Czech National Ballet in Muscat: La Fille mal gardée is a hit!

Alina Nanu as Lise and Patrik Holeček as Colas with Czech National Ballet in La Fille mal gardée

Giovanni Rotolo as Widow Simone with Czech National Ballet in La Fille mal gardée

Paul Irmatov as Colas and Ayaka Fujii as Lise in Ashton's La Fille mal gardée

Ayaka Fujii as Lise and Marek Kašparovský as Widow Simone in La Fille mal gardée

By Deborah Weiss, 11 March 2024

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“charming, believable, funny and with palpable chemistry”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Muscat on 6 March 2024

La Fille mal gardée (Sir Frederick Ashton)

The Czech National Ballet

Sergey Smbatyan, Conductor

Filip Barankiewicz, Director

Osbert Lancaster, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

Alina Nanu, Dancer

Patrik Holeček, Dancer

Ayaka Fujii, Dancer

Paul Irmatov, Dancer

Giovanni Rotolo, Dancer

Marek Kašparovský, Dancer

Jakub Rašek, Dancer

Veaceslav Burlac, Dancer

ABT presents the classics with slightly uneven results

Ivy Lin, 25th October

ABT offer some outstanding performances in a classical quadruple bill but there was a lack of confidence and uniformity within the corps de ballet.

***11

National Ballet of Japan revives Ashton's beloved Cinderella

Naomi Mori, 18th October

The National Ballet of Japan gave an excellent rendition of Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, in spite of many new faces and role debuts.

****1

Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée: the most joyous of ballets

Amanda Jennings, 18th October

If you’re in need of a pick-me-up, get thee to the Royal Opera House and see La Fille mal gardée, a gem of a ballet. There’s a long roster of impressive casts to choose from.

****1

The Royal Ballet School: a triumphant display of excellence throughout

Jonathan Gray, 12th July

It was a wonderful, heartening afternoon – it’s no wonder nearly all the 2025 graduates have gained contracts with several major ballet companies.

*****

ABT: Ashton's Sylvia showcases the entire company

Ivy Lin, 10th July

The audience walked out of the theater feeling airborne and filled with the kind of joy you only feel after a truly special performance. Sylvia is an absolute treasure.

*****

Ballet Central at the Linbury: keen to prove its versatility

Deborah Weiss, 17th June

Ballet Central provides an extremely varied programme of new and old, classical and contemporary dance, with plenty of aplomb.

***11

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Deborah Weiss

Deb joined Bachtrack in 2022 and commissions reviews and writing on ballet and dance. She was Royal Ballet School-trained and is a former principal dancer for companies including London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) and Bayerisches Staatsballett. She has been writing for more than 30 years – publications have included Dancing Times, DanceTabs, Dance for You and Dance Europe. She also interviews for Voices of British Ballet, an oral archive of people who have worked in the industry in the UK. In addition to her writing, since 2016 she has been facilitating programmes that support victims of domestic abuse. Deb is passionate about her rescue dog, Bruce, and daughters (not in that order), swims a mile at least five days a week and is an avid reader.

Czech National Ballet in Muscat: La Fille mal gardée is an instant hit!