This was an excellent production, well performed and given added interest by the first appearance with this company of Tamara Rojo — formerly one of the Royal Ballet’s finest ballerinas. She was appearing in a dual role; as Princess Aurora, and also as the new artistic director of English National Ballet.

Her disappearance from the Royal Ballet’s schedules left a slot for three performances in that other dual role, Odette/Odile, by the sensational young Russian star Natalia Osipova, in which artistry, musicality, emotion and, in the black act, sheer pizzazz and sex appeal, were backed by a fabulous technique.

Rojo is also a very fine dancer, though she started nervously, presumably feeling the weight of her joint responsibilities, but she relaxed as soon as the anxieties of the Rose Adagio were behind her.

She was partnered by Vadim Muntagirov, the young Russian discovered by Wayne Eagling, Rojo’s predecessor as director.

This is a dancer who is maturing all the time, and who turned in an elegant performance as Prince Desire. Physically tall and long-limbed, he looks just right in the part, but he still needs to gain more weight of personality.

Since joining the company Muntagirov has been partnering its ‘senior’ ballerina Daria Klimentova, but in this performance she was relegated to the role of the Lilac Fairy, which she danced beautifully, giving this often austere character warmth and charm. James Streeter’s debut as Carabosse was one of the successes of the evening.

A delightful performance came from Shiori Kase as Princess Florine in the Bluebird pas de deux, which in her hands sparkled anew.

The garland dance was done with suitable exuberance. Nicholas Georgiadis has clothed the work in the subtlest of muted colours, at the same time giving the costumes a look of sumptuous luxury.

The productiion comes to Oxford next year from February 19-23.