Having just taken a good look at The Royal Ballet's programme for next season. I know the company needs to fill the house, but do we really need two runs and 24 performances of Swan Lake? Balanchine did have a point about the ballet but this does seem to be overdoing it a bit.
Add to that the 20 Nutcrackers, 14 Giselles, 13 Bayaderes and 13 Manons and 11 Ondines (two runs) and it seems Kobborg really does have apoint when he says it is fast becoming an English ABT. There are four triple bills, five if you include Jewels, but none get more than six performances.
And the lack of matinees is again notable. Yes there are 16 through the season, but half of those are Nutcrackers. Only one mixed programme gets an afternoon showing. Not only that, many matinees now start so early (12 noon in some cases) that it's impossible to get to London in time using off-peak train tickets. It seems the company no longer cares about being seen by non-Londoners. Of course, it gave up any UK touring many years ago. Not so much a British institution as a London one.
Full prgramme as follows:
Swan Lake: Oct 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 25; Feb 27, 28 (mat & eve); March 13 (mat), 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28; April 1, 4.
Manon: October 11 (mat), 13, 15, 17, 22, 24, 30; November 1 (mat & eve), 4, 17, 22, 24, 27.
Serenade, l'Invitation au Voyage, Theme and Variations: October 28, 29; November 5, 7, 10.
The Lesson, Voluntaries, New McGregor: November 13, 14, 19, 20, 26.
Ondine: November 29; December 3, 5, 6; May 27, 28; June 1, 3, 5, 7.
The Nutcracker: December 15, 17, 19, 20 (mat & eve), 21 (mat), 23 (mat & eve), 26, 27 (mat), 28 (mat), 31 (mat & eve); January 3 (mat & eve), 6, 7, 9, 10 (mat & eve).
La Bayadere: January 13, 15, 16, 17 (mat), 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29; February 4, 7.
Seven Deadly Sins, Carmen (Ek), DGV (Danse a Grand Vitesse): January 31 (mat & eve), February 6, 19, 20, 21.
Isadora, Dances at a Gathering: March 11, 12, 18, 20, 21.
Giselle: April 6, 9, 13 (mat), 14, 16, 22, 23, 28, 30; May 1, 13, 16 (mat), 22, 26.
Les Sylphides, New Marriott, The Firebird: May 4, 9, 19, 21, 29, 30.
Jewels: June 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19.
Matinees start between 12 noon and 1.30pm. Evenings between 6 and 7.30pm.
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