Insights into Frederick Ashton: the influence of a ballet legend

The 10th anniversary of the Frederick Ashton Foundation is marked with an unmissable Insight exploring the genius of Frederick Ashton. Find out more about the master choreographer’s work and legacy in an evening of live performance.
Programme:
Rio Grande, The Sailor's Dance. Music: Constant Lambert. Dancer: Alexander Grant.
Foyer de Danse, solo and adage. Music: Lord Berners. Dancers: Ginevra Zambon and Harris Bell.
Dante Sonata, Children of Light pas de deux. Music: Franz Liszt. Dancers: Momoko Hirata and César Morales.
Sylvia, solo from Act III. Music: Léo Delibes. Dancer: Anna Rose O'Sullivan.
Swan Lake, duet from the Act I pas de quatre. Music: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky. Dancers: Leo Dixon and Joseph Sissens.
The Sleeping Beauty, Fair of Joy, the Prologue. Music: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky. Dancer: Isabella Gasparini.
Le Rossignol, The Fisherman's Solo. Music: Igor Stravinsky. Dancer: Matthew Ball.
Hamlet and Ophelia. Music: Franz Liszt. Dancers: Francesca Hayward and William Bracewell.
The second part of this evening was a screening of Links in the Chain, a specially commissioned film about Frederick Ashton: • Frederick Ashton: Link...
Momoko Hirata and César Morales appear by kind permission of Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet
Supported by Rolex

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@susanpfaust]

THE fisherman's solo with Matthew Ball is wonderful, expressive

[@dsanchezbrett]

Matthew Ball at Le Rossignol, The Fisherman's Solo is terrific. Bravo

[@mvo4968]

Really enjoyed Hamlet and Ophelia. William Bracewell is such a wonderful dancer, and Bracewell and Hayward are amazing together, as always.

[@nectarina3891]

Ashton is my Favorite choreographer of all time

[@nicolebezeau1174]

So cool to see some Ashton works that may have fell by the wayside from the passage of time. Favourite performance goes to William Bracewell's Hamlet (so broody and struggling from the madness of grief of his father's death), while Francesca is a beautiful and extremely vulnerable Ophelia

[@catherinem5471]

I’m supposed to be studying for my finals but this is better😂🤷🏻‍♀️

[@lv4eva1]

Remember it’s important to have breaks in between lol Good luck with your exams

[@jessaglenny]

Wonderful. The documentary was fantastic. I'd love to see all the vintage B/W footage of The Dream with Dowell and Sibley.

[@casteretpollux]

So glad this wonderful work of salvage is done.

[@Sarah_seaside]

So much beauty and grace! Everyone did such an amazing job! ENCORE!!!

[@TheDelfinlady]

That sylvia solo was gorgeous! 20:52 - 23:30

[@mariellouise1]

I can’t imagine why Hamlet and Ophelia are not performed more as it is absolutely stunning with the background projections!

[@noblesetsentimentales]

This was such a joy to watch. Discovering a "new" Ashton ballet is always a pleasure. Well-derserved bravos for Matthew Ball's stunning Fisherman solo, which I particularly enjoyed. And that Degas-inspired "Foyer de Danse" adagio is so beautiful. They should bring both back.

[@jillgooner]

you bet, he is something else and very versatile, saw him in giselle last week outstanding performance his acting skills are wonderful and is so natural. A real star at the roh.

[@columbray]

Iain Webb and the Sarasota Ballet have championed the work of Sir Frederick Ashton for the last fifteen years.

[@garotadagavea]

Thank you so much for posting this. It was wonderful!

[@melissatranfield4054]

Absolutely stunning revival of Hamlet and Ophelia.

[@lazarocedeno5270]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful performances. Bravo. Brilliant!

[@gloriousg]

Yuhang 🥰😍

[@spaceblank2434]

Yu hang❤️❤️❤️

[@mariosilva1023]

Maravilloso!!cuanto talento!!gracias

[@hamoumousamia3524]

wonderful documentary !

[@pheart2381]

Yay,afro hair on stage!

[@classicalaid1]

Missed the Tales of Beatrix Potter choreography. Perhaps another time. It is so brilliant. And it was challenging for him!

[@JewelBelleLove]

So amazing!!

[@voraciousreader3341]

While all this is lovely, what was Anthony Dowell and other directors, not to mention the various members of RB Board of Directors over the years _thinking_ during their tenures in losing track of all of these ballets, and so many more, now that everybody’s dead and gone?? In every documentary about the RB or one of its icons, going 40 years back, all you hear is _“Frederick Ashton, Frederick Ashton, FREDERICK ASHTON,”_ by several snooty voices, as though his work puts the RB above every company in the world, *BUT NOBODY ONCE THOUGHT TO PRESERVE HIS BALLETS?!?!?!?* Seriously, I never go to the CAPS, but this is absolutely shameful!!!

[@lentilly2719]

I love it!!!🤪😍😍😍🧁

[@user-du1mn7zx7n]

O' Sullivan was overhyped by the fans during the pandemic and was put as a principal way too early. Gorgeous but lacking which is evident in Sylvia variation. RB shouldn't have listened to the fans and gave her more time to improve.

[@Javier-fv4tf]

So true. 🥴

[@sallygardiner7150]

I agree.

[@rosemarywaldie4958]

Lovely

[@chocolatesouljah]

Le Rossignol - Fisherman's Solo (1981) - 34:01

[@aliyaqmaie7307]

بسیار زیبا❤❤❤❤❤

[@moveandstretch9982]

Periwinkle 🌸💜🩰

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

No lo conozco la foto de preventa ion es pésima.

[@casteretpollux]

It is. A herniated appearance: very worrying.

[@oliverdownunder9397]

Anna Rose is a lovely dancer but a strange face.

[@KEMET1971]

Sorry ... but "The Sailor" needs to be lost again and stay lost.