Royal Ballet Triple Bill
CONCERTO/THE JUDAS TREE/ELITE SYNCOPATIONS
Kenneth MacMillan
THE ROYAL BALLET, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
23, 24, 30, 31 March, 14, 15 April, 2010
www.roh.org.uk
The Royal Ballet presents a diverse programme of three short ballets that showcase the creative breadth of choreographer SIR KENNETH MACMILLAN. Concerto, originally created for Berlin Opera Ballet, is a setting of Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, with a wonderfully lyrical adagio at its centre. The Judas Tree, MacMillan’s final ballet, is a highly provocative work. Set on a contemporary building site, it features a cast of 13 men and a sole woman who turns up and causes an explosive reaction among the workmen. Gradually the dark underside of male sexuality is exposed and the power of peer pressure takes over. The ballet spirals into a climax of betrayal, loss and terror. In contrast, the jaunty Elite Syncopations couldn’t be more fun. This ragtime extravaganza opens with a honky tonk piano perched at the back of the stage joined by dancers in cartoon comedy costumes, and we know we’re in for a delightful romp.
NVC Arts’ production of The Judas Tree on DVD is the original cast recording, including LEANNE BENJAMIN as the woman, and IREK MUKHAMEDOV as the Foreman, on whom MacMillan created this role. The Judas Tree is coupled with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s irresistible production of Nutcracker Sweeties, Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington’s big band tribute to Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet score, with choreography by David Bintley.
The Judas Tree won the 1992 Olivier Award for Best New Dance Work, and this film, shown on Channel 4 in 1997, won an International Emmy Award for Performing Arts.
The Judas Tree/Nutcracker Sweeties (NVC 398424313-2) is available to buy from www.amazon.co.uk
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ROMEO AND JULIET Kenneth MacMillan
Royal Opera House, 12 January – 12 March, 2010
www.roh.org.uk
Since its first performance by The Royal Ballet in 1965, SIR KENNETH MACMILLAN’s masterpiece Romeo and Juliet has been one of the greatest successes in the repertory, winning world-wide acclaim. His powerful and sensual choreography thrillingly captures the passion and agony of Shakespeare’s tragedy, alongside Prokofiev’s glorious score. NICHOLAS GEORGIADIS' designs colourfully evoke Renaissance Italy, and provide a magnificent setting for the unfolding drama. The production is a constant favourite in The Royal Ballet’s repertoire and returns in January for a two month run.
The Royal Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet is available to buy on DVD from NVC Arts/Warner Classics. This classic performance, filmed at Covent Garden in 1984, stars WAYNE EAGLING and ALESSANDRA FERRI as the lovers, both of whom dance their roles with tremendous intensity.
“Alessandra Ferri……a Juliet born. When first she set eyes on her Romeo, Wayne Eagling, the electric current caused the packed house to shudder” The Stage
“Superbly translated to the television screen…….will stand as a permanent record of this production” The Guardian
The Royal Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet (0630 193932) is available to buy on DVD from www.amazon.co.uk
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MATTHEW BOURNE’S HISTORIC PRODUCTION OF SWAN LAKE
Sadlers Wells’ Theatre, 10 December, 2009 – 24 January, 2010
www.sadlerswells.com
www.new-adventures.net
Matthew Bourne’s triumphant modern reworking of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet Swan Lake turned tradition upside down and has been hailed as one of the dance highlights of the last decade. The award-winning show, acclaimed by critics and audiences, returns to Sadlers Wells this Christmas.
The original production of Swan Lake, recorded at the Royalty Theatre, Kingsway, London, in 1998, is available to buy on an NVC Arts DVD, featuring the original stage cast, including ADAM COOPER as the, SCOTT AMBLER as Prince Siegfried and FIONA CHADWICK as The Queen.
