ROH has nearly become my second home!
It was the first time I've seen this production, and the first work by Liam Scarlett I'd seen, and for me it was the magic of the music, choreography and dancers - all the tiny little nuances, and especially the pairing of Leanne Cope and José Martín. And the detail is so rich, six performances of it weren't enough!
Definitely "La fille mal gardee".
It is such a fun ballet with a great score and Ashton's breathtaking choreography.
Now, where do I start? Only just getting into ballet and only saw two ballet productions - La fille mal gardee and the double bill "The Dream/Song of the Earth". And I must admit I really liked "The Dream" much to my surprise. So of the two productions / three ballets, my vote is for "The Dream".
The double bill of Ballo Della Regina / La Sylphide was a massively rewarding cross section of ballet history. It was a perfect showcase of drama and virtuosity.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was amazing! So original and alive! Blew me away!
Hard to pick - Monica Mason's certainly gone out with a bang and several spots of clever programming!
I count Les Noces/Birthday Offering/A Month in the Country, The Dream/Song of the Earth and Asphodel Meadows/Gloria/Enigma Variations among my favourites.
But all praise for the double bill of Ballo della Regina and La Sylphide! Nunez an impeccable driving force in the challenging Balanchine sequences, and Yuhui Choe and Emma Maguire had their moments of bright radiance. Then in Johan Kobborg's staging of La Sylphide, Alina Cojocaru was an imitable Sylph and Steven McRae and Valentino Zucchetti were equal matches for each other in the height of their jumps, cleanliness of their beats and the depth of their characters. Wonderful dancing from the rest of the company!
La fille mal gardée - it was the perfect mix of dance, athleticism, cheekiness and the cast seemed to have such fun performing it :)
Romeo and Juliet
I was completely blown away. Wonderful choreograpy and amazing acting all the way through. For me it was totally breath taking from start to finish. As a very mature ballet student, I couldn't have been more inspired.
Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 - the production may have signalled the end of an era for Monica Mason, but it showed the Royal Ballet at its best - not afraid to take a risk whilst challenging its audience. Its good to be taken out of your comfort zone every so often!
This year's favourite has to be Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Such an exciting piece, with fantastic music. I've had the rose waltz in my head for months. The mise en scene is glorious, the dancing was great. Perfect evening.
Has to be Marguerite & Armand with Tamara and
Sergei. Totally convincing and had us in bits by the end. Beautifully danced and acted by this wonderful pair. Can't wait to see it again next season.
This year I am plumping for the not so traditional 'Strictly Gershwin'. A truly memorable night showcasing some extraordinary talent!
Hi Lucy,
Strictly Gershwin was performed by English National ballet, but feel free to enter again and pick one of our 2011/12 productions!
Chris
Social Media Manager
I loved every production by the Royal Ballet this season and felt especially privileged to be present at Titian on the last night of the season. To choose a favourite is almost impossible but Carbon Life was brilliant.
Romeo and Juliet with Carlos Acosta and Tamara Rojo. The dancing in Act 3 was one of the best pieces I've ever seen. Rojo in particular was sublime.
I thought that The Prince of the Pagodas was absolutely fantastic, because to see its revival was great, but also all the dancers performed with such intensity that it made it breathtaking, as well as the fact that the set, score and choreography fitted together so perfectly. It was a beautiful production!
During my holiday in London I saw The Prince of Pagodas and the Birthday Offering tiple bill. A Month in the Country was breathtaking and Les Noces too. I hope I will be in UK next year to see Onegin.
I must admit, I'd be hard-pushed to choose between Requiem, La Fille Mal Gardée and La Sylphide. They were all great.
I love Romeo & Juliet and will always do so, but the Prince of the Pagodas was totally new to me and I absolutely loved it - so as far as this year is concerned, it would have to be Prince of the Pagodas
For me, it was Romeo and Juliet. I love this romantic ballet and my first one from the ROH.
For me it would definately have to be the Nutcraker. I saw it as a young child and was immediately captured by its beautiful costumes and choreography. I remember loving the dance of the snowflakes, it was so beautiful and elegant. I went to see it again this year and once again I loved it. To see Swan Lake would be amazing as (and I'm sure everyone here will agree!) the Royal Ballet's productions of these famous ballets are always outstanding!
