World Premiere of Lazuli Sky

2020 has been quite a challenge for everyone, especially those in the arts industry. Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre both have been impacted with the need to close to remain Covid secure. Fast forward to October 2020 and the two came together to deliver the World Premiere of Lazuli Sky, a much anticipated Triple Bill. It is Carlos Acosta’s first live programme as Artistic Director for Birmingham Royal Ballet and after watching it myself, it is a great first choice.

Carlos has commissioned the new work, Lazuli Sky and the Triple Bill sees it performed alongside works by two (never before seen in the UK) choreographers Venezuelan Vicente Nabrada and Israeli Valery Panov. All performed with live music played by a smaller selection of musicians from Royal Ballet Sinfonia and pianist Jonathan Higgins.

The online recorded show is currently available for £10 which allows you to watch the show on one device. I watched it on my TV (streamed from my laptop). If you would like to watch the show, please do click the link here which will take you to the correct page. Do note that you will be unable to watch this live recording after 8th November 2020 when it expires: https://www.brb.org.uk/lazuli-sky-film

The recorded show starts off with a welcome from Alan Titchmarsh “proving that ballet is back” and letting us know how social distancing in the theatre is going. 800 usually in the audience is reduced to an audience of 100 people, a 60 person strong orchestra is reduced, ballet dancers have been working in bubbles – all to ensure ballet can come back through these hard times. Carlos introduces himself and the World Premiere show – you can see his passion, excitement for the show and huge thanks for The Birmingham Rep for letting the ballet come back to the stage. He ends saying he is “committed to finding solutions” and having being able to sit and watch the ballet today _ I can wholeheartedly agree that this is the artistic director many other companies will be wishing that they had, keeping their company alive.

The performance begins with ‘Our Waltzes’, choreographed by Venezuelan Vicente Nabrada. His choreography style neoclassical – a classical and clean aesthetic. A performance full of elegance, perfect pointe work and harmonious. A series of almost interminable waltzes from five different pairings in canon or intercalating colours. The five couples make beautiful paths to what is coming next, as they move across the stage in lyrical intricate patterns to this abstract and non-narrative ballet.

My favourite pairing being Mathias Dingman and Yaoqian Shang. Their flowing fluid movements in their light pink outfits encaptivated me.

It was also a great delight to see my favourite dancer, Principal Dancer Tzu-Chao Chou in one of the pas de deux. His smile always lights up the stage.

The second performance, Liebestod, a solo choreographed by Valery Panov and performed by Principal dancer Brandon Lawrence left me in awe of Brandons physique, strength and picture perfect performance. A dancer that oozes confidence as he owns the stage and impresses with his floating jetes as Royal Ballet Sinfonia play the spine tingling Liebestod by Wagner which evokes almost a feeling of nervousness. I admit I got goosebumps during this performance – something I often get at the ballet but didn’t think was possible via an online showing. A perfect showcasing of Brandons skills as a dancer.

The final performance was the World Premiere of Lazuli Sky. A performance inspired by peoples new found embracing of nature during the first lockdown. Will Tuckett is the brains and choreography behind this piece, named after Lapis Lazuli, the most expensive Renaissance paint colour which was used in Leonardo Da Vincis bright blue skies.

Samuel Wyer and Nina Dunn bring video imagery to the stage, projecting seascapes and plants onto the back wall and floor. Peter Teigan’s dappled green lighting bathing the dancers at times.

Shaker Loops is the score by John Adams, performed by Royal Ballet Sinfonia and their string section. Repeating loops of oscillations on the string instruments really adds a dramatic effect on to the dancing that we see on the stage.

I don’t want to spoil too much about this dance but I absolutely loved the section with what I am naming ‘social distancing skirts’, delivering space and distance across the stage.

All of the dancing is beautiful and it has been the perfect first day of a second UK lockdown, watching such a phenomenal piece of art.

You can see this up until 8th November 2020. Link to tickets is at the start of my post.

Disclaimer: I was gifted my online ticket as part of a press review, All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Photographs are from the incredibly talented photographer Johan Persson.