New Work, New Music, Linbury Theatre Preview

In its new incarnation the Linbury Theatre is committed to offering Royal Opera House audiences new and innovative work. So, it now brings together the Royal Ballet and the London Sinfonietta in New Work, New Music, a programme where five choreographers rise to the challenge of creating dances on musical pieces never before set to dance.

The London Sinfonietta is a byword for innovation. Founded in 1968 with the express purpose of premiering and commissioning contemporary music, initially its stage presence was itself a breath of fresh air, with the musicians in brightly coloured open necked shirts, in a deliberate contrast to the formal black of classical orchestras.

In New Work, New Music the London Sinfonietta plays five works by contemporary composers, and in a co-curated programme the Royal Ballet matches them with dances by a range of choreographers.

The programme marks the Royal Ballet’s first appearance in the refurbished Linbury Theatre. Two of the Royal Ballet’s own dancers try their hand at choreography, which will be danced by their company peers.

Principal Character Dancer Kristen McNally chose to work on music by Samantha Fernando, a young (b 1984) up-and-coming British composer, described by The Times as ‘a composer with an ear for stillness and subtext.’

The Royal Ballet Soloist Calvin Richardson makes his first work for the Linbury Theatre on music by Anna Meredith, whose genre-defying work straddles the worlds of contemporary classical, techno, experimental rock and more besides. This work should provide a glaring contrast to Fernando’s subtler style.

The immensely talented and versatile choreographer Alexander Whitley is a former choreographic affiliate of the Royal Ballet. For New Work, New Music he’s collaborating with avant-garde singer, songwriter and composer Mica Levi, best know perhaps for her score for director Pablo Larraín’s 2016 film Jackie, which focuses on President Kennedy’s widow in the few days following his assassination.

The Spanish dancer and choreographer Goyo Montero makes his Royal Opera House debut with a choreography on a specially commissioned work by Owen Belton, whose compositions have provided the basis for works by many international dance companies.

Last, but not least, comes veteran choreographer Aletta Collins, whose work in both ballet and opera is well know to ROH audiences. Her contribution to New Work, New Music is set to a score by the British composer David Sawer – his canon includes opera, choral, orchestral and chamber music.

All in all, a varied and stimulating programme of contrasting styles and talents.

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