Prince of the Pagodas - great music, sets and costumes, dancing, and casting.
Nutcracker
I loved Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem! The variety and richness of styles is amazing to experience in one night. From the quirkiness of the music and effects in Limen to the intimacy of M&A ( Bonelli .... :-))) to the increasing passion and intensity of the Requiem, a wonderful transition :-)
i have no doubts: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland!!!!
Nutcracker! :)
Alice in Wonderland! Was absolutely fantastic
A wonderful season!
La fille mal gardee - super dancing and overflowing with 'the feel good factor'.
I was blown away by La Sylphide. Alina Cojocaru was amazing, the costumes were beautiful, the set was wonderful and the lighting magical. I was carried away to Scotland for too short a time!
A beauty captured, not only on the stage, but as seen in the eyes of my 12 year old RBS daughter, makes La Sylphide the memorable winner! This beauty, however, won't wither and die, 'Dad - this is my dream'. All this from the restricted view of the circle stalls! Thanks for the memory!
The highlight of my year has been the performance of Alice in Wonderland. As a primary teaching assistant, I accompanied some thirty plus children to their first Ballet experience. From the moment the lush red velvet curtains drew to the cheers from elevated crowds at the finale, we didn't draw breath!
When the ceiling rose opened up to reveal colourful sparkles and beautifully decorated dancers surrounded us, myself and the children tingled with goosebumps! By the end of the performance two children and myself were crying with happiness- a most amazing life experience! I think tears of joy says it all!
My favourite of the season were:
Midsummer /Song of the Earth
A fantastic double bill form the romp of Midsummer to the austere beauty of Song of the Earth. I'd run 18 miles shortly before the performance and had had a G&T, the fatigue rellay combined with the performance.
Manon
I was a little unwell and almost didn't go...as it turned out I loved it. My little boy was still quite young and so childcare duties ealry the next day meant I couldn't stay to the end. I still don't know how it finishes!
Romeo and Juliet
A great ballet for the female lead to really show their range and quality. Spellbinding.
Hard choice but on balance I vote for Alice in Wonderland. The music was fantastic and the dancing, particularly Lauren as Alice, was wonderful. It appeals to all ages and those new to ballet as well as us more experienced. For a new work it was a gem.
Carbon Life. McGregor rules over all. Anything by him is first on my wishlist, and this was him bringing us something new and fresh again!
The Dream / Song of the Earth
Classic RB Choreographers; music and style contrasts; fantstic performers; everything you want in a mixed bill!
Romeo and Juliet. The passion, the drama, the exquisite beauty of love portrayed on stage was breathtaking.
The Nutcracker because I was able to have opportunity to take my wife to the ballet for the first time.
Manon. The Mcrae Benjamin Cevera versikon was the best I have ever seen it done
I thought it was a wonderful season, with some especially brilliant new work (particularly Carbon Life, Sweet Violets and Trespass). My favourite performance of the year, however, was the Asphodel Meadows/Enigma Variations/Gloria triple bill. Enigma Variations completely stunned me with the harmony between the music and the choreography. It was also a perfect showcase for the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House as they played so superbly. The Nimrod Variation, in particular, reduced me almost to tears with the combination of the music and dance. Gloria, I felt, was almost perfectly cast: Carlos Acosta and Thiago Soares were particularly excellent.
The three ballets in combination were a great showcase for British choreography past and present and I greatly enjoyed seeing Asphodel Meadows a second time so soon after its 2010 debut.
Oh! 'Nutcracker' is wrapped up in tissue paper, to be brought out of the memory at regular intervals. I never, EVER thought I would get to the Royal Opera House, or indeed see ballet at all. And then DVD's and Live Screening came and i was in heaven. And THEN our darling son-in-law, knowing what it would mean to me, took us to London to the Royal Ballet, to see Marianela Nunez dance the Sugar Plum Fairy. And I was in SEVENTH heaven: from approaching the Royal opera House building, only ever seen in pictures, to the performance itself, from curtain up, and culminating in seeing Nunez live on stage, to curtain down. Clara herself couldn't have experienced more enchantment. I cried with happiness and it will live with me forever. Thank you
Hard to choose, but I adore both the Nutcracker and Romeo & Juliet, both just amazing,. Thank you, x
Ashton's The Dream Macmillan's Song of The Earth were the highlight for me. Paired together, they made for a well contrasted double bill and embodied each choreographers unique style.