“Matthew Bourne has turned Swan Lake on its head, he has given it a sex change and catapulted it into another universe…….some of the best performances you will ever see on a ballet stage. It will be a great big hit.” The Times
Adam Cooper received a Time Out for London Award for his performance in Swan Lake, and Outstanding Individual Performance in Ballet Award, 1997 Evening Standard Ballet, Opera and Classical Music Awards.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake (0630 15899-2) and The Matthew Bourne boxed set (51442-9775-2) containing Swan Lake, Nutcracker! and The Car Man, are available to buy on DVD from www.amazon.co.uk
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DER ROSENKAVALIER Richard Strauss
The Royal Opera, 7 – 22 December 2009
www.roh.org.uk
JOHN SCHLESINGER’s classic staging of Richard Strauss’ most popular opera returns to The Royal Opera this December, with its sumptuous designs evoking mid-18th century Vienna by WILLIAM DUDLEY and MARIA BJÖRNSON. The Marschallin is sung by Finish soprano SOILE OSOKOSKI, a highly-acclaimed Strauss interpreter, rising star LUCY CROWE sings the role of Sophie, and Octavian is sung by French mezzo SOPHIE KOCH. The conductor is KIRILL PETRENKO, formerly of the Komische Oper, Berlin.
This production was filmed in 1985, and is available to purchase on DVD from NVC Arts. The conductor on this DVD is SIR GEORG SOLTI, marking his 25th anniversary debut at Covent Garden. The cast is headed by KIRI TE KANAWA, in lustrous voice, ANNE HOWELLS as an impetuous Octavian, and BARBARA BONNEY as an enchanting Sophie.
“Rarely has this luscious, burnished score been realised with such emotional intensity or played with such glowing fervour” Daily Mail
Der Rosenkavalier (NVC Arts DVD 0630-19391-2) is available to purchase from www.amazon.co.uk
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THE NUTCRACKER Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Peter Wright after Lev Ivanov
The Royal Ballet, 26 November, 2009 to 1 January, 2010
www.roh.org.uk
The enchanting fantasy, The Nutcracker, never fails to delight both young and old, and leaves a warm Christmassy glow. Tchaikovsky’s glittering score is one of his best, and PETER WRIGHT’s dazzling production with designs by JULIA TREVELYAN OMAN is a perennial favourite.
This classic production was filmed by NVC Arts in 1985, and stars LESLEY COLLIER as The Sugar Plum Fairy, ANTHONY DOWELL as The Prince, GUY NIBLETT as The Nutcracker, and JONATHAN COPE as the Mouse King. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by GENNADY ROZDESTVENSKY.
The Nutcracker (NVC Arts DVD 0630-19394-2) is available to purchase from
www.amazon.co.uk
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DON CARLO Giuseppe Verdi
THE ROYAL OPERA, 15 September – 1 October, 2009
www.roh.org.uk
Nicholas Hytner’s acclaimed new production of Verdi’s grandest opera was first seen at The Royal Opera in 2008, and returns on 15 September, conducted by Semyon Bychkov. The all-star cast includes tenor of the moment Jonas Kaufmann in the title role, Marina Poplavskaya as Elizabeth de Valois, Ferruccio Furlanetto as Philip II of Spain, Sonia Ganassi as Eboli, John Tomlinson as the Grand Iniquisitor and Simon Keenlyside as the Marquis de Posa.
The Royal Opera’s previous production of Don Carlo was the legendary 1958 staging by Luchino Visconti, which was filmed in 1985 and is available on an NVC Arts DVD. This film stars Peruvian tenor Luis Lima as Don Carlo and Ileana Cotrubas as Elisabeth (“simply heartbreaking at her every appearance” International Record Review), with the great Verdi baritone Giorgio Zancanaro as the Marquis de Posa, Bruna Baglioni as Eboli and Robert Lloyd as Philip II.
“one of The Royal Opera’s finest achievements” Financial Times
The Visconti Don Carlo (510110242-2) is available to purchase on DVD from
www.amazon.co.uk
THE MARIINSKY (KIROV) BALLET IN LONDON, 3 – 15 AUGUST, 2009
After a four year absence, the magnificent Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet returns for a summer season at the Royal Opera House, featuring three well-loved classics and a homage to the great choreographer, George Balanchine.
The Mariinsky Ballet opens the season with Romeo and Juliet, set to Prokofiev’s glorious score. This is followed by Swan Lake, with the classic choregraphy by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The Homage to Balanchine pays tribute to George Balanchine, one of the greatest choreographers in the history of ballet. The works featured are Serenade, Rubies and Symphony in C. The season finishes with one of the pinnacles of classical dance, The Sleeping Beauty.
