Birmingham Royal Ballet - "Sir Fred & Mr. B"

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Sir Fred & Mr. B, a fundraising gala in celebration of the centenaries of Sir Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine

11 March 2004 The Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham, UK

Birmingham Royal Ballet - David Bintley Artistic Director

Royal Ballet Sinfonia - Barry Wordsworth, Music Director

ACT I was hosted by Marion Tate and Desmond Kelly. The evening began with an overture:

Polacca from THEME AND VARIATIONS (Tchaikovsky) accompanied by a screen presentation.

TARANTELLA (1964)

Tchaikovsky/Balanchine (solo piano - Jonathan HIggins)

Ambra Vallo, Chi Cao - Birmingham Royal Ballet

MONOTONES II (1965)

Satie/Ashton

Valerie Robin, Samuel Pergande, Matthew Prescott - Joffrey Ballet

CONCERTO BAROCCO (3rd movement) (1941)

Bach/Balanchine

Molly Smolen, Rachel Peppin and artists of the Birmingham Royal Ballet

LES PATINEURS (1937) (White Pas de deux and Blue Pas de trois)

Meyerbeer/Ashton

Sophie Le Roeux, Alex Jones - Royal Ballet School

Romany Pajdak, Elizabeth Harrod Stephen McRae - Royal Ballet School

AGON (Pas de deux) (1957)

Stravinsky/Balanchine

Zenaida Yanowsky, Federico Bonelli - The Royal Ballet

LA FILLE MAL GARDEE (Clog dance) (1960)

Dauberval/Ashton

David Bintley and artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet

ACT II

Overture: The Huntresses from SYLVIA (Delibes)

FIVE BRAHMS WALTZES IN THE MANOR OF ISADORA DUNCAN (1975)

Brahms/Ashton (solo piano - Jonathan Higgins)

Molly Smolen - Birmingham Royal Ballet

SLAUGHTER ON TENTH AVENUE (Pas de deux) (1936)

Rogers/Balanchine

Monica Zamora - George Piper Dances, Iain Mackay. Lee Fisher - Birmingham Royal Ballet

THAIS PAS DE DEUX (1971)

Massenet/Ashton

Melissa Morrissey, Duncan Cooper - Dance Theatre of Harlem

FACADE (Tango and Finale) (1931)

Walton/Ashton

Marion Tate, Irek Mukhamedov with students of Elmhurst School for Dance

CINDERELLA (Act II pas de deux) (1948)

Prokofiev/Ashton

Miyoko Yoshida, Federico Bonelli - The Royal Ballet

WESTERN SYMPHONY (Fourth Movement) (1954)

Hershy Kay/Balanchine

Asta Bazeviciute, Tiit Helimets, Molly Smolen, Iain Mackay, Ambra Vallo, Sergiu Pobereznic, Angela Paul, Michael Revie and Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed an evening of dance this much. All of the artists were extremely talented and their work was impeccable. There was tremendous electricity on the stage and in the house. Pamela May, Peter Wright and Alexander Grant were among those in attendance.