Romeo and Juliet with Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta.
Have recently seen Nutcracker and absolutely loved it. Reminds me of my childhood a lot and I had a chance to back there exactly when I needed that. Amazing! Really look forwad to seeing the rest of the productions.Thank you.
I saw Romeo and Juliet at the O2 and was so moved by it that I did not want to leave the arena. The production was literally awesome, and Cocojaru's performance was the most dramatic I have seen since Fonteyn.
Jewels!
Alice in Wonderland -- completely magical! The costumes were amazing and the dancing was stellar. The Royal Ballet is going from strength to strength.
The dream/Song of the Earth.
I saw the magnificent production of La Traviata, with my son, in the Royal Opera House, and felt deeply moved by the whole experience, and had tears in my eyes on many occasions, so stunningly emotive was the whole experience. Wonderful, wonderful evening. Thank you.
MANON. heaven......
I loved Metamorphosis Titian as it was a completely new piece of work and loved the collaboration with the National Gallery - completely unique and inspiring!
My favourite would have to be Jewels. It was the first time that I saw this ballet - what a joy. Balanchine at his best. Very simple sets, stunning choreography wonderfully executed by the finest from the Royal Ballet. Outstanding for me though was Marianella and her partner. Can't remember his name. But what a partnership. Thank you Royal Ballet.
It has to be Titian 2012. I thought the concept was incredible!
La Fille Mal Gardee... so bright and uplifting, I came out of the ROH with a smile on my face and a spring in my step :)
The Prince of The Pagodas
My favourite performance was Manon. I had not seen this ballet in full before and I was completely blown over! Goes to show that the biggest hits are not always the obvious choices, at least not for me. Needless to say, everything I have seen at the House this season has been pretty amazing (with the exception of the design for Rusalka, sorry).
Definitely Swan Lake!
But of course, the Nutcrakcer is must see prior to Christmas. Love them!
Jewels!!!!!!
I only got the chance to see The Prince of the Pagodas, I thought it was absolutely marvellous and so I'll say it was my favourite as it's the only way I can be truthful.
Alices's adventures is Wonderland.
I thought Romeo and Juliet was exquisite in every way, beautiful and moving.
Ballo della Regina / La Sylphide - amazing, just so beautiful. Can't wait for next season!
Actually I think I have changed my mind 1. Romeo & Juliet, 2. Ballo della Regina / La Sylphide - so hard to choose - can I say all of them?!
The Dream/Song of the Earth was my favourite .Music and Dance Perfect. And Tamara Rojo !!!
The Nutcracker - it always brings out the magic of the Christmas season, and the innocence and beauty of children's imagination during the season. Everything about your production is breathtaking.
Romeo and Juliet!!
Metamorphosis!
Metamorphosis: Titian 2012. I loved the collaboration, and the choreography was stunning.
Unfortunately I don't get the opportunity to get to the ballet in London very often, but if I had I know it would had been Romeo and Juliet! :)
My favourite performance was Manon. It was my first Royal Ballet show, and will always be special to me. Sarah Lamb and Thiago Soares were amazing, the story moving, and the choreography beautiful! It was a truly wonderful performance.
La fille mal gardée - visually and aurally spectacular!
Les Noces. I am a huge fan of the triple bills which have explored different styles and moods but this final movement of Dame Monica’s last triple bill was incredible. I’m not generally a fan of Stravinsky’s music but I sucked in every note of this. As with Das Lied von der Erde the combination of song and dance works magic. The choreography still felt modern and challenging nearly 100 years on but at the same time this is a piece steeped in ballet’s heritage. I hope future programmes will pull out more of these lesser known old treasures from the back catalogue and continue to show that history has so much more to offer than the great Tchaikovsky works (much as I love a Swan Lake especially with Marianela and Thiago)
Manon - nice to see Gary Avis looking mean and moody!
