Landmarks: Unmissable Ashton

This performance brings together three works by Frederick Ashton, offering you a chance to see the stylistic breadth that established the identity of British ballet. You will hear three distinct musical scores by Auber, Franck, and Ravel, each providing a different rhythmic landscape for the dancers. One piece focuses on bright, virtuosic patterns and joyful movement, while another shifts into a more reflective and atmospheric mood. Throughout the evening, we suggest you pay close attention to the way mid-century stage design and lighting are used to frame the dancers. These visual elements are integrated into the choreography to create specific environments, from structured elegance to softer, more evocative scenes. The programme is shaped to demonstrate how Ashton used the foundational techniques of classical dance to express a wide range of emotions and textures. By the end of the triple bill, you will have seen how different musical worlds can dictate entirely unique approaches to light, colour, and movement on a single stage.

The Royal Ballet and Opera is the resident company at Covent Garden, known globally as the home of the British classical style. This ensemble is celebrated for its technical precision and its historical link to the works of its founding choreographers. Based in London, the company maintains a vast repertoire that spans traditional 19th-century classics and influential 20th-century commissions. Their performances are defined by a specific clarity of line and a strong sense of theatrical storytelling, qualities that remain a hallmark of their international reputation.

This event takes place at the Royal Opera House in London on 11 March 2027. As a triple bill of shorter works, it provides a varied experience that is well-suited if you are new to the art form or if you prefer an evening with built-in intervals. There is no specific dress code for this venue; most attendees opt for smart-casual or business attire. The total running time has not been confirmed, but triple bills typically include two breaks. All performances are held in the main auditorium.