Romeo and Juliet 3,4,5,6 August at 7.30pm
Swan Lake 7,8,10,11 August at 7.30pm
8 August at 2pm
Homage to Balanchine 12, 13 August at 7.30pm
The Sleeping Beauty 14, 15 August at 7.30pm
15 August at 2pm
www.roh.org.uk
The Mariinsky’s productions of Swan Lake (9031738292) and The Sleeping Beauty (0630193962) are available on DVD from Warner Music Entertainment/NVC Arts and can be purchased from
www.amazon.co.uk
SHALL WE DANCE
A tribute RICHARD RODGERS
Starring ADAM COOPER
Sadler’s Wells July 23 – 30 August, 2009
www.sadlerswells.com
This brand new, fully staged dance production, starring Adam Cooper, is set entirely to the magnificent and unforgettable music of Richard Rodgers.
Shall We Dance tells the story of one man’s extraordinary quest to find true love, on a dance journey that takes him via the Orient, The Wild West, Russian folk music, New York Jazz and even the Viennese ballroom. The show includes music from some of the best-loved musicals of our time (including Carousel, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, South Pacific) and features tap, jazz and classical dance.
Shall We Dance is conceived and performed by award-winning dancer and choreographer Adam Cooper, and also stars Emma Samms (of Dynasty fame) and Adam Cooper’s regular co-star, his wife Sarah Wildor.
Adam Cooper can be seen in his famous role as the Swan, in the NVC Arts DVD of Matthew Bourne’s ground-breaking production of Swan Lake,
(0630 158992), available from www.amazon.co.uk
MAY 2009
GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL OPERA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s first season opened in May 1934 with a production of Le nozze di Figaro, and the 75th anniversary celebrations get under way on May 21 with Giulio Cesare, which opens the 2009 season. Glyndebourne remains an essential part of the opera calendar, with its top international and rising stars, world-class productions, and the ability to enjoy an evening of fine music and relaxed dining in glorious surroundings.
NVC Arts/Warner Music Entertainment has many opera titles recorded at Glyndebourne both in the old house, and in the stunning brand new house which was completed in 1994. These include highly-acclaimed titles, such as Peter Hall’s magical production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Graham Vick’s production of Eugene Onegin starring Elena Prokina in a heart-breaking performance as Tatyana, Jean-Marie Villégier’s 1920’s production of Rodelinda, starring Andreas Scholl and Anna Caterina Antonacci, Peter Sellars nightmarish 20th century Theodora with Dawn Upshaw, and Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s production of The Makropoulos Case, starring Anja Silja.
The full list is as follows:
Albert Herring (Britten) 5046 787902
Carmen (Bizet) 4509 994942
La Cenerentola (Rossini) 5046 709402
Le Comte Ory (Rossini) 0630 186462
Don Giovanni (Mozart) 0630 140152
Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) 0630 140142
Ermione (Rossini) 0630 140122
Highlights from Glyndebourne 5101 167782
Idomeneo (Mozart) 5046 739222
Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) 4509 992232
L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Monteverdi) 0630 169142
Lulu (Berg) 0630 155332
The Makropoulos Case (Janáĉek) 0630 140162
Manon Lescaut (Puccini) 5144 204892
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten) 0630 169112
Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart) 0630 140132
Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck) 5046 739212
Pelléas et Mélisande (Debussy) 5046 783262
Rodelinda (Handel) 3984 230242
Simon Boccanegra (Verdi) 3984 230252
Theodora (Handel) 0630 154812
Rossini at Glyndebourne boxed set 5144 278482
All the NVC Arts Glyndebourne titles are available to purchase from www.amazon.co.uk
MOZART AT GLYNDEBOURNE BOXED SET
To coincide with the 75th anniversary celebrations, NVC Arts/Warner Music Entertainment is releasing a boxed set of three full-length Mozart operas recorded at Glyndebourne – Stephen Medcalf’s Le nozze di Figaro, the first production staged in the new house, Deborah Warner’s production of Don Giovanni, and Trevor Nunn’s production of Idomeneo. The boxed set also includes a documentary about the construction of the new house ‘The House That George Built’. This fascinating documentary follows the construction of the award-winning new opera house at Glyndebourne, which opened in 1994. Chairman of Glyndebourne at that time was Sir George Christie, and he saw it as his legacy to future opera-going generations. The wholly British construction team came in on budget and on time, with craftsmanship of the highest quality, and what has been achieved is an opera house for the 21st century which still retains the warmth and intimacy that are essential Glyndebourne ingredients.
Mozart at Glyndebourne (5186 53402) will be available to purchase from www.amazon.co.uk from May 11.