My favourite would be Jewels. Very interesting, colourful performance . I liked The Rubies the most out of the three: the music and choreography were amazing. Magnificent.
Hard to choose as it was a really great season, and I'm already looking forward to seeing a few again in a few months; but it would have to be Carbon Life. The work was just so much more than the sum of its part, the costumes, the lightining, the music and the choreography all worked to a whole that was simply amazing ans mesmerising, it grabbed you from the first second and just wouldn't let go.
I had been disapppointed by the previous few McGregor, but this one reminded me why seeing Chroma for the first time was what turned me into a frequent visitor, and the few people I took were absolutely gob-smacked by it, please revive it soon!
I've been waiting for this opportunity since I was 10! I started my journey in ballet when I was 4, and since than I never stopped dancing :) I'm from Portugal and the only way I've had to see the productions of The Royal Ballet was by buying the dvd's and watching your channel on Youtube. My biggest dream is to see one of your productions live and it would mean the world to me if I got that chance.
My favourite production is La fille mal gardée. It's increadible how Frederick Ashton's choreography can provide such beautiful moments of romance between Lise and Colas that makes us believe in true love and at the same time, a lot of great comedy moments thanks to Simone and Alain. This ballet means a lot to me as well because it was the first time I got the privilege to dance the principal role in my school.
Thanks for your time and I'll keep hoping that on 12 October 2012, I'll be living one of my dreams :)
Romeo and Juliet with the best spanish representative :)
Romeo and Juliet is definately my favourite production for the 2011/2012 season.
Great story, nice choreography, the dancing is amazing!!! great performance!
Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life, it was absolutely amazing!
The Nutcracker - magical
Manon was amazing, so beautiful and fragile!
Alice in Wonderland! My mother came to Uk to visit me just after her Bday. Since she had been a ballet teacher in her youth, I surprised her offering tickets to Alice's in Wonderland so she sould see the ROH ballet for the first time. That was a dream came true for her and seen my mother so moved was a moment that I will treasure forever :)
I really loved the Nutcracker! I remember sitting close to the stage being amazed by the elegant dancing and the cheerful facial expressions on each of the dancer. It was very heart-warming for a amazing Christmas atmosphere. The orchestra below was amazing as well.
My favourite production from the 2011/12 season was Romeo and Juliet. I have seen it twice and I could see it a 1000 times more.
My favourite was The Dream/Song of the Earth - two quite different ballets but both thrilling productions and exquisitely executed.
My favorite was the new classic - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!
My favorite production was Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life.
I fall in love with Carbon life was completely mesmerizing. Wayne Mcgregor is a genius
To me it's very easy, even though I did watch several other ballets during the year at the ROH.So my favourite is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It was such a magnificient ballet! I nearly missed the first act because I was running late, but the lovely staff run us to our seats and even when I was sweating and cursing for not having time to change clothes, I enjoyed every second of the ballet. I forgot everything else that was going on (except occasionally making sure that my boyfriend didn't fall asleep and start snoring - but he didn't), and I nearly cried because everything was just so beautiful. Even my boyfriend said that he "is getting the idea of ballet and the music was nice in that one bit", so I have wonderful memories and I am happy to see that I might teach someone else to see what a wonderful form of art ballet is. Thank you ROH!
I went to see the Nutcracker as a patron for the first time, loved it. The sheer joy and excitement in the auditorium from the rest of the audience as the overture began was palpable and catching!.
Everything was perfect for that performance, the set, the costumes the grace and skill of the dancers and actors, not to forget the fabulous Christmas tree effect when "Clara" is effectivly shrunk to doll hight!
I was blown away! Very well done to all involved both on stage and behind the scenes, from Stage Managment and the technical teams to the House managment and the Ushers/ Security for making this a most wonderful experience.
It has to be la fille mal gardee with Carlos Acosta and Marianela Nunez. It was such a magical night spend celebrating my birthday watching my two favourite dancers!
