Clemency Burtonhill

Clemency suggests

January may traditionally be the year’s grimmest month, characterised as it is by broken resolutions, misery-inducing detox diets and frightening reminders from the Inland Revenue, but at least there are some artistic treats around the corner to beat the blues (until the Arts Council get their way, that is…)

The Royal Ballet is in the best shape it has been in for years, not least because of the presence of the young Australian Steven McRae. Hailing from the suburbs of Australia, this effervescent 21-year old fell into dancing quite by accident, but having nabbed the prestigious Prix de Lausanne aged 16, followed by a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School, he has been tearing up the stage at Covent Garden for the past two seasons. Last Autumn, McRae stepped in at the last minute to play Romeo – an unthinkable honour, for someone other than a Royal Ballet principal to take an opening night lead on that most revered on stages – whilst preparing simultaneously for three other ballets. Redolent of a young Anthony Dowell, or even Nuryev, McRae was a thrilling Nutcracker last month and I cannot wait to see his interpretation of Chroma in early February. McRae, by his own admission, is ‘not the most patient person’, but if his career so far is anything to go by, patience is the last thing in the world he’s going to need. A star is most certainly born.

Don’t be put off by the reviews that say it is too long, too slow and too mahjong-heavy: Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution is a terrific film, superbly shot and wonderfully acted. Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai in the early 1940s and centring around the story of a young Chinese girl who must seduce a traitor in order to trap and kill him, the film’s sinister atmosphere of fear and paranoia is tempered only by the intense fragility of the love affair at its heart.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in