Frederick Ashton: Rhapsody - The Two Pigeons, performed by The Royal Ballet

Two Frederick Ashton ballets in one exquisite evening performance. Principals Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae dance Ashton's Rhapsody, created for The Royal Ballet in 1980 by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lesley Collier, with spectacular choreography to suit the dancers' star reputations. Lauren Cuthbertson and Vadim Muntagirov lead a charismatic cast in Ashton's poignant and heart-warming reflection on Love, The Two Pigeons, based on an old French folk tale and first performed on Valentine's Day 1961.

These two ballets by the Company's Founder Choreographer capture The Royal Ballet's famous skill and distinctive style. Barry Wordsworth conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in the rapturous Rachmaninoff and Messager scores.

Double bill of ballets celebrating choreographer Frederick Ashton. In 'The Two Pigeons', conducted by Barry Wordsworth, a young man played by Vadim Muntagirov is unsuccessfully attempting to paint his love (Lauren Cuthbertson). He finds himself suddenly entranced by a gypsy girl (Laura Morera) however, and begins to follow her.

'Rhapsody' is set to Rachmaninov's 'Rhapsody On a Theme of Paganini', also conducted by Wordsworth. Steven McRae performs as the male virtuoso in this performance, alongside Natalia Osipova, in a work which mirrors the complex nature of the Rachmaninov piece.