Exceptional philanthropic support from Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust
With the generous support of Aline Foriel-Destezet, Season Principal
Generous philanthropic support from John Burns CBE and Susan Burns OBE, John McGinn and Cary Davis, Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman OBE, Simon and Meg Freakley, Kristine Kloberdanz, Royal Ballet and Opera Patrons and The American Friends of Covent Garden
The 2024/25 Royal Ballet Season is generously supported by Aud Jebsen
The performances of Serenade and Prodigal Son, Balanchine© Ballets, are presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and have been produced in accordance with the Balanchine style © and Balanchine Technique © Service standards established and provided by the Trust.
The performance of Symphony in C, a Balanchine© Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The School of American Ballet and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine style © and Balanchine Technique © Service standards established and provided by the Trust
Choreography
George Balanchine
Music
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Conductor
Fayçal Karoui
Costume designer
Karinska
Lighting designer
John B. Read
Staging
Patricia Neary
Principal Coaching
Zenaida Yanowsky
Senior Répétiteur
Samantha Raine
Répétiteur
Sian Murphy
Annette Buvoli, Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Olivia Cowley
Reece Clarke, Nicol Edmonds
Ashley Dean, Leticia Dias, Sae Maeda, Mariko M. Sasaki
Bomin Kim, Isabel Lubach, Nadia Mullova-Barley, Katharina Nikelski, Viola Pantuso, Julia Roscoe, Sumina S. Sasaki, Leticia Stock, Charlotte Tonkinson, Amelia Townsend, Marianna Tsembenhoi, Lara Turk, Yu Hang
Harris Bell, Harry Churches, Harrison Lee, Aiden O'Brien
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Concert Master
Sergey Levitin
Choreography
George Balanchine
Music
Sergey Prokofiev
Conductor
Fayçal Karoui
Designer
Georges Rouault
Lighting designer
John B. Read
Staging
Patricia Neary
Rehearsal Director
Christopher Saunders
The Prodigal Son
Leo Dixon
replaces Steven McRae
The Siren
Fumi Kaneko
Father
Aiden O'Brien
Servants to the Prodigal Son
Téo Dubreuil, Benjamin Ella
The Sisters
Hanna Park, Sumina S. Sasaki
Drinking Companions
Denilson Almeida, Harris Bell, Harry Churches, Martin Diaz, Luc Foskett, Brayden Gallucci, Harrison Lee, Caspar Lench, Alejandro Muñoz
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Concert Master
Sergey Levitin
Choreography
George Balanchine
Music
Georges Bizet
Conductor
Fayçal Karoui
Designer
Anthony Dowell
Lighting designer
John B. Read
Staging
Patricia Neary
Rehearsal Director
Christopher Saunders
Senior Répétiteur
Samira Saidi
First Movement: Allegro Vivo
Mayara Magri replaces Yasmine Naghdi, William Bracewell
Mariko M. Sasaki, Joonhyuk Jun, Annette Buvoli, Giacomo Rovero
Second Movement: Adagio
Melissa Hamilton replaces Sarah Lamb, Ryoichi Hirano
Hannah Grennell, Lukas Bjørneboe Brændsrød, Isabel Lubach, Brayden Gallucci
Third Movement: Allegro Vivace
Sae Maeda, Taisuke Nakao replaces Daichi Ikarashi
Isabella Gasparini, Téo Dubreuil, Ashley Dean, Benjamin Ella
Fourth Movement: Allegro Vivace
Meaghan Grace Hinkis, Leo Dixon
Madison Bailey, Liam Boswell, Mica Bradbury, Harrison Lee
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Concert Master
Sergey Levitin
Director
Kevin O’Hare CBE
Music Director
Koen Kessels
Resident Choreographer
Sir Wayne McGregor CBE
Artistic Associate
Christopher Wheeldon OBE
Administrative Director
Heather Baxter
Rehearsal Director
Christopher Saunders
Clinical Director Ballet Healthcare
Shane Kelly
We are working hard on our commitment towards becoming more sustainable and are striving for our net zero goal of 2035. By using digital cast sheets and e-tickets, we have reduced our paper consumption by over five tonnes per year. You can view our digital cast sheets on a computer, tablet or smartphone by scanning the QR codes displayed around the building using your smartphone’s camera app. They are also displayed on screens outside the auditoria. Cast sheets are generously supported by the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund.
Photography and filming are prohibited during performances in any of our auditoriums. You are welcome to take pictures throughout the rest of the building and before performances and share them with us through social media. Commercial photography and filming must be agreed in advance with our press team.
Larger bags and backpacks need to be check into our complimentary cloakrooms. Unattended bags may be removed.
Please do not place any personal belongings on the ledges in front of you. Mobile phones should be turned off and stored away safely during performances.
Only bottled water and ice cream purchased from the premises can be taken into the auditorium.
If you arrive late to the auditorium or leave during a performance, you will not be allowed back to your seat until the interval or a suitable break.
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the premises.
The safety of our visitors, staff and artists is our priority. To help us provide a comfortable experience for everyone, please be mindful of others and their personal space.
Our staff are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and we ask that you show them and your fellow audience members respect too. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach in response to anyone who interacts with our staff or with fellow audience members in an intimidating, aggressive or threatening manner.
We rely on your support to make world-class ballet and opera for everyone. With your donations we can ensure a bright future for the Royal Ballet and Opera, bringing communities together and inspiring future generations up and down the country.
For people, not profit.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)