Woolf Works is a full-length contemporary ballet choreographed by Wayne McGregor, composed by Max Richter, and inspired by Virginia Woolf's novels, letters, essays and diaries. The premiere took place on 11 May 2015 at the Royal Opera House. It was McGregor's first full-length ballet for The Royal Ballet, and won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production.[1]
| Woolf Works | |
|---|---|
| Choreographer | Wayne McGregor |
| Music | Max Richter |
| Premiere | 11 May 2015 Royal Opera House |
| Original ballet company | The Royal Ballet |
| Design | Moritz Junge Ciguë We Not I Wayne McGregor |
| Created for | Alessandra Ferri |
| Genre | Contemporary ballet |
Production
edit| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Woolf Works – Orlando pas de deux (Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson; The Royal Ballet), YouTube video |
In the ballet, each act represent one of Woolf's novels. The three acts, titled "I now, I then", "Becomings" and "Tuesday" are inspired by Mrs. Dalloway, Orlando and The Waves respectively.[2]
Alessandra Ferri, who was 52, was invited by McGregor to star in Woolf Works, as he believed her age was suitable for the role.[3] Mara Galeazzi, a former principal dancer who left the company in 2013, was asked to cover for Ferri, though Galeazzi did not perform the role until 2017.[4]
The music, composed by McGregor's frequent collaborator Max Richter, featured both classical and electronic sounds.[2] A recording of Woolf reading her essay "On Craftsmanship" was used in "I now, I then."[5] Actress Gillian Anderson provided a voice recording of reading Woolf's suicide note, which is played in the beginning of "Tuesday."[6] The music was released as an album titled Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works.[7]
A 2017 revival was filmed and relayed in cinemas.[8] The film was later broadcast by BBC 4 and released on a DVD.[9][10] The Royal Opera House released the recording online in response to the impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the performing arts.[11] In the first full company performance since the pandemic started, Edward Watson, Akane Takada and Calvin Richardson performed an excerpt from "I now, I then."[12][13]
La Scala Theatre Ballet in Milan debuted Woolf Works in 2019. Ferri and Federico Bonelli, a Royal Ballet principal, reprised their roles from the original production.[14]
Woolf Works made its North American debut on April 11, 2024 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California and was danced by American Ballet Theatre, Segerstrom's official dance company.[15]
Principal casts
edit- Original cast: Alessandra Ferri, Federico Bonelli, Edward Watson, Tristan Dyer, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Francesca Hayward, Gary Avis, Sarah Lamb, Natalia Osipova, Melissa Hamilton, Akane Takada, Steven McRae, Paul Kay, Eric Underwood, Matthew Ball[16]
- 2017 filmed version cast: Alessandra Ferri, Federico Bonelli, Edward Watson, Calvin Richardson, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Francesca Hayward, Gary Avis, Sarah Lamb, Natalia Osipova, Akane Takada, Steven McRae, Paul Kay, Eric Underwood, Matthew Ball[8]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Organisation | Award | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Critics Circle National Dance Awards | Best Classical Choreography | Woolf Works | Won | [17] |
| Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) | Alessandra Ferri | Nominated | [18] | ||
| Grishko Award for Best Female Dancer | Alessandra Ferri | Won | [17] | ||
| 2016 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Dance Production | Woolf Works | Won | [19] |
| Outstanding Achievement in Dance | Alessandra Ferri[n 1] | Won | [19] |
Notes
edit- ^ Alessandra Ferri was awarded for both Woolf Works and Chéri
References
edit- ^ "Woolf Works". Royal Opera House. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ a b Mackrell, Judith (2 May 2015). "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Not the Royal Ballet". The Guardian.
- ^ Cappelle, Laura (9 April 2015). "Wayne McGregor's First Full- Length Ballet for The Royal". Pointe Magazine.
- ^ Parry, Jann (12 February 2017). "Interview – Mara Galeazzi on Woolf Works, her wider career and dancing on…". DanceTaps.
- ^ "Woolf Works at La Scala – McGregor, Richter, Ferri and Bonelli talk about making the ballet". Gramilano. 1 April 2019.
- ^ Sulcas, Roslyn (14 May 2015). "Review: 'Woolf Works' by the Royal Ballet". New York Times.
- ^ "Max Richter: Three Worlds – Music From Woolf Works". Pop Matters. 27 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Woolf Works (2017)". Royal Opera House. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Guerreiro, Teresa (29 June 2017). "BBC Four - Wayne McGregor, Woolf Works, The Royal Ballet". Culture Whisper.
- ^ "Woolf Works". Presto Classical. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Royal Opera House Announces Woolf Works and La Boheme as Part of #OurHouseToYourHouse". Broadway World UK Regional. 13 June 2020.
- ^ "The Royal Ballet's Edward Watson: 'It's not normal to do this to your body – but it is possible'". The Guardian. 7 October 2020.
- ^ "The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage review – freedom to soar again". The Guardian. 11 October 2020.
- ^ "McGregor's Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala". Gramilano. 1 May 2019.
- ^ "American Ballet Theatre debuts piece in Costa Mesa". The Orange County Register. 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Woolf Works". Studio Wayne McGregor. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ a b "2015 National Dance Awards – Winners Announced". DanceTabs. 25 January 2016.
- ^ "2015 National Dance Awards – Announcement of Nominations". DanceTabs. 29 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Olivier awards 2016 – full list of winners from Kinky Boots to Judi Dench". The Guardian. 3 April 2016.