2010 – Premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Asphodel Meadows by The Royal Ballet

Asphodel Meadows was Liam Scarlett’s first work for the main stage at the Royal Opera House. Performed by The Royal Ballet to music by Francis Poulenc, it announced his arrival as a new voice in the classical canon within British ballet. Though abstract, Scarlett’s ballet seems to chart different states of love and draws its valedictory tone from allusions to the asphodel meadows of Greek mythology, the place of eternal resting not for heroes or villains, but for the great majority of us; a place of great neutrality. John Macfarlane designed the set and costumes, and the original cast included Marianela Nuñez, Rupert Pennefather, Tamara Rojo, Bennet Gartside, Laura Morera and Ricardo Cervera.