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The Sunday Times: Lauren Cuthbertson, a principal ballerina at the Royal Ballet, mesmerized audiences with her title role in ‘The Cellist’—a ballet inspired by the life of Jacqueline du Pré, who was struck by multiple sclerosis at the peak of her career. Premiering in 2020, the role won Cuthbertson the award for Outstanding Female Classical Performance at the National Dance Awards. As she revives her role, Cuthbertson reflects on her immersive approach to character development and her life transformation that followed the ballet’s first run.
Before taking on the role, Cuthbertson had done her homework. She sought insights from Hetty Snell, the principal cellist in the Royal Opera House orchestra, and made it a point to familiarize herself with the cello’s technicalities. Cuthbertson views du Pré as her inspiration, allowing her own body, mind, and soul to embody the musician’s tragic story.
This profound connection with her roles doesn’t end on stage. Cuthbertson admits to lying awake at night, reliving every moment of her performance, describing dance as “completely engrossing.” Off-stage, her life took a turn when she became a mother, adding another layer of complexity to her career that she describes as “necessarily self-absorbed.”
This multifaceted story delves into Cuthbertson’s transformative journey, both in art and life, revealing a dancer deeply committed to her craft, now balancing it with the responsibilities of motherhood.
The Cellist is at the Royal Opera House, London WC2, Oct 20-Nov 2
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-i-became-jacqueline-du-pre-for-the-royal-ballet-dfp3gtw3k