La fille mal gardee was absolutely fantastic, a truly uplifting, comical but beautiful ballet! It was my first time visiting the ROH and hopefully not my last!
Prince of Pagodas
It has to be The Sleeping Beauty I danced in a school production when I was younger and know every note of the score, it bought back some very happy memories.
The Prince of the Pagodas was my favourite, I took my 13 years old god daughter (it was her very first time at the ROH and her first ballet too) and she loved it, beautiful, funny at times, a really great night out !
deffinetly La fille mal gardée :) love the dancers music and choreography :)
My favourite is Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland.
Absolutely stunning performances.
Thank you ever so much for putting together such great show.
Sleeping beauty! Great!
The Nutcracker :) dancing under the christmas tree was beautiful adn costumes are phanomanal
Romeo and Juliet with Tamara Roja & Carlos Acosta is definately my favourite!
La fille mal gardée was lovely and very English
My favourite production was "La Fille Mal Gardee" because not only was the choreography and dancing stunningly beautiful, it also had a vast range of emotions - comical moments to heartbreaking. I loved it.
The Ballo Della Regina. Enchanting and beautifully executed
The Nutcracker - always.
Romeo and Juliet
La fille mal gardée, obviously! Love it!!
Manon = Superb!
the nutcracker has always been my favourite but still haven't seen swan lake
It;s definately Romeo and Juliet with Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta!
I particularly enjoyed the 'Jewels' production. It was my first Balanchine production and I wasn't really too sure what to expect but it was a real journey both in terms of seeing different styles of ballet and also travelling from beautiful, dreamy sequences of Emeralds through to the jazzy 'Broadway' style Rubies and the magnificent finale of Diamonds. It was an evening that glittered in every way for me from the choreography to the sets to the music to the atmosphere at ROH. Amazing!
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet,
My favorite production was Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is brillian combination of modern ballet and traditions of classical dance. All is wonderful and surprising: music, costumes, scenery! And the great sense of humor!!!
I loved the Jewels production. I had never been to a 'Balanchine' ballet before and was unsure what to expect. It was a real journey for me in terms of seeing different choreography and in terms of the production from the beautiful, classical, dreamy Emeralds through to jazzy Rubies and the lovely showgirl feel andf then on to a really majestic ending with Diamonds - It truly dazzled and shone as brightly as any precious stone. I loved it!
Romeo and Juliet. I watched the live stream at a local theatre which was brilliant- great to be able to see the Royal Ballet and enjoy extra details and close-ups.
Romeo and Juliet!
Metamorphosis was an absolute delight! We preceded the performance with a visit to the Gallery to see Titian's masterpieces and this added an extra dimension to the ballet. A fine tribute to the retiring artistic director and a superb collaboration between so many coreographers, designers, composers.... and dancers. I would see this again tomorrow if only there was the opportunity.
I Loved Wayne McGregor's Carbon Life. I saw it twice.
Everything from the Mad-Tapper to the beautiful, and deadly Red Queen. I fell in love with "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Lauren was wonderful as much a ballerina as an actress, her beautiful lines and delightful technique, I loved every minute of Alice from Talbot's first note to Wheeldon's finishing movement. I have watched it several times and always find new things to explore and re-live. A true Masterpiece, and a marvelous and new production to be added to the RB's repertoire. BRAVO!
Romeo & Juliet :)
Definitely Jewels! I just love Balanchine.
The triptych Limen/Marguerite and Armand/Requiem: my first ballet at ROH, featuring Polunin. Very moving.
'Metamorphosis:Titian' was my highlight. The collaboration of artists, choreographers & composers was quite an achievement. A fitting swansong for Monica Mason.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. What a fantastic production!
Birthday Offering/A Month in the Country/Les Noces.
Showcase for the principals; showcase for Ashton's brilliant characterization; showcase for the corps. 3 stunning works, all completely different and complementary. What an evening!
It's a hard choice between The Nutcracker & Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but I would have to go with Alice.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has been one of the most spectacular productions I have seen at the ROH, and it immersed the audience into the world of Wonderland. The set and costumes were incredible, as well as the dancers themselves being flawless! The choreography was beautiful, and portrayed the characters perfectly - especially in the Queen of Hearts who, without saying a word, had the audience laughing. It even had my boyfriend smiling which is saying it all!
