Uncover the most mesmerising moments in ballet history with this scintillating visual guide. Written with ballet legend Viviana Durante, this book will introduce you to the most famous performers and enthrall you with fascinating stories. Discover more than 70 celebrated dances, from The Nutcracker and Swan Lake to The Rite of Spring. Learn about renowned companies such as The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet. Explore the lives of ballet dancers across the centuries, such as Margot Fonteyn, Carlos Acosta, and Darcey Bussell, and meet composers and choreographers, including the likes of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Matthew Bourne. Tracing the history of ballet all the way from its origins at court and the first institutes to the contemporary scene, this comprehensive yet accessible volume offers an unrivalled overview of this dance form. Rarely seen photographs covering key figures, pieces, and performances, alongside compelling facts about each dance - the sources they draw from, their production history, and their reception over time - make for a sumptuous visual treat and an essential gift for all dance and ballet enthusiasts.

The Royal Ballet presents a stellar cast in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet, filmed in 1994 for the BBC, with John Lanchbery's sumptuous scoring of music by Franz Liszt. The dramatic soundscape is matched by MacMillan's penetrating interpretation of the events surrounding the double suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his young mistress, Mary Vetsera, at Mayerling in January 1889. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Barry Wordsworth.