Louise Flind (née Christie) daughter of Sir George Christie, speaks exclusively to nvcarts.co.uk about some of her earliest memories of growing up at Glyndebourne and of the excitement during the building of the new house.
Click here for the interview with Louise Flind.
March 2009
Matthew Bourne’s latest hit show Dorian Gray on tour in the UK and Europe in 2009
In Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde’s classic gothic fable of a beautiful young man who sells his soul to the devil, turns into a darkly seductive theatre event, set in a contemporary image obsessed world of art and politics. The show wowed sell-out houses at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and at Sadlers Wells Theatre in London and is on tour in the UK and Europe in 2009.
The tour dates are currently as follows:
3 – 6 June Churchill Theatre, Bromley
www.ambassadortickets.com/The-Churchill
9 – 13 June Milton Keynes Theatre
www.ambassadortickets.com/Milton-Keynes-Theatre
19 - 21 June Ravenna Festival, Italy
www.ravennafestival.org
30 June – 4 July The Alhambra, Bradford
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
7 – 19 July Sadlers Wells Theatre, London
www.sadlerswells.com
28 July – 2 August Mossovet Theatre, Chekhov Festival, Moscow
http://chekhovfest.ru
15 – 19 Sep The Curve, Leicester
www.curveonline.co.uk
22 – 26 Sep The Lyceum, Sheffield
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
29 Sep – 3 Oct Theatre Royal, Glasgow
www.theatreroyalglasgow.com
6 – 10 Oct The New Wimbledon Theatre
www.ambassadortickets.com/New-Wimbledon-Theatre
21 – 24 Oct The Lowry, Salford
www.thelowry.com
27 – 31 Oct Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff
www.wmc.org.uk
3 – 7 Nov The Swan, High Wycombe
www.wycombeswan.co.uk
10 – 14 Nov Birmingham Hippodrome
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
17 – 21 Nov The New Victoria Theatre, Woking
More dates may be added
Choreographer Matthew Bourne has achieved worldwide artistic and popular success with his innovative new versions of classical ballets. His groundbreaking work has attracted an enormous new audience for dance both at home and internationally. Three of Matthew Bourne’s most celebrated productions are available to purchase on DVD from NVC Arts/Warner Music Entertainment at www.amazon.co.uk. These include his legendary production of Swan Lake (0630-15899-2) with its all male swans, his magical and witty Nutcracker! (5046-70937-2) and his sensational and steamy dance drama The Car Man (0927-42129-2) based on Bizet’s Carmen.
The Matthew Bourne Boxed Set (51442-9775-2) containing Swan Lake, Nutcracker! and The Car Man is also available to purchase from www.amazon.co.uk
A copy of the Matthew Bourne Boxed Set has been signed by Matthew Bourne himself. For a chance to win click here
Click here for Matthew Bourne interview. Matthew Bourne answers questions about Swan Lake, Nutcracker! and The Car Man in the interviews section of the website.
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GISELLE – THE QUINTESSENTIAL ROMANTIC BALLET
DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET’s GISELLE RECORDED FOR RELEASE ON DVD BY NVC ARTS
Dutch National Ballet’s new production of Giselle has been recorded at Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam in High Definition and Surround Sound, and will be released by NVC Arts/Warner Music Entertainment later this year.
Giselle, with choreography by Marius Petipa, (after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot) is the most celebrated ballet of the romantic era, and a perennial favourite that continues to move audiences all around the world 170 years after it was first performed.
This new production is by Rachel Beaujean, a former ballerina from the Dutch National Ballet, and Ricardo Bustamante, formerly principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet. They have based their production on the original version, but have added new sections and brought a new slant to the ballet.
The sets and costumes for this new production are by Toer van Schayk, who sets the ballet at the end of the eighteenth century, predating the time of the original premiere. Van Schayk has designed many of the Dutch National Ballet’s most successful productions including Nutcracker & Mouse King and Romeo and Juliet.
The cast includes Russian ballerina Anna Tsygankova as Giselle (a rising star formerly of the Bolshoi Ballet, Hungarian National Ballet and Vienna State Opera), and Jozef Varga as Albrecht (formerly of the Czech Ballet and Zurich Ballet)
Adolphe Adam’s score is performed live by Holland Symfonia conducted by Boris Gruzin.
