CABARET at the Tonys Click here to watch At last week’s Tony Awards there were Lifetime Achievement awards for both John Kander, who, with his late partner, Fred Ebb, wrote the classic score of the musical Cabaret, and for Joel Grey whose astounding performance as the EmCee in the original Broadway show , in the West End, and in the subsequent movie, brought that score to vivid life. There have been many revivals of this great show and one of the best is still playing in London at the Kit Kat Club, otherwise known as the Playhouse Theatre in the West End. Here is a charming video featuring the Emcees of London’s CABARET celebrating John Kander and Joel Grey’s Tony Lifetime Achievement Awards. Grieg’s 180th Birthday – Berlin Phil with Evgeny Kissin Click here to subscribe Today is the 180th birthday of the great Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, and here is a sparkling celebration concert from Sir Simon Rattle, conducting the Berlin Philharmonic with Evgeny Kissin as soloist. Few composers have left as singular a mark on music as Edvard Grieg, Norway's best-known composer, whose music could never be mistaken for anyone else's. Many of his universally recognizable works are used in movies and series, from the glorious Peer Gynt to the riveting Piano Concerto in A Minor. This concert includes Grieg’s Symphonic Dance No. 2, Op. 64 and his great Piano Concerto played by Evgeny Kissin with the Berlin Philharmonic. Kissin's musicality, the depth and poetic quality of his interpretations, and his extraordinary virtuosity have placed him at the forefront of today's pianists. This is the 2011 New Year’s concert from Berlin. Exactly 23 years earlier, the 17-year-old Kissin was invited to the Berliner Philharmoniker's traditional New Year's Concert to perform the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto—a rapturously received performance that helped launch Kissin's successful international career. Back once more in Berlin, Kissin performs Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor with his typically perfect technique and unerring musicality. The concert also includes Dvořák's Slavonic Dances, Brahms's Hungarian Dances, Strauss's famed Dance of the Seven Veils from Salomé and the Danse Infernale from Stravinsky's Firebird. Peer Gynt - Zurich Ballet Click here for tickets I can’t resist adding the ballet of Peer Gynt to our celebration of Grieg’s 180th birthday. Considered one of the greatest European choreographers of our time, Heinz Spoerli has created a Peer Gynt for the Zurich Ballet that combines the lyrical with the grotesque, the fantastical universe of gnomes with the reality of the modern world, and philosophy with folklore. Mischievous moments give a touch of lightness to the legend’s tragic theme. Peer Gynt, is an unpredictable and lecherous adventurer, but also a man in his twenties in search of himself. He tries to escape reality to live a pure idealized life, led only by ambition and vanity. Peer Gynt voyages to the country of the trolls, in Africa, and goes from being a rich slave merchant to a poor wretch. Returning to a native Norway, he reunites with the faithful Solveig who consoles him in his last moments: “Your journey is at an end, Peer, you have finally understood the meaning of life, true happiness lies at home and not in the vain pursuit of your crazy dreams in the wide world”. For this production, the contemporary composers Brett Dean and Mark-Anthony Turnage adapted Grieg’s score at the choreographer’s direction. The talented young conductor Eivind Gullberg Jensen joins forces with soprano Christiane Kohl and dancer Yen Han (who together personify Solveig), and with dancer Marijn Rademaker and actor Philipp Schepmann (who bring Peer Gynt himself to life). Peer Gynt is a poetic and philosophical drama transformed into a play by the Norwegian author and playwright Henrik Ibsen with music by composer Edvard Grieg. The two famous Peer Gynt orchestral suites bring together selections commissioned by Ibsen from Grieg as incidental music for the original play, including the beloved overture as well as the theme from the Song of Solveig. The Circle – Orange Tree Theatre Click here for tickets Somerset Maugham’s sparky comedy of manners was first staged in 1921 and has remained a firm favourite with audiences ever since. The Circle opened at the Orange Tree Theatre in May and is now available to stream. Somerset Maugham was among the most successful novelists and playwrights of the inter-war years. Many of his novels, including The Painted Veil, Theatre, Up at the Villa and Of Human Bondage, have been adapted for the screen. The Circle follows hit Orange Tree productions of Maugham’s Sheppey and The Breadwinner. The sun is shining on the manicured lawns of the Dorset home of Arnold Champion-Cheney, MP. The Great War is over. Arnold’s political career is blossoming. He has a beautiful young wife, Elizabeth. If only the servants would dust his antiques properly, everything would be perfect. But Arnold’s idyllic life is about to explode into chaos. His rakish father is staying for the weekend. His scandalous long-lost mother is descending with her detested husband in tow. And there’s a dashing young stranger who seems far too interested in Elizabeth... Will history come full circle? Or can one generation learn from their parents’ disastrous mistakes? Tom Littler directs his first production as the new Artistic Director of the Orange Tree. 20 to 23 June. Jacob’s Pillow Gala - Livestream Click here to register Next Saturday, June 24th, you can access Jacob’s Pillow Season Opening Gala. It’s a live stream and only available at the time of the live performance 6:00pm-7:30pm ET, which may put off those who are not diehard lovers of experimental dance or of the beautiful Jacob’s Pillow but for those who are, it’s worth tuning in. Jacob’s Pillow is the dance centre deep in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts which punches well above its weight. We are promised some spectacular dancing from a variety of dance luminaries, topped off by the presentation of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award to Misty Copeland, the exquisite soloist of the New York City Ballet. You can watch the live stream free or by making a donation of any amount to Jacob’s Pillow. June 24 6:00pm - 7:30pm EST Following Shira’s Journey: A Greek/Jewish Odyssey Click here to watch A friend sent me this unusual documentary, clearly made as a labour of love, which is the untold story of Greek Jews about which, I must admit, I had known nothing. Directed by Carol Gordon & Natalie Cunningham, it’s on YouTube and definitely worth watching.
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AuthorRuth Leon is a writer and critic specialising in music and theatre. Archives
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