Romeo & Juliet - Queensland Ballet

Romeo & Juliet - Queensland Ballet

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Posted 2014-07-06 by John Andrewfollow

Fri 27 Jun 2014 - Tue 05 Aug 2014



Artistic Director Li Cunxin has done it again. Only this time the bar is raised so high, only his " light as a feather" dancers could possibly traverse it in this ethereal production of "Romeo and Juliet".

The vision is clear; to set the stage for world class ballet in this humble antipodean part of the globe (Brisbane) and more importantly, give our local dancers the best opportunity they can have to experience such wonderful dance, choreography and music. But they are not the only winners. Brisbane audiences are being treated to the kind of sublime ballet that normally you would have to get on a plane to see at the Royal Ballet.

By dreaming big like this you can get some spectacular results. In this instance Queensland Ballet has been the first in Australia to be allowed to perform Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet. It also attracted as guest artists a superlative cast; Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta and Steven McRae. Also add to this stellar cast former and current Principal Artists of the Australian Ballet, Stephen Heathcote and Daniel Gaudiello, and a large local cast of dancers including those from ancillary training programmes to mount the rich tapestry of dance on stage; sometimes seventy strong on different levels of the set. The latter together with costumes was a feast of rich brocades, velvets, deep burgundies and opulent masonry in sweeping halls. This set and costume collection were on loan from the Birmingham Royal Ballet and added beautifully to the dark sombre notes of the rich but oppressive houses of the Montegues and Capulets.

I can't speak highly enough of how all elements of this production cohered to render a faithful rendition of MacMillan's vision. MacMillan wanted to show Romeo and Juliet as young, impetuous but otherwise innocent at the mercy of a powerful patriarchal society, the clash of these disparate elements leading to Romeo and Juliet's demise.

The initial group dance/fighting scene sets the stage for Romeo's impetuous, fun loving and spirited nature. Juliet is introduced, in contrast to the stiff formality of her elders, as a sweet delicate innocent child still with her nurse who is being forced to marry a wealthy suitor by her parents. The development of a spontaneous attraction between Romeo and Juliet is part of MacMillan's vision to contrast the clash between the natural and the formal; the light-hearted versus the stiff and calculated.

The sombre recognisable notes of Prokofiev's score are superbly and dramatically played here by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Mogrelia.

The choreography in turn brings out these contrasting musical notes; dark stylised movements and fighting scenes to reflect the tensions of the two formal houses of Capulet and Montegue versus the ethereally light movements of Juliet and Romeo, especially in their intensely romantic pas de deux.

We saw Romeo danced by Steven McRae and Juliet by Natasha Kusch. The professionalism both brought to these roles raised the production from wonderful to sublime. Steven appeared effortless in his many demanding solo and pas de deux dances with beautiful and lithe form. He was exceptional in his acting as he facially expressed his initial interest, leading to attraction, intense love and adoration of Juliet. Natasha also danced and acted her part beautifully; very credible as a sweet barely grown up teenager who visibly matures as she finds love and fights for her right to her own to be her own person. Her dance is as light as a feather with phenomenal flexibility and floating arms.

The stellar cast provided strength and verve to the whole company who danced their hearts out and was matched by the bright confident playing of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Conclusion; if you like Ballet and if there are any remaining seats at QPAC this is not to be missed.

#brisbane_city
#ballet
#classical_music
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#june
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!date 27/06/2014 -- 05/08/2014
%wnbrisbane
209876 - 2023-06-16 06:23:19

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