Dutch National Ballet is a truly international company. Many of its dancers appear regularly with the major dance companies of the world, including The Royal Ballet, Kirov Ballet, San Francisco Ballet etc. The company is renowned for its artistic flair, the exceptional technical ability of its dancers, and its ability to switch between modern and classical works with ease.
This ‘impressive, distilled Giselle is enchanting’ – de Telegraaf
THE ROYAL BALLET’S GISELLE
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
6 April – 26 May, 2009 www.roh.org.uk
This Royal Ballet production of Giselle by Peter Wright, has been staged to pay tribute to Robert Helpmann, a celebrated Royal Ballet Albrecht, on the centenary of his birth in 1909.
THE KIROV BALLET’S GISELLE ON DVD FROM NVC ARTS/WARNER MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
The Kirov Ballet’s production of Giselle is available on DVD NVC Arts/Warner Music Entertainment. It stars Galina Mezentseva as Giselle, whose performances have established her place among the great ballerinas of the Kirov. Konstantin Zaklinsky is a handsome and athletic Albrecht. Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis, is danced by Tatyana Terekhova, with Altynai Asylmuratova and Olga Lyhovskaya as her attendants. This NVC Arts recording was directed for television and video by the award-winning Danish director, Preben Montell.
THE KIROV BALLET’S GISELLE (0630 19397-2) is available to buy from www.amazon.co.uk
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WILLIAM FORSYTHE – FOCUS ON FORSYTHE
20 April to 10 May, 2009 www.sadlerswells.com
William Forsythe is considered by many to be on of the most outstanding representatives of contemporary dance in the world. His works have redefined classical ballet, transforming it into a dynamic 21st Century form of artistic expression.
Focus on Forsythe celebrates the legendary choreographer’s work, bringing together his seminal works from the past with more recent creations, in which installation and the audience are intrinsic.
With events taking place in different venues throughout London, this unique month-long retrospective lets audiences experience a range of work from one of today’s most prolific artists.
Two films featuring WILLIAM FORSYTHE - FROM A CLASSICAL POSITION and JUST DANCING AROUND?
are available on a DVD from NVC Arts/Warner Music entertainment (5144 22171-2)
In From a Classical Position, William Forsythe and his long-time collaborator Dana Casperen perform a duet especially conceived for the camera, to an original score by Thomas Willems. In Just Dancing Around? director Mike Figgis presents an intimate portrait of William Forsythe which was made over a six-week period spent with Forsythe at The Frankfurt Ballet while he was Artistic Director from 1984 to 2004.
WILLIAM FORSYTHE - FROM A CLASSICAL POSITION and JUST DANCING AROUND? (5144 22171-2)
Is available to purchase from www.amazon.co.uk
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THE ROYAL BALLET’S SWAN LAKE
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
27 February to 4 April, 2009 www.roh.org.uk
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, one of the greatest works in the art of ballet, is currently on stage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The current production by Anthony Dowell has the classic Swan Lake choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
NVC Arts’ DVD of The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake, filmed in 1982, is currently the only Royal Ballet version of Swan Lake available on DVD.
In this staging, with designs by the late Leslie Hurry, the classic Swan Lake choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov has further contributions by Frederick Ashton and Rudolf Nureyev. The great Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova stars as Odette-Odile with Anthony Dowell as Prince Siegfried. Makarova’s enchanting performances as Odette-Odile are legendary – this is one of her most famous roles.
The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake (50466 71762) is available from www.amazon.co.uk.
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CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 350TH ANNIVERSARY OF HENRY PURCELL’S BIRTH
The Royal Opera’s new production of Dido and Aeneas/Acis and Galatea (Henry Purcell/George Frideric Handel)
31 March to 18 April, 2009 www.roh.org.uk
This double bill of English baroque opera is the first true co-production between The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, both of them staged and choreographed by The Royal Ballet’s Resident Choreographer, Wayne McGregor. In Dido and Aeneas, Dido is played by Sarah Connolly and Aeneas by Lucas Meachem. Charles Workman and Danielle de Niese take the title roles in Acis and Galatea. Both operas are conducted by Christopher Hogwood.
After Dido, a live music and film performance, inspired by Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, by English National Opera
April 15 -25, 2009 www.eno.org.
This major new production is a collaboration between ENO and the Young Vic, and is directed by Katie Mitchell, with Susan Bickley as Dido.
