Birmingham Royal Ballet Autumn Season

Image Release 29 October 2019

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AUTUMN SEASON

Birmingham Royal Ballet today release brand new images for their autumn season engagement at Sadler’s Wells; featuring a fitting balance of classical and contemporary ballet from Giselle to a Mixed Bill including the World Premiere of the latest Ballet Now commission and a partnership with Ballet Black.

New production images available to download here

Autumn 2019 could be described as a ‘bridge season’ during which Birmingham Royal Ballet moves towards the arrival of Carlos Acosta as Director in January 2020. The season is also classic BRB with its balance of classical and contemporary works; Giselle and a Mixed Bill (featuring the latest Ballet Now commission plus a partnership with Ballet Black) complete a three-venue autumn tour this week at London’s Sadler’s Wells.

Mixed Bill: A Brief Nostalgia; The Suit; Nine Sinatra Songs Sadler’s Wells, 29-30 October The fourth commission from BRB’s ground-breaking Ballet Now initiative is A Brief Nostalgia by rising young choreographer and Queensland Ballet dancer Jack Lister. Featuring a new score by award-winning Scottish (and first-time ballet score) composer Tom Harrold, this London premiere will open the exciting and eclectic mixed bill before Ballet Black – fresh from their staggering performance with Stormzy at Glastonbury - will take to the stage to perform Cathy Marston’s critically acclaimed The Suit, inspired by Can Themba’s South African fable. BRB’s dancers return to close the programme with Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, a glamorous portrait of seven couples that traces the arc of romantic relationships. Nine Sinatra Songs is one of Tharp’s most frequently performed works and has become an international, crowd-pleasing favourite.

Giselle Sadler’s Wells, 1-2 November David Bintley’s BRB legacy took immediate effect with a UK tour of his, and Galina Samsova’s, production of Giselle this autumn. First staged 20 years ago in 1999, and featuring Adolphe Adam’s original score performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, BRB Principals Momoko Hirata and César Morales star on the opening night as the eponymous heroine and her anti-hero Count Albrecht. The revival of this exquisite and heart-wrenching staging opened at Birmingham Hippodrome before travelling to Plymouth, and now a two-date London run at Sadler’s Wells.

Press images for Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 2019/20 autumn season are available to download here

For further information please contact [email protected]

Listings Information

Mixed Programme

A Brief Nostalgia | The Suit | Nine Sinatra Songs

September – October 2019

A Brief Nostalgia

Choreography: Jack Lister Music: Tom Harrold Designs: Thomas Mika Lighting: Alexander Berlarge

The Suit

Choreography: Cathy Marston Music: Philip Feeney Designs: Jane Heather Lighting: David Plater Dramaturgy: Edward Kemp

Nine Sinatra Songs

Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Thursday 19 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 21 September

Sadler’s Wells, London Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN; 020 7863 8000 sadlerswells.com Tuesday 29 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Wednesday 30 October

Giselle

September – November 2019

Choreography: Marius Petipa, Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, David Bintley Music: Adolphe Adam Production: David Bintley, Galina Samsova Designs: Hayden Griffin

Lighting: Mark Jonathan

Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 September PRESS NIGHT Wednesday 25 September, 7.30pm PRESS MATINEE on Saturday 28 September, 2.30pm

Plymouth Theatre Royal Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR; 01752 267222 theatreroyal.com Wednesday 23 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Friday 25 October

Sadler’s Wells, London Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN; 020 7863 8000 sadlerswells.com Friday 1 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 2 November

Further autumn 2019 Season listings:

Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker

November – December 2019

Choreography: Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Production: Peter Wright Designs: John F. MacFarlane

Lighting: David A. Finn

Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Friday 22 November (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 14 December On sale now

Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Albert Hall present The Nutcracker

December 2019

Choreography: Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon Additional choreography: David Bintley, Marion Tait Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Designs: Dick Bird

Lighting: Peter Teigen Projections Design: 59 Productions Sound Design: Bobby Aitken

Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP; 020 7589 8212 royalalberthall.com Saturday 28 (PRESS NIGHT, 7pm) – Tuesday 31 December

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Birmingham Royal Ballet Based at Birmingham Hippodrome since 1990, Birmingham Royal Ballet is the United Kingdom’s leading classical ballet touring company performing a range of traditional, classical and heritage ballets as well as ground-breaking new works with the aim of encouraging choreographers of the future.

Internationally renowned dancer and choreographer Carlos Acosta CBE has been appointed as the company’s new Director. He will take up his appointment in January 2020. Music Director is Koen Kessels. Birmingham Royal Ballet performs at Birmingham Hippodrome for approximately ten weeks of the year and the remainder of the year tours throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Britain's busiest ballet orchestra, playing for Birmingham Royal Ballet's wide-ranging programme in the UK and abroad. The Sinfonia also plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and many of the world's other leading ballet companies, including regular performances with; The Royal Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov, Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and La Scala Ballet.