The Moscow City Ballet were performing at Richmond Theatre last night and are touring the UK throughout 2017. They are a large company of 75 dancers and a live orchestra and their production of Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake should not be missed. My friend went and did the review and here it is below:-
What a wonderful evening at the ballet last night – just such a treat. It’s interesting, that the elephant in the room that haunts the art world as we enter 2017 is why anyone would pay to go out on a cold night to see a ballet at Richmond Theatre when you can stay in the warmth and comfort of your own home and watch it for free on YouTube? As we turn into an online and on screen civilisation is there any place for live face to face experience? These questions are prompted by last night’s performance of Romeo and Juliet by the touring Moscow City Ballet at Richmond Theatre. This is a key question for all of us that will not go away. It is clear that we are a tipping point unless we defend and support with our time and money live performance then we will lose them forever and there will be no turning back.
My answer to the question of why we should watch live shows is this: live performance and the interaction between performers and the audience is unique and life enhancing. Take for example the applause from the audience and the bowing and curtseying from the cast at the end of last night’s performance, it was a moment of joy that cannot be replicated on screen you had to be there to feel the love. All of us that can afford to buy tickets have a duty to support live shows whenever we can. I for one do not wish to live in an online world with no face to face human interaction or live shows.
Combing Shakespeare’s play and Prokofiev’s music – familiar as the theme tune for The Apprentice – Moscow City Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet is a total work of art. The sets are evocative of Verona, the music is compelling and the dancing is sublime. If you’ve never been to the ballet before or you would like to take a child to the ballet then this production is a perfect introduction. I urge you to make the effort to get your coat on and get down to Richmond Theatre and catch the life affirming Moscow City Ballet. They are there until Sunday and this evening they are performing Swan Lake. Can’t wait.