NVC Arts’ film of Dido and Aeneas, Purcell’s much-loved tragic masterpiece, was first shown on television in 1995 to celebrate the tercentenary of Purcell’s death. The American soprano Maria Ewing stars as Dido, with Karl Daymond as Aeneas. They head an excellent British cast including Rebecca Evans as Belinda, Sally Burgess as the Sorceress, Patricia Rozario as the First Enchantress and James Bowman as the Voice of Mercury. The Collegium Musicum 90 is conducted by Richard Hickox, and the film was directed by Peter Maniura.
Dido and Aeneas (51442 88222) is available to buy at www.amazon.co.uk
Maria Ewing answers questions about her experience of making the film in the interviews section of the website, click here
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SPRING DANCE AT THE COLISEUM
American Ballet Theatre perform Swan Lake and Le Corsaire
March 25 – 31, 2009 Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
April 2 – 4, 2009 Le Corsaire (Adolphe Adam) www.eno.org
American Ballet Theatre is one of the world’s top dance companies and is renowned for its dazzling productions and the breathtaking skills of its principal dancers. These are perfectly showcased in ABT’s spectacular production of Swan Lake, based on the traditional Petipa/Ivanov choreography, and the exotic pirate tale, Le Corsaire.
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE ON NVC ARTS DVD:
American Ballet Theatre at The Met is a programme of four short ballets recorded live at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, in June 1984. This mixed bill shows off both the lyrical and the virtuoso qualities of this famous company, and includes performances by company stars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Cynthia Harvey. The ballets are:
Les Sylphides (Chopin, choreography Fokine)
Sylvia – Pas de deux (Delibes, choreography by Balanchine)
Triad (Prokofiev, choreography by MacMillan)
Paquita – Grand Pas (Minkus, orch. Lanchbery, choreography by Makarova, after Petipa)
American Ballet Theatre in San Francisco features a mixed bill recorded at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, in 1985, as follows:
Airs (Handel, choreography by Paul Taylor)
Jardin Aux Lilas (Chausson, choreography by Anthony Tudor)
Black Swan Grand Pas de deux from Act III Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky, choreography by Petipa)
Balcony Pas de deux from Act I Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev, choreography by MacMillan)
American Ballet Theatre at The Met (3984 26555-2) and American Ballet Theatre in San Francisco (504678030-2) are available from www.amazon.co.uk
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WORLD PREMIERE OF EONNAGATA, STARRING SYLVIE GUILLEM
Sadlers Wells Theatre, February 26 to March 8, 2009
www.sadlerswells.com
Eonnagata is a fascinating collaboration between the acclaimed French dancer Sylvie Guillem, the world-renowned theatre-maker Robert Lepage, and award-winning choreographer Russell Maliphant. It tells the story of the Kings Secret, a network of spies under the control of Louis XV. The artists draw not only from their respective backgrounds, but also from the ancient Kabuki technique of Onnegata – in which male actors portray female roles in an extremely stylised fashion. The elaborate costumes of Louis XV’s court will be evoked by legendary fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Sylvie Guillem can also be seen in performance on two DVDs from NVC Arts: Marguerite et Armand and Evidentia. These feature the only complete performances danced by Sylvie Guillem currently available on DVD.
Sir Frederick Ashton’s ballet Marguerite and Armand is based on Dumas’ story of a tragic courtesan, La Dame aux Camélias, and set to Liszt’s fiery Piano Sonata in B Minor. The set and costume designs are by Cecil Beaton.
This film by Françoise Ha Van Hern captures the tremendous performance of this ballet by Sylvie Guillem and Nicolas Le Riche as her young lover, during a tour of Japan in May/June 2003.
In the multi award-winning film, Evidentia, Sylvie Guillem presents her own ideas about dance and movement on film, in this award-winning programme of five contemporary pieces, made specially for television.
The five pieces are:
SOLO – This piece is Choreographed and Performed by William Forsythe, to music by Thom Willems.
BLUE YELLOW – Choreographer Jonathan Burrows created the solo dance Blue Yellow, danced by Sylvie Guillem, which is set to String Quartet No.4 by Kevin Volans.
SMOKE – This is an extended duet for Sylvie Guillem and Niklas Ek created by his brother, choreographer Mats Ek, to a score by Arvo Pärt.
MOVEMENT – Sylvie Guillem and film-maker Francoise Ha Van collaborate on this piece to music by J S Bach.
