Steven McRae made his debut in Frederick Ashton's Rhapsody last night - and if you are near a phone, you should call the Opera House and book a ticket for his next performance on Saturday.
Australian-born McRae is near- perfect in the role, with both the technical finesse and the sense of humour to mix bravura moves with self-deprecating smiles.
Ashton made Rhapsody as a showpiece for the near legendary Russian émigré dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and set it to Rachmaninoff's familiar variations on Paganini's theme. The choreography is famously full of fireworks, with multiple spins piled on spring-back jumps, and turns so speedy it looks as if the dancers are moving in two directions at once.
McRae is master of these, as he is of the airy manners and gossamer gallantries. The slow movement with Alina Cojocaru (also debuting) when the pair softly slip into each other's arms is one of the loveliest and most poignant in classical dance. There is, of course, an undertow to Ashton's elegance, which is that most of the world is nothing like it, and it's his ability to splice these more serious themes with the show-off steps that justify all the raving.
Also on the triple bill was Alastair Marriott's Sensorium (to Debussy) and David Bintley's Still Life at the Penguin Café (to Simon Jeffes). Both were well danced and the music expertly led by conductor Barry Wordsworth - but they inevitably paled next to Rhapsody.
In rep until March 28 (020 7304 4000, roh.org.uk)
The Royal Ballet: Rhapsody/Sensorium/Still Life At the Penguin Cafe
Royal Opera House
Floral Street, WC2E 9DD
