Royal Opera House Live Cinema Season 2016/17: The Dream/Symphonic Variations/Marguerite and Armand (2017) watch online HD

A wonderful performance of three ballets in one evening paying tribute to founder choreographer, and one of ballet's most influential, Frederick Ashton. The most familiar to me is 'The Dream', but the other two ballets 'Symphonic Varations' and 'Marguerite and Armand' are no less inferior.

While not quite one of the highlights of the 2016-2017 season of the Royal Opera/Ballet Live Cinema simulcasts, 'The Dream'/'Symphonic Variations'/Marguerite and Armand' is towards the top. Generally this season, and actually of the Live Cinema simulcast series, the ballets have fared better than the operas. Have not seen a bad ballet production of the Live Cinema series from 2014 to the present whereas the opera ones were more of a mixed bag ('Le Nozze Di Figaro', 'Andrea Chenier' and 'Madama Butterfly' were particularly wonderful and then there were disappointments like 'Norma', 'Il Trovatore' and especially 'Guillaume Tell').

Back to talking about this production, musically it's exceptional. Mendelssohn's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is still one of the best work he ever wrote and 'The Dream' has always used it with enchantment and wit. As well as the warmth and the elegance, the enchantment and wit comes through in the orchestral playing. They are every bit as good doing justice beautifully and with much nuance to a pleasant new discovery with the music of Cesar Franck. The 'Marguerite and Armand' segment does a wonderful job being true in spirit to the passionate tempestuous Liszt Piano Sonata.

Frederick Ashton's choreography throughout couldn't be more perfect. His characteristic trademarks can be seen in all three works, like the precision of the footwork, how he used the shoulders and the simple delicacy. It is especially good in 'The Dream', a masterpiece of choreography full of witty humour, elegant lines and grace, also being successful in giving clarity to the story. 'Symphonic Variations' is abstract and mysterious but also beautiful and tender. 'Marguerite and Armand' exemplifies passion and intensity, as well as grandeur, living up to the music's tempestuous nature.

Visually, it's more than appropriate. The most beautiful visually is 'The Dream', with a real sense of it being set on a Midsummer Night. Liked the mysteriousness yet restraint of the back-drops in 'Symphonic Variations', and 'Marguerite and Armand' is somewhat terrifyingly demonic.

There is very little to fault with the performances. My only criticism of the entire production is that Valentino Zucchetti's Puck is a little overdone and his dancing doesn't quite have the light energy one wants. Akane Takada is an irresistibly enchanting Titania and Steven MacRae has the menace and fun factor for Oberon.

Marianela Nunez in 'Symphonic Variations' is beautifully sensitive, though everybody involved captures the mystery, tenderness and abstractness of the work and atmosphere very well.

Zenaida Yanowsky's intensity and touching vulnerability shines through in 'Marguerite and Armand' while Roberto Bolle is an accommodating partner and Gary Avis is on typically solid form. Throughout the Corps De Ballet are impeccable.

Overall, a dream. 9/10 Bethany Cox