“David Bintley’s Aladdin” by the National Ballet of Japan to be streamed on OperaVision

The New National Theatre Tokyo (NNTT) is delighted to announce the streaming of David Bintley’s Aladdin performed by the National Ballet of Japan. The performance, staged on 23 June 2024, will be available on OperaVision and NNTT Stream starting from 20 September at 19:00 CET / 21 September at 2:00 JST. Viewers can enjoy the stream for 6 months, along with a bonus video of the performance.

As one of the project partners of OperaVision – a world-leading digital platform for streamings of opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts, NNTT looks forward to presenting the National Ballet of Japan’s performance to the theatre lovers across the globe!

David Bintley’s Aladdin is a full-length ballet choreographed by former Artistic Director Sir David Bintley for the National Ballet of Japan, New National Theatre Tokyo in 2008. Since its premiere, this production has been beloved by audiences. Seamlessly blending entertainment and artistry, this acclaimed work has been performed by esteemed companies such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Houston Ballet, earning international recognition as one of David Bintley’s signature pieces.

In addition to the intricate choreography, highlights include Carl Davis’s accessible music and the enchanting scenes including the flying carpet and the emergence of the Djinn from the lamp. While it is widely recognized in Japan as an Arabian story, the tale of Aladdin in ’Arabian Nights’ is set in China. This production depicts Aladdin as a Chinese descendant in Old Arabia and beautifully incorporates Chinese elements including Lion and Dragon dances with Arabian settings. Audiences can revel in the grand ballet experience with diverse, character-rich dances, including the Pas de deux of Aladdin and the Princess, the divertissements of jewels in the cave scene, and the energetic performances of the Djinn and his entourage.

“The story itself is light and not complicated, so I think the fun and the interest are in its stylistic beauty. There are various scenes, and you can enjoy various scenes and styles like an exposition. For example, in the cave scene in Act I, various jewels will appear, and I try to show different styles and techniques behind. Ruby is a kind of Soviet-style partnering giving a brilliant vibe. For the sapphire, something very soft, English dance or like…maybe Ashton. All of these different characters stand out, so you can enjoy the dance itself and that is the fun, not the story. The story is very simple, but it also has depth. It is about the power of love against the domineering power. So it depicts that love is greater than power.”

“I made the ballet for the National Ballet of Japan. Many roles casting many dancers. I also took it to Birmingham and also performed it at the Houston Ballet, but, for me, they were not the same. Aladdin is, after all, a work created here for the National Ballet of Japan. It was embraced by them and I am just thrilled and delighted that it goes from generation to generation. And I made it for the audience to delight them, make them enjoy, think, and laugh. Ballet will take you away from the world,” Sir David Bintley.

Aladdin is played by Yudai Fukuoka, Princess Badr al-Budur is played by Ayako Ono, Masahiro Nakaya is The Maghrib, and Takafumi Watanabe is The Djinn of the Lamp.

Stream David Bintley’s Aladdin on OperaVision beginning 20 September.

National Ballet of Japan ‘David Bintley’s Aladdin’, Photo by Takashi Shikama