In 2024, the Royal Opera House, home to The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, will see five new ballet and opera productions. Read on below for some must-see moments in the new year!
The Royal Opera’s Elektra (12 – 30 January)
With a score memorably described by one critic as ‘the colour of blood’, Richard Strauss’s audacious adaptation of the iconic Greek tragedy Elektra has shocked and excited audiences since its 1909 premiere. In this brand-new staging, expect musical and dramatic fireworks as Christof Loy directs a truly extraordinary cast, with Nina Stemme in the title role and Karita Mattila as the guilt stricken Klytämnestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
The Royal Ballet’s Manon (17 January – 8 March)
Adapted from Abbé Prévost’s novel Manon Lescaut, Manon embodies Kenneth MacMillan at his best, his acute insight into human psychology and his mastery of narrative choreography finding full expression in the impassioned duets of the central couple, visceral and urgent in their desire. With its evocative designs, and powerful tale of poverty, love and longing, the work is one of the most dramatic and devastating ballets in the repertory. Set to music by Jules Massenet, and with lighting design by Jacopo Pantani, the ballet is regularly performed by companies across the world.
This Season, a vast array of Royal Ballet dancers make their debuts, including Marcelino Sambé and William Bracewell in the role of Des Grieux; and Yasmine Naghdi and Fumi Kaneko as Manon.
The Royal Ballet’s Festival of New Choreography (15 – 21 February)
The Festival of New Choreography is a series of performances, events and activities taking place on the Main Stage, in the Linbury Theatre, Paul Hamlyn Hall and Clore Studio, that aim to embrace and champion new, diverse voices in choreography. Joseph Toonga, The Royal Ballet Choreographic Residency for the 2023-24 Season, will create a new work for the Main Stage, along with choreographers Gemma Bond, Jessica Lang and Mthuthuzeli November. Royal Ballet First Artist Joshua Junker will also premiere his first Main Stage work. In the Linbury Theatre, Robert Binet premieres an immersive new production for The Royal Ballet, co-produced with The National Ballet of Canada.
The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake (6 March – 28 June)
This reimagining of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s towering masterpiece by Liam Scarlett is testament to the late choreographer’s abiding love of classicism and innate musicality. With a sublime, haunting score by Tchaikovsky and glittering designs by John Macfarlane, Swan Lake is one of the best-loved works of the 19th century classical ballet canon. This spring, Mariko Sasaki makes her debut as Odette/Odile, and Joseph Sissens makes his debut as Prince Siegfried.
The Royal Opera’s Giant (8 – 15 March)
Giant tells the tale of surgeon John Hunter and his obsession with Charles Byrne, a man he would ultimately betray in one of the most disturbing acts in the era of the grave robbers. Written for five voices, Giant uses 18th century instruments, live electronics and bespoke music machines as it vividly recalls the events surrounding Byrne’s death.
The Royal Ballet’s Danses Concertantes / Different Drummer / Requiem (20 March – 13 April)
Danses Concertantes, commissioned by Ninette de Valois in 1955, was Kenneth MacMillan’s first major work. It is followed by Different Drummer, MacMillan’s complex and haunting balletic interpretation of Woyzeck, Georg Büchner’s play about a soldier’s descent into madness. The mixed programme concludes with Requiem, his 1976 work for Stuttgart Ballet, created in memory of its late artistic director, MacMillan’s friend and former Royal Ballet dancer and choreographer John Cranko.
The Royal Opera’s Carmen (5 April – 31 May)
Damiano Michieletto’s sizzling new production of Carmen evokes all the passion and heat of Bizet’s score, which features Carmen’s sultry Habanera and the rousing Toreador song. Aigul Akhmetshina and Vasilisa Berzhanskaya share the title role, with Antonello Manacorda and Emmanuelle Villaume conducting an exciting international cast.
For tickets and more information on all of these events and more, visit www.roh.org.uk.
