Watch: Monica Mason's final curtain call as Director of The Royal Ballet
Retiring Director given traditional flower throw.
The curtain came down last night on Monica Mason’s tenure as Director of The Royal Ballet with the final performance of Metamorphosis: Titian 2012.
The dancer-turned-Director took up the position in 2002 and since then has overseen a successful decade for the company. Her tenure has been marked by the ushering in of new choreographic talent such as Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon and by programming that has blended experimental new work with repertory classics.
The end of an era was marked by a traditional flower throw for Dame Monica, who joined the Company on stage. A short speech was given by Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House Tony Hall who praised her for what she had given the Company over a 54 year career. Dame Monica also gave a speech herself. The evening also marked Tamara Rojo’s final performance as a Principal of The Royal Ballet, though she will return as a Guest Artist.
View pictures of Tamara’s curtain call.
See pictures of the event, taken by The Ballet Bag:
Watch the recent ROH Insight session, featuring Alan Titchmarsh interviewing the Director about her time with the Company.
Dame Monica will be succeeded as Director of The Royal Ballet by Kevin O’Hare.
what an evening to savour - wondrous ballet, an atmosphere of love and appreciation, a graceful and gracious lady bowing out with aplomb and humility surrounded friends, colleagues, fans - I feel honoured to have been there.
I was lucky enough to be there, on a momentous night. Thank you Monica, for all you have done in your extraordinary, and probably unrepeatable, career which ended, characteristically on a brave and creative note with a wonderful company on top form. You will be missed.
Best wishes also and the very best of fortune to Kevin - we know Monica's and the RB's legacy is in great hands and look forward to a new chapter in this wonderful company's story.
I was lucky enough to be there last night for this momentous occasion.
Thank you Monica for your extraordinary, and probably, unrepeatable career which characteristically ended on a brave and creative note with this magnificent company on top form.
Best wishes and the best of fortune too, to Kevin. We know Monica's and the RB's legacy is in great hands and look forward to the next chapter of this wonderful company's story.
I too was there and it really struck me how very innovative and adventurous Monica has been over the years. I have been incredibly lucky to have been a very regular ballet attendee during the last 6 or so years and it was great for us to have a chance to say a bit of a thank you to Monica. The new ballet/s was/were absolutely excellent in every way - cant wait to see them again. I am looking forward to what is to come . . . Thank you Monika.
An event like this is always something that can turn the blue into a rainbow. At least the real sense of drama and music is still in the air somewhere contradicting the really noisy, dirty dance. We, lovers of this form of performance, are lucky that a woman like Monica exists behind the curtains.
Dame Monica Mason and I were in South Africa
as children...at the same ballet school
I have wonderful memories of this time...
I wish Monica all the best to continue in the
future with her extraordinary dedication to the ballet and a wonderful continuation with her brilliant life to inspire others with her creative spirit.