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Asphodel Meadows

18 January—13 February 2019
Main Stage

Liam Scarlett's elegiac and classically inspired ballet pairs pure dance beautifully with music by Poulenc

Introduction

A cast of 20 dancers, led by three principal couples, perform Liam Scarlett's interpretation of Poulenc's beautiful music

Background

Liam Scarlett created Asphodel Meadows for The Royal Ballet in 2010. It was acclaimed for its elegiac and classically informed style and won the National Dance Award for Best Choreography.

Set to Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor, the classically-informed choreography of Asphodel Meadows forms a counterpart to the three movements of Poulenc's vigorous and spirited concerto. From a cast of 20 dancers, three couples emerge to dance pas de deux that show glimpses of the contrasting emotions in the score, from lyrical and romantic to playful, charming and lively. The ballet's title refers to the place in Greek mythology where ordinary souls spend life after death and John Macfarlane's set, which flows with the movement of the dancers, creates a sense of tranquillity and space.

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