This triple bill comprised Obsidian Tear by Wayne McGregor, The Invitation by Kenneth MacMillan and Within the Golden Hour by Christopher Wheeldon.
Obsidian Tear owes its title, according to the FT, to nodules of volcanic glass which in Native American legend are the petrified tears shed by the Apache tribe after their doomed army galloped over a cliff. Set to the music of Esa-Pekka Salonen, the piece features nine male dancers dressed in rather androgynous kilts and divided skirts. With dramatic lighting by Lucy Carter, this felt a very modern piece. However, I was slightly disappointed that Edward Watson's role did not quite live up to the expectations I had brought after seeing his stunning performance in Metamorphosis. The Invitation is a dark narrative piece concerning young innocent cousins who fall into the clutches of an older and more debauched pair, the wife of which strikes up a relationship with the youth while the man pursues and assaults the girl, destroying her innocence and trust. This part was particularly well danced by Francesca Hayward who evoked the feelings of the subject matter.
Within the Golden Hour was a series of seven pieces, mainly to the music of Ezio Bosso (and one to Vivaldi). It featured in particular Sarah Lamb and Stephen McRae as well as two further pairs of dancers. The music gave the opportunity for the dancers to be put through their paces and was, I thought, the best of the bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XavL43C3RH4
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