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The Cellist is Cathy Marston's first ballet for the Covent Garden Main Stage and was inspired by the momentous life and career of the extraordinary cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Lauren Cuthbertson stars as du Pré alongside Matthew Ball as the conductor (and her lover) Daniel Barenboim, but Marcelino Sambé plays second fiddle to neither as the cello come to life.
Jerome Robbins' elegant and elegiac Dances at a Gathering is one of his masterworks. An exercise in pure dance for five couples set to music by Chopin, this recording features an outstanding cast of Royal Ballet dancers, including Marianela Nuñez, Francesca Hayward, Fumi Kaneko, Alexander Campbell and William Bracewell. It's truly a wonder of subtlety and invention.
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The Cellist
The Cellist: Lauren Cuthbertson
The Instrument: Marcelino Sambe
The Conductor: Matthew Ball
The (Young) Cellist: Emma Lucano
Her (Young) Sister: Lauren Godfrey
Her Mother: Kristen McNally
Her Father: Thomas Whitehead
Her Sister: Anna Rose O’Sullivan
Her Cello Teachers: Gary Avis, Nicol Edmonds, Benjamin Ella
Her Musical Friends: Luca Acri, Paul Kay, Joseph Sissens
Artists of the Royal Ballet
Dances at a Gathering
Dancers: Marianela Nuñez, Francesca Hayward, Yasmine Naghdi, Laura Morera, Fumi Kaneko, Alexander Campbell, Federico Bonelli, William Bracewell, Luca Acri, Valentino Zucchetti
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Andrea Molino
Solo Piano: Robert Clark
Solo Cello: Hetty Snell
Choreographers: Cathy Marston / Jerome Robbins
Composers: Philip Feeney / Frédérick Chopin
Bonus: Why The Royal Ballet love performing The Cellist & Dances at a Gathering; Cast Gallery
Picture: 16:9
Sound: LPCM 2.0 / DTS 5.1 Master Audio
Fomat: NTSC
Region code: 0 (All Regions)
Duration: 138 mins
Year: 2020
The Cellist
"Lauren Cuthbertson takes the role of Jacqueline du Pré, and, as you would expect from one of the finest dancers of her generation, gives a wonderfully nuanced and intelligent performance." BBC
"Marston is one of Britain’s most interesting dance narrators... Her decision to make Du Pré’s cello a living, breathing character in its own right is fascinating" Evening Standard
Dances at a Gathering
"...a showcase for the Royal’s very different stars – an elegant Marianela Nuñez, musical Francesca Hayward, playful Alexander Campbell and witty Laura Morera. Sublime." Evening Standard
"...beautifully performed by the entire cast" The Guardian
Jerome Robbins' Dances at a Gathering is charming and refreshing. The choreography and Chopin’s music blend beautifully, the dancers are outstanding, and the minimalist scenography—with a delightful color palette for the dancers' attire—suits the piece perfectly. It's a joy to watch, time and again.
Following a little apprehension on my part, I found 'The Cellist' extremely moving; Marcellino Sambe was a superb 'instrument', and Lauren Cuthbertson a sublime 'Jaqueline'; Matthew Ball's 'conductor' was also very well portayed, and suitably understated.
Dances at a Gathering was simply beautiful, with all my favourite ballerinas looking quite delicious.