Song of the Earth - beautiful
I always find Manon so moving. Really enjoyed it.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Such joy to watch.
My favourite ballet has to be Romeo & Juliet with Carlos Acosta and Tamara Rojo - so beautiful - the choreography, the music - and the balcony scene is just to die for!
If only someone had let Romeo know!
The Nutcracker!!
Romeo and Juliet....It was exquisite and filled my evening with grace and beauty.
The Sleeping Beauty.
It was my very first performance to watch at ROH.
I loved every single moment of the fabulous performance and stunning atmosphere.
La fille mal gardee because it is a comedy and pure comedies are rare in ballet. I wish I had seen it earlier and will see it again when it comes back again. I had great fun and told all my friends about it. Good starter ballet in my opinion.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!
A difficult choice..... But I think it must be the joyous La Fille Mal Gardee. Such an entertaining ballet, with scenes to please all ages. Ashton's choreography can only delight at any time, and this is not just 'any time'! Thoroughly enjoyable.
Birthday Offering/A Month in the Country/Les noces
Ballo della Regina/La Sylphide: I was amazed by the moves and grace of the dancers and how beautifully a story can be told without words.
Always always Romeo and Juliet for making me swoon.
The nutcracker :-) its the first time my sister and I had been to see a ballet ever after starting adult classes in May last year. We loved it!
My favourite was Ballo della Regina, it was great!
La Fille mal gardee was fantastic!!! And do was the nutcracker!!!!!
Romeo and Juliet!
Romeo and Juliet with Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta. AMAZING!
I was fortunate enough to see 4 of the above ballet's in the last year at the roh. My favourite has to be Romeo and Juliet. Carlos Acosta and Tamara Rojo play the roles to perfection, the final scene was played with so much emotion there was silence for a few seconds as the ballet concluded. I watched it with my mother and two daughters, my 15 year old sobbed at the ending and also at the joy on the faces of the principles as they took their curtain calls. The most emotional ballet I have seen.
Romeo and Juliet, spellbinding , Acosta and Rojo magnificent. Myself, my mum and my two daughters wept at the dramatic final scene.
The Nutcracker. It takes me into a different world.
Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life was perfect. They were so different but together showed off all the company's sills and pulled at different heartstrings.
The nutcracker. I have a weakness for that production.
Romeo and Juliet!
I love this ballet it was the last one I saw with my parents before they died
Alice in Wonderland! The dancers, costumes, scenery and colour were all spectacular.
My favourite was Alice in Wonderland. The dancers, the costumes, the scenery, and the colour were all spectacular!
I think La fille mal gardée as made me laugh so much! I love the clog dance!
Romeo and Juliet, the stage setting,the sword fighting,the costumes and music, it was just spectacular,is that possible to see it again next year?
I enjoyed The The Sleeping Beauty & Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as well, loving the music of these two ballets.
I loved all of the ones I saw, but The Sleeping Beauty stands out as one of the finest I have ever seen!!!! Also, how can one not love Manon!!!!! Looking forward to that beautiful, Swan Lake.....
Romeo and Juliet
Romeu and Juliet on the movies live around the world
Of the many I have seen from your list, the winner for me has to be Alice in wonderland. It was my second time saw it first time round, and it was so wonderful. The music is outstanding so unusual a breath of fresh air. The staging use of projection, lighting, the fantastic costumes the dazzling colours are so effective, the whole thing is just amazing. The choreography what can I say I love Wheeldon's ability to make the steps so modern and traditional all at the same time. The best of the best of the best LOVE IT!!
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The nut cracker. Saw it as a child. Will never forget it.
I've adored Rojo all season, and I desperately want to pick her… but the Cojocaru/McRae Sylphide was the performance of a lifetime.
Wait, no, Asphodel Meadows!
Yes, Asphodel Meadows. Final choice: Brilliantly-crafted choreography and my all-time favorite design on the ROH stage.
