Covent Garden put on a birthday party last night for Sir Peter Wright, founding artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet and choreographer of a 1984 Nutcracker that is still being revived the world over.
Peter turns 99 on Tuesday.
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It was a magnificent evening before Kevin O’Hare brought him on stage. Viola Pantuso was radiant, Leo Dixon charming (they were both standout performers in the triple bill on Thursday), and Fumi and William Bracewell were spectacular. It is difficult to underestimate the all round ability of the Royal Ballet at the moment, the corps de ballet just seem to nail everything, the highlight of the Balanchine and Justin Peck on Thursday. Sir Peter must have enjoyed the performance, he was extremely animated on stage. The whole thing was just joyous. The best night out in ages. Bravo!
“It is difficult to underestimate”
Difficult to over-estimate?
Quite possibly … according the The Standard, this ballet was produced by Sir Peter Hall and he came on stage at the end. Sadly, Sir Peter Hall died in 2017. He was a man of many parts, now decomposed, including directing opera, alas he never choreographed ballet even having married a famous former ballet dancer, Leslie Caron.
Saying it’s difficult to underestimate the Royal Ballet’s standards means that however bad you say they are, you’re very likely right.
The influence of Sir Peter Wright on ballet goes far, far beyond The Nutcracker. His Giselle is legendary worldwide — I have seen Giselles on several continents, and almost always based upon his productions. He also has versions of Coppelia, Swan and Sleeping Beauty that continue to be performed by international companies.
What a glorious career — how grand that Covent Garden, to which he gave so much of his life, has honoured him so splendidly.
He’s not dead yet, still advises in class, and Kevin O’Hare joked that the 99th birthday banner can be modified next year.
Viola Pantuso is one to watch. Has the looks and acting chops of Cojocaru when she started out. Whether she can dance as well remains to be seen. Sadly she’s not cast as Giselle next spring. So far we’ve booked another young star, Marianna Tsembenhoi, and Joseph Sissens, for Giselle. She also danced Thursday and last night, and shines out.
I still recall when he toured Asia around 1980 with his Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet giving audiences in cities like Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Hong Kong a taste of true ballet performances. In Penang the air conditioning broke down just before the performance and the hall only had two large fans. One had to go in the orchestra pit (the Hong Kong Philharmonic if I recall correctly) leaving just one for the stage. Watching dancers pirouette in the high heat and humidity with seeming waves of sweat pouring from their bodies made one realise the absolute dedication of Sir Peter’s company. Wishing you a belated Happy Birthday, Sir Peter.