IN THE WIND, THERE IS SOMEONE – Francoise Ha Van is the choreographer and film-maker in this duet for David Kern and Brian Reeder to solo violin music by J S Bach.
“The force of the performances, the integrity of the choreography and the balance of technology and art combine to create a masterpiece…………Guillem is passionate, controlled and utterly compelling” Dancing Times
“Guillem virtually redefines what it is to be a ballerina” Evening Standard
Marguerite et Armand (5046-70121-2) and Evidentia (0630-15022-2) are available to buy from www.amazon.co.uk
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JONATHAN MILLER’S NEW PRODUCTION OF PUCCINI’S LA BOHÈME AT ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA
February 2 to March 8, 2009
www.eno.org
Jonathan Miller’s eagerly awaited new production of La bohème for English National Opera is currently in performance at the Coliseum, London. In over thirty years of working with the Company, his productions have become House classics. Setting the action in 1930’s Paris, Miller’s La bohème seeks to emphasise the naturalism and psychological truth of Puccini’s tragic masterpiece.
The young British tenor, Alfie Boe, takes the role of the struggling poet Rodolfo and US soprano, Melody Moore, is his tragic lover Mimí. Peruvian conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, makes his Company debut with this passionate and unforgettable score.
**The live on stage performance and coverage behind the scenes have been broadcast simultaneously on Sky Arts 1 and Sky HD.**
**Both the performance and behind the scenes coverage are being streamed to the new classical internet station classicaltv.com.**
**NVC Arts will be releasing both the performance and behind the scenes coverage of La bohème on DVD in summer 2009.**
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Events Linked to NVC Arts artists and DVDs November 2008
Matthew Bourne’s popular production of Edward Scissorhands returns to the UK, touring in November and finishing with a seven week run at Sadlers Wells through Christmas and into the New Year. Tour dates are as follows:
Birmingham Hippodrome – 11-15 November
The Lowry, Salford – 18-22 November
New Wimbledon Theatre, London – 25-29 November
Sadlers Wells Theatre, London – 3 December-18 January, 2009
Further information is available at www.new-adventures.net
The boxed set of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Nutcracker!, and The Car Man (NVC Arts 514429775-2) can be purchased from www.amazon.co.uk.
English National Opera will be staging Vaughan Williams’ one-act opera Riders To The Sea from November 27 – 30. It will be conducted by Richard Hickox and directed by acclaimed actress Fiona Shaw. Further details at: www.eno.org.
The NVC Arts DVD of the production filmed for Radio Telefis Éireann, starring Sarah Walker as Maurya, conducted by Bryden Thomson (NVC Arts 51442-9784-2), is now available, and can be purchased from www.amazon.co.uk. It is the only audio-visual version available of any of Vaughan Williams’ staged works.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will be making a rare appearance in the UK on December 23, when she gives a Christmas Gala Concert at the Cadogan Hall. She will be singing seasonal classics and songs and arias from her favourite operas. She will be accompanied by Jonathan Papp (piano).
Further details at: www.cadoganhall.com.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH KIRI TE KANAWA (NVC Arts CD and DVD boxed set: 51865-0347-2) is available to purchase at www.amazon.co.uk.
Kenneth MacMillan’s perennially popular ballet Manon is currently on stage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and runs through until 22 November. Further details at www.roh.org.uk.
Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon is available on DVD, together with his productions of Romeo and Juliet and Prince of the Pagodas, in a 3-DVD boxed set (NVC Arts 51865-0348-2) and can be purchased from www.amazon.co.uk.
Rocky Horror European Tour
The Rocky Horror Show will be touring Austria and Germany in Winter ‘08/Spring ‘09. The tour dates are as follows:
28 October – 23 November, 2008 – Berlin, Admiralspalast
27 November, 08 – 11 January, 09 – Vienna, Museumsquartier
13 January – 8 February – Zurich, Theater 11
13 February – 1 March – Dusseldorf, Capito Theatre
3 March – 29 March – Munich, Deutsches Theatre
8 April – 19 April, Frankfurt, Alte Oper
Full details available at: www.rocky-horror-show.de
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Tribute Show (NVC Arts 51865-0799-2) is available to purchase at www.amazon.co.uk
Richard O'Brien answers questions about the DVD exclusively for the NVC Arts website: Click Here