(Lucy Carter had a stunning 2011/12 too - consistently beautiful work)
I've adored Rojo all season, and I desperately want to pick her… but the Cojocaru/McRae Sylphide was the performance of a lifetime…
Wait, no, Asphodel Meadows!
Yes, Asphodel Meadows. Final choice: Brilliantly-crafted choreography and my all-time favorite design on the ROH stage.
(Lucy Carter had a stunning 2011/12 too - consistently beautiful work - thank you)
Prince of the Pagodas with Nunez,Rojo,Kish
Romeo & Juliet
Hard to choose but if ever there were a ballet to lift the spirits and make you laugh out loud, La Fille Mal Gardee is the one. Beautiful choreography and music which sits in your head for many days after.
My favourite ballet is the Nutcracker Suite since it brings the joy and magic of Christmas alive for all ages
Sleeping Beauty & Manon were beautiful and Romeo & Juliet one of the most fantastic I have seen at the ROH. La Fille ma Garde was entertaining but slightly more like a pantomime than a ballet which was a little disappointing.
The Nutcracker. It was the first ballet I had seen at the Royal Opera House and we went on Christmas Eve. It was the ideal way to get into the Christmas Sprit, and it was completely enchanting! Since then, I have booked & seen several more ballet productions here, including the 2012 Nutcracker to see again.
Metamorphosis. We went to the National Gallery, studied the paintings and the exhibition and then made our way to the Opera House to see what the choreographers added to the project. We found the whole venture to be innovative, fascinating and exciting. Everyone involved should be congratulated. Highly recommended.
My favourite was Romeo & Juliet, I could watch it a thousand times. It's wonderful to have a story line that so emotional and real, something people can empathise with. I cry every time, with sorrow for the lovers and joy for the delightful MacMillan choreography. Every element of this ballet is beautiful and that's why I love it.
La fille mal gardée
The Nutcracker. It is my little slice of heaven. It means all the more to me now as I bought my Morher tickets to see it. She had a magical evening. Sadly she lost her battle with cancer. But now when ever I see The Nutcracker I feel close to her as well watching my favourite ballet.
Loved loved loved loved Romeo and Juliet with Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg and The Sleeping Beauty with Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli. Such an amazing company.
Les Noces without a doubt. It was the first time I had seen it and I loved it so much I bought a ticket the following morning to see it again that night. The choreography was fresh and new, despite being the oldest of the three that evening, and the music was a revelation. Most ballet music is great for ballet but this was a musical performance that would have been worth attending just for itself - add in the stunning dancing and it was one of the greatest performances I have ever seen on any stage in any genre.
I watched Romeo and Juliet last winter (one friend recommend it to me when I watched the nutcracker in ROH during christmas )and after watching it, I strongly recommend it to all my friends. It's a classic ballet performance and I was totally moved by the performance and the story and I even broke into tears. No doutly, Romeo and Juliet is the best performance and I will go to watch it again, Definitely!
Otello
My fav is jewels and the nutcracker. The costumes are beautiful and the choreography is wonderful. The dancers are inspiration!
I loved Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland! Besides the excellent dancing, it was a strikingly enjoyable performance with a lot of funny moments. The dancers really are actors as well.
The Nutcracker :-)
My favourite is undoubtedly The Nutcracker - so magical and always a joy to watch!
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland without a doubt - I hadn't managed to get tickets last season and was treated as a birthday present by my wonderful mother to it this year! Lauren Cuthbertson was so magical and the set design was breathtaking.
I felt leaving inspired, uplifted and raving to all my friends and family about the production!
I loved The Nutcracker as its a wonderful story based on a magical time of the year. I am so looking forward to my two daughters being able to watch it with me when they are old enough as I am sure they will be as in awe of the story, the music and the colourful and magical set as I am every time I watch it!
The Prince of Pagodas was fantastic. The performances, set and choreography were out of this world.
Metamorphosis: Titian 2012, not just the final production of the 2011-2012 season, but an offering as fresh and inventive as anything I have seen at the ROH, so lyrical and physical, (loved the 'naughty feet!') with the added poignancy of watching the supremely outstanding Tamara Rojo in her final ever performance at the ROH. Thank you, the Royal Ballet and in particular Monica Mason, it has been a wonderful season, and a privilege to have been a member of the audience for every production.
