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Carlos Acosta, dancer

Michael Berkeley's guest is the dancer, choreographer and Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta.

In the world of dance, Carlos Acosta is a superstar. He grew up in a poor part of Havana, where he was the 11th child in his family, and began his training at the National Ballet School of Cuba.

At the age of just 18, he became the youngest principal dancer at the English National Ballet. After gaining further international experience, he joined the Royal Ballet in 1998 and made it his home for nearly two decades, dancing almost every major classical role.

He’s now Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he’s fostered some unexpected collaborations, including a ballet danced to the music of local heavy rock legends Black Sabbath as well as productions of classics such as Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. And this summer, he returns to the stage of the Royal Ballet in London with a programme called Myths and Modern Masters.

Carlos' music choices include works by Prokofiev, Khachaturian, Massenet and Ennio Morricone.

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53 minutes

Last on

Today12:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Balcony Scene (Romeo and Juliet - suite no.1)

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Abbado A-Z: Prokofiev – Ravel.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 55.

  • Chucho Valdés

    Despedida (Misa Negra [The Black Mass])

    Ensemble: Irakere.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.

  • Ennio Morricone

    Cinema Paradiso (Main Theme)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Ennio Morricone.
    • Reel Chill The Cinematic Chillout Album CD1.
    • EMI.
    • 12.

  • Jules Massenet

    Manon (Act 1 Pas de deux - extract)

    Music Arranger: Leighton Lucas. Music Arranger: Hilda Gaunt. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Richard Bonynge.
    • Massenet: Manon.
    • Decca.
    • 2.

  • Michael Nyman

    The Heart Asks Pleasure First (The Piano)

    Performer: Michael Nyman.
    • The Piano: Music From The Motion Picture.
    • Venture.
    • 4.

  • Aram Khachaturian

    Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Spartacus Suite no.2)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi.
    • Khachaturian: Spartacus Suites: SNO, Jarvi.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Lark Ascending (extract)

    Performer: Tasmin Little. Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Vaughan Williams: The Symphonies: BBCSO/Sir Andrew Davis.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 6.

  • Black Sabbath

    Laguna Sunrise

    • Black Sabbath Vol.4.
    • Sanctuary Records.
    • 8.

  • Hans Zimmer

    Now We Are Free (Gladiator)

    Composer: Lisa Gerrard. Composer: Klaus Badelt. Orchestra: Lyndhurst Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Greenaway.
    • Classical Hits.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 13.

Broadcast

  • Today12:00
    BBC Radio 3

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