Celebrating Frederick Ashton - Founder of the Royal Ballet Companies

Momoko Hirata as Lise in La Fille mal gardée. Photo (c) Bill Cooper.

Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia celebrate the legendary Frederick Ashton, Choreographer.

Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) are bringing Frederick Ashton classics to the stage marking 120 years since the birth of this great choreographer and Founder of the Royal Ballet companies.

La Fille mal gardée will be performed at the Birmingham Hippodrome from 25 – 28 September 2024 and Ashton Classics take to the stage at Birmingham Symphony Hall on 15 February 2025.

Marking the beginning of a new season, this autumn BRB will present Ashton’s beloved classic La Fille mal gardée at Birmingham Hippodrome for the first time under the directorship of Carlos Acosta, who, for many, is one of the definitive interpreters of Colas in this sunny, funny and effervescent ballet.

Ashton Classics (15 Feb 2025) will celebrate the choreographer’s celebrated works with excerpts from popular favourites such as The Dream, Enigma Variations and A Month in the Country - the foundations of the British ballet repertory in the spectacular surroundings of Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Frederick Ashton Classics. Photo used with permission.

BRB’s world-class dancers will perform on stage alongside the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, playing some of the great scores that inspired Ashton’s creations.

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Director, Carlos Acosta said: “The impact and importance of the great Frederick Ashton on the ballet world is immense. As founder of the Royal Ballet companies, it is a pleasure to honour his contribution by presenting what has to be one of his most popular and beloved works, La Fille mal gardée, for the first time since I took on the role of Director.

“Returning to Birmingham’s beautiful Symphony Hall, we continue with celebrating Ashton’s contribution to ballet with Ashton Classics, presenting some of the highlights from a collection of great ballet works accompanied on stage by our acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia.”

Lise Momoko, Hirate; Colas, Mathias Dingman; Widow Simone, Michael O'Hare; Alain, James Barton. Photo (c) Bill Cooper.

Chris Proctor, Head of Programme at B:Music who operate Symphony Hall added: “We’re delighted that the 30+ year-old relationship between Birmingham Royal Ballet and B:Music continues into this new season with the Ashton Classics performance in Spring 2025.

“Being a world class concert hall, we welcome some of the best orchestras from around the UK and around the world, but with programmes such as Ashton Classics, we get a chance to provide that opportunity for the Royal Ballet Sinfonia to come out from the orchestra pits of theatres, and to proudly display their prowess, all under the baton of newly-appointed Musical Director, Paul Murphy.”

For more information and to book tickets visit brb.org.uk.