Anastasia

Kenneth MacMillan's dramatic ballet is inspired by the story of Anna Anderson, who believed herself to be the famous Russian princess.

MacMillan's ballet was inspired by the story of Anna Anderson, a woman who believed herself to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II. During the time MacMillan created the ballet, rumours swirled that the princess may have survived the massacre that killed her family in 1918; but this was later disproved by DNA evidence. Some believed Anderson, but many did not, and the ballet shows her haunted by memories of a past that may not be hers. MacMillan originally created Act III of Anastasia as a one-act ballet for Deutsche Oper Ballet in 1967, and expanded it into a three-act work for The Royal Ballet in 1971. The ballet remains one of MacMillan's stylistically adventurous works. A new production, designed by Bob Crowley, was created in 1996, and it returns in 2016 for its second revival. Like MacMillan's choreography, Anastasia also features a prominent musical contrast. Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky’s First and Third Symphonies are used for Acts I and II, while Czech composer Martin?’s Sixth Symphony is the score for Act III. Anastasia features many Principal Dancers of The Royal Ballet including Marianela Nuñez, Federico Bonelli, Edward Watson and Thiago Soares. Natalia Osipova performs the lead role of Anastasia/Anna Anderson.

Original title Anastasia
Genre Ballet
Recording location Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Duration 110 mins
Production Company Royal Opera House
Composer Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, Bohuslav Martin?
Choreography by Kenneth MacMillan
Dance Company Royal Opera House
Costumes Bob Crowley
Soloist Natalia Osipova, Marianela Nuñez, Federico Bonelli, Edward Watson, Thiago Soares