Manon, Royal Ballet

Alina Cojocaru delivers, quite simply, a transcendent performance

by Judith FlandersThursday, 02 June 2011

Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in 'Manon'Photos © Bill Cooper/ Royal Opera House

If an excess of enthusiasm troubles you, look away now. Because this is less a review, more a love letter. Alina Cojocaru has been astonishing audiences for more than a dozen years. Regular ballet-goers attend her performances expecting to be thrilled. I went expecting to be thrilled. What I didn’t expect was to have a ballet I have been watching for 30-odd years suddenly seem new.

Neither of them are afraid to be still, to do less, and then do even less

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Permalink Submitted by Courtney Poland (not verified) on Mon, 27/06/2011 - 17:10

I had the honor and privilege of seeing Alina Cojocaru in Manon in Washington, D.C. in 2009 and it was the single most unforgettable performance I have ever attended. (And I have attended thousands of performances in my lifetime!) Since then, I plan my vacations in the UK and USA, just to see her perform. She is by far one of the world's greatest ballerinas and the depth and complexity of her interpretation of Manon can never be matched by anyone else. She and Johann Koberg literally take my breath away, every time I see them perfom. And the audience is held absolutely spellbound. Thank you for writing such a gorgeous revie/"love letter". It is such a testament to Alina's grace, beauty, and unsurpassed radiance.

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