My favourite has to be Alice In Wonderland, & not just because it's got my name in, haha. I love the creativity of the whole production. It's a beautiful story & I feel the cast lived up to & beyond all expectations. The set was gorgeous, the dancing was amazing, the whole production overall was just phenominal. A memory I will not forget any time soon! I'd love to be in a production of Alice In Wonderland one day. I am a dancer myself & have been since the age of 3. I really want to win these tickets! Thank you for reading!
It has to be Romeo & Juliet with Rojo & Acosta. Always a favourite, this was our last chance to have our hearts broken by Tamara in a full evening ballet with the Royal Ballet. Many years ago, it was seeing Tamara as an amazingly dramatic dance-actress which started me coming to ballet more frequently, thus discovering other fantastic dancers & broadening my favourite repertoire.
This "just" pipped the seeing Liam Scarlett's AsphodelMeadows return & the excitement of his first narrative in the Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life triple. I loved introducing fourteen twenty-somethings to this & loved their excitement & enthusiasm.
My favourite of the season was Romeo and Juliet. I went to go and see it on the 10th of March and just fell in love with the ballet. It was truly magical and a ballet for all to see. The story, set and dancers were all beautiful and I would gladly re live the night to see it again.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland !!!! ♥
♥ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ♥
A dilemma, which amongst so many gems?
My favourite must be Romeo & Juliet, with Rojo & Acosta as this was our last chance to be reduced to tears by Tamara in a full length ballet with Royal Ballet.
Many years ago it was watching Tamara, such an amazing dancer-actress, which encouraged me to discover different ballets & dancers.
Only just "pipped" were Asphodel Meadows & the
Sweet Violets/Polyphonia/Carbon Life triple which most of the fourteen Twenty-somethings I brought found tremendously exciting & varied.
Metamorphosis: Titian 2012. Original, unique, inspirational... and absolutely stunning!
I enjoyed La fille mal gardee
The nutcracker, I loved it, so cheerful !
Going to Swan Lake in October and really looking forward to it !!
I loved Alice in Wonderland! It was so exquisite! The set, and the dancing... oh my, the dancing! I thought I was going to explode of emotions!
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - left me and my 2 daughters spellboud - amazing performace!
I feel privileged to have seen so many great ballets this season. Two stand out for the sheer enjoyment they provided on top of excellent performances, beautiful sets and enchanting music. So my vote is split between Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and La file mal garde. Either of these two is a complete must for a whole family!
The Nutcracker!!!! unbeatable :)))
Rusalka. It featured the most sonorous one-flippered baritone 'Shameless'-esque water-goblin I've ever heard. Really enjoyed it too :-)
The Nutcracker. As this was the first ballet I took my fiancés who thought it was magical and enchanted, also got us in the frame of mind for Christmas.
I was a bit doubtful before I saw it but Carbon Life was fabulous. Thrilling music, choreography, costumes and performances – particularly Edward Watson and Sarah Lamb – had me buzzing for days afterwards.
Metamorphosis:Titian 2012 was my favourite. As an idea, it was inspired and used the breadth of amazing talent available to the company. The resulting three ballets were beautiful, engaging and thought- provoking,
That they are part of an even wider sensory event - the National Gallery exhibition and the poems enriches and extends the pleasure i got from the performance.
Thank you so much to all those who made it happen!
The Nutcracker - never fails to delight, a visual feast that transports you to a magical kingdom where we can all be children again.
Birthday Offering/A Month In The Country/Les Noces - This was the most amazing birthday present I have ever received! The three separate shows were out of this world and breath taking in every sense, but my favourite was 'A month In The Country'. I have never in my life been moved to tears by a stage performance/story with no words. The outstanding and faultless choreography, the mesmerising music, the beautiful set, and the charm, sophistication and warmth of each character just blew me away. Thank you for giving me the best day of my life..
The sleeping beauty, it was simply extraordinary!!!
The nutcracker. It was out of this world.
The nutcracker always. magic and beautiful
I quite like Metamorphosis to be honest.
the nutcracker-compostion was fantastic!