Symphony Hall, Birmingham
April 29, 2017
Phil Preece
Not content with marvellous regular programming both at Birmingham Hippodrome and on tour nationwide, once a year Birmingham Royal Ballet excel themselves by presenting their Evening of Music and Dance at the city’s Symphony Hall.
Despite the majestic scale of Symphony Hall this joyous event somehow manages to feel intimate, almost as if it were a secret kept only for those in the know, and because of that, this annual outing has become a Midlands institution. Its success lies partly in the marvellous standard of the orchestra naturally sounding at its very best in these surroundings and the marvellous standard of the dancing on display, but most especially in the clever programming, showcasing music perhaps less well known and choreographic excerpts either reminding us of balletic highlights less familiar or introducing us to delights not previously seen.
This year’s programme, full of delightful surprises, was even better than previous offerings. Beginning unexpectedly with the lush orchestration of Richard Rodney-Bennett’s Murder on the Orient Express Waltz the first half alternated between majestic orchestral offerings and spectacularly well-chosen balletic interludes.
MC’d by BRB Director David Bintley, the evening became a warm conspiracy between audience and performers which even the Symphony Hall’s huge dimensions couldn’t prevent from having an intimate charm.
Other first-half orchestral highlights included Delius’ On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, ‘Storm’ from Britten’s Peter Grimes and Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves. Ballet treats included the marvellous finale from John Cranko’s riotous Pineapple Poll and company favourites Jenna Roberts and Ian Mackay in the Sword pas de deux from David Bintley’s own Far From The Madding Crowd.
The second half saw the orchestra off to a dashing start with Strauss’s Tik-Tak Polka, then the joyous wedding scene from Bintley’s Aladdin complete with spectacular ceremonial Chinese Lion. The charming ‘Ear of corn’ pas de deux and friends’ dance from Delibes’ Coppelia felt like welcoming back an old friend and indeed featured a roster of favourite BRB performers, but the finale’s spectacular pas de deux from Asafiev’s Flames of Paris with Mathias Dingman and Momoko Hirata soared beyond mere charm via the spectacularly assured classical technique that is one of BRB’s most impressive hallmarks.
A delightful gourmet taster menu of an evening served up by some of the very best in the business.
Postscript: BRB’s Nutcracker is off to the Royal Albert Hall
On the subject of touring, for the first time ever, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Albert Hall will present a new version of Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker this Christmas, with seven performances from 28 to 31 December 2017.
All the favourites will be there, including the magical transformation scene and 75kg of artificial snow, plus new projections from the award-winning 59 Productions (who contributed to Christopher Wheeldon’s An American in Paris, The National Theatre’s War Horse, and the London 2012 opening ceremony).
David Bintley said, “Our wonderful Nutcracker has been an essential part of Christmas in Birmingham for over 25 years, and I am so proud to be part of the team producing a brand new version of our classic production for London audiences. There is nowhere more Christmassy than the Royal Albert Hall, and no other production that so fizzes with festive energy.”