Stravinsky: The Firebird and Les Noces

Two Stravinsky ballets are presented by London's Royal Ballet in a concise screen program directed by Ross MacGibbon. Nijinska's clean choreography anchors the pairing, contrasting a stark peasant wedding with a luminous mythic fantasy. In Les Noces, Zenaida Yanowsky and David Pickering lead a procession around a Russian wedding, where percussion and folk tunes drive the ceremony. The Firebird follows Leanne Benjamin as the magical creature whose presence blesses and unsettles those she encounters. Jonathan Cope plays Ivan Tsarevich and David Drew embodies the Immortal Katschei, with Genesia Rosato as The Beautiful Tsarevna and Yanowsky as The Bride. The double bill keeps Stravinsky's contrasts sharp and the staging taut without spoilers.

Directed by Ross MacGibbon, the film presents Nijinska's two works as performed by the Royal Ballet, drawing on Stravinsky's Les Noces and The Firebird.

Box office information for this Royal Ballet screen program is not publicly disclosed, which is common for dance performances released primarily to specialized venues and home media rather than broad theatrical runs.

Awards: No major nominations publicly listed for this release. The film has been discussed more for its dance language and Nijinska's influence than for festival prizes, with critics noting the tight casting and musical clarity.

Reception & Themes: Critics have highlighted the program's brisk pace and the dialogue between two very different Stravinsky pieces. Les Noces emphasizes communal ritual and percussion while The Firebird offers fantasy and transformation, inviting reflection on tradition, music, and spectacle.