Frozen may have captured the minds of young audiences but the ballet adaptation of the story had them totally spellbound.
The glittering production of The Snow Queen was performed at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen last night with an elegance and passion that lit up the whole venue.
With almost every seat in the historic theatre taken, it was a fitting evening for the Aberdeen debut of the show which called an end to the 50th year of the Scottish Ballet.
The story sees powerful icy Snow Queen, Bethany Kingsley-Garner, steal the man her sister, the Summer Princess – played by Alice Kawalek – loves.
With the queen interrupting a newly engaged couple and an eerie forest packed with wolves, there’s not a dull moment throughout, but the incredible music perhaps stands out even more.
Written by Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the score was adapted specially by Richard Honner and what an incredible job he did.
The full Scottish Ballet Orchestra played with gusto and packed their notes with emotion.
Each section has to be congratulated for creating music that I could listen to on repeat.
Combined with the gorgeous movements of the ballerinas, it was a frosty and fantastic interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s story.
Choreographed by Christopher Hampson and designed by the award-winning Lez Brotherston, it was executed to perfection.
A standout moment is the exciting double act of the acrobats Anna Williams and Roseanna Leney. Their slaps and trips set everyone giggling.
But the highlight of the show was the pristine performance of each principal who danced with ease and portrayed the story with heaps of expression.
The ballet is on at His Majesty’s Theatre until Saturday night.
