The Prince of the Pagodas, Royal Opera House, London
The Prince of the Pagodas has always been a problem ballet. The gorgeous Benjamin Britten score is tied to a confused fairy-tale plot, a jumble of King Lear with Beauty and the Beast. Kenneth MacMillan's version, created for The Royal Ballet in in 1989, launched the career of Darcey Bussell but soon faded from the repertory. It's easy to see why. Despite the music, sumptuous designs and a handful of striking dances, …