Not one for the traditionalists, Barrie Kosky’s directorial reimagining of Bizet’s classic Carmen pushes the boundaries of what it means to stage a traditional opera within a historical venue in the modern day.
Not one for the traditionalists, Barrie Kosky’s directorial reimagining of Bizet’s classic Carmen pushes the boundaries of what it means to stage a traditional opera within a historical venue in the modern day.
Mayerling is The Royal Ballet’s revival of the 1978 creation by Kenneth Macmillan. Federico Bonelli’s portrayal of the Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary is mesmerising. In particular the scene where the Prince is trying to make it up with his wife Princess Stephanie, played by Meaghan Grace Hinkis, on their wedding night, is powerful and intense. The dancers’ bodies showcase a feat of supreme strength, the sequence before he takes his newly wedded wife to bed, is one of the best between Bonelli and Hinkis.
Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s production of Madama Butterfly has been revived once more for the Royal Opera House. Leading roles are played by Ermonela Jaho as Madama Butterfly and Marcelo Puente as the naval officer Pinkerton.
Verdi’s opera La Traviata premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on the 6th of March 1853. It was not a success, but since that time it has become one of the most-performed and best-loved of all operas.
On the 13th of January 2017 the second run of George Benjamin‘s opera Written on skin with words by Martin Crimp began at the Royal Opera House, conducted by the composer. Inspired by the story of a medieval troubadour (Guillem de Cabestaing) the core of the plot is an age-old love triangle – a standard opera plot device (think Norma, Tristan und Isolde, Il Trovatore, etc.) here given an unusual and fresh treatment.
Amit Lahav is the Artistic Director of Gecko, one of the UK’s leading companies in Physical Theatre. The company was founded in 2001 and since then have performed worldwide and in 2012 gained Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation status, receiving regular funding until 2015. ‘Institute’ their latest production is being performed as part of the London International Mime Festival, at the Royal Opera House.
Hi Amit, you’re performing ‘Institute’ at the Royal Opera House as Part of the London International Mime Festival, are you excited to return to the festival and the venue?
Long before the invention of the all powerful television and the influential internet, juggling amazed and entertained the likes of the rich and powerful in courtyards to the working classes in street fairs and market places. An art form fusing enviable skill and charisma, there’s no wonder it has captured the imaginations of on lookers for centuries. Cue the 21st century, and the much celebrated Sean Gandini marries the marvel of juggling with the complicated nature of mathematics. Ahead of his company, ‘Gandini Juggling’ premiering their new piece ‘4 x 4′ at the ‘London International Mime Festival 2015′, I was able to speak to the company director about performing in over 4500 shows, celebrating 22 years with the company and who he is looking forward to watching at next year’s festival!
Hi Sean, your performance company ‘Gandini Juggling’ are set to premiere their latest work, ‘4 x 4′ at next year’s London International Mime Festival, how are you feeling ahead of the first show?