DVD + Blu-Ray:
Critics' Choice - La fille mal gardée

0000: Ever since it’s triumphant premiere in January 1960, Frederick Ashton's La fille mal gardée has been esteemed as one of his happiest creations.

The Opus Arte Critics’ Choice series is a diverse range of titles, featuring some of the most acclaimed recordings in the label’s catalogue at a very special price. In this series we celebrate many famous classics while also revisiting some of the more innovative, original and perhaps less well-known productions that the label has long been renowned for showcasing. All the new Critics' Choice releases contain the beautifully designed, original artwork and colour booklets which, along with a new unique cover design uniting all the titles, makes them ideal for collectors.

La fille mal gardée, first presented in 1789, is the oldest and one of the most important works in the modern ballet repertory. There have been many revivals throughout the centuries, but Sir Frederick Ashton’s version for The Royal Ballet, which premiered in 1960, is widely regarded as the “traditional” version.

This is a charming piece, elegantly performed, a village love affair set in the idyllic Constable landscape of Ashton's imagination. Marianela Nuñez and Carlos Acosta would be show-stoppers in almost any suitable role, but as Lise and Colas they are superb. William Tuckett and Jonathan Howells, in the comic roles of Simone and Alain respectively, are every bit as arresting, both displaying a certain genius for knockabout. The luminously colourful Osbert Lancaster designs, together with the vitality of The Royal Ballet’s dancing and vibrant playing from the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House under the baton of Anthony Twiner, serve to augment the harmless good fun at which Ashton excels.

Original title La fille mal gardée
English title The Wayward Daughter
Genre Ballet
Dance Company The Royal Ballet
Choreography by Fredrick Ashton
Composer Ferdinand Hérold
Conductor Anthony Twiner
Orchestra / Band The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Recording location Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Production year 2005
Soloist Marianela Nuñez
Soloist Carlos Acosta
Soloist Will Tuckett
Soloist Jonathan Howells