BRB and RB involvement with Shakespeare anniversary celebrations

[Jan McNulty]

From the BRB website:

 

BRB perform on a global stage to celebrate with the Royal Shakespeare Company

 

Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancers Elisha Willis and Tyrone Singleton will be making the short journey to Stratford-upon-Avon this week to take part in the BBC and Royal Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare Live! From the RSC. 

 

During 2016 Birmingham Royal Ballet are presenting seven different ballets in ten theatres around the UK to commemorate 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death, including two world premieres and two pieces new to the Company; all inspired by Shakespeare’s stories, characters and prose. On Saturday two of BRB’s most celebrated dancers will travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to help the BBC and the Royal Shakespeare Company mark the 400 year anniversary by performing an excerpt from David Bintley’s The Shakespeare Suite at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra will accompany Birmingham Royal Ballet’s dancers for the occasion. 

 

The performance in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre will be given in front of an invited audience, which will include His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who is President of both Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, as well as RSC supporters, partner schools and theatres, local residents and the general public through a series of ballots for free tickets. 

 

On Saturday 23 April, Elisha Willis and Tyrone Singleton will be performing an excerpt from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s current Shakespeare season. The Othello pas de deux from David Bintley’s The Shakespeare Suitesets two of the Bard’s best-loved characters, Othello and Desdemona, to a swinging Duke Ellington score. One of Ellington’s earliest masterpieces, ‘Black and Tan Fantasy’, accompanies the tragic union of Othello and Desdemona and will be played by the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra.

 

Commenting on the Company’s involvement in the BBC and Royal Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare Live! From the RSC, Birmingham Royal Ballet Director David Bintley said, ‎"It is a great honour for Birmingham Royal Ballet to be performing at Shakespeare Live! From the RSC.

 

Elisha Willis and Tyrone Singleton are two Principal dancers who are well known to Birmingham Royal Ballet audiences, and they are very much looking forward to performing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. They will be dancing the roles of Othello and Desdemona in an excerpt from The Shakespeare Suite, my ballet based on Duke Ellington’s ‘Such Sweet Thunder’, a jazz composition inspired by Shakespeare’s immortal characters which forms part of our season marking 400 years since the Bard’s death. We are thrilled too that the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra will be accompanying us.

 

I know that Shakespeare Live! From the RSC will be hugely enjoyable for anyone lucky enough to be there, and also everyone watching on screens around the world. We at Birmingham Royal Ballet are very proud to be involved.”

 

David Tennant will be hosting the show alongside Catherine Tate and will be joined by performers such as Judi Dench, Rufus Wainwright, Ian McKellen, Joseph Fiennes, Helen Mirren, Gregory Porter and Benedict Cumberbatch. This once in a lifetime cast, assembled and directed by Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, will come together to stage a unique show which will be broadcast on BBC2 at 8.30pm on Saturday 23 April. It will also be screened live to 368 cinemas in the UK and Europe by Picturehouse.

 

https://www.brb.org.uk/post/brb-perform-on-a-global-stage-to-celebrate-with-the-royal-shakespeare-company

 

 

[Jamesrhblack]

One of my young artists is singing in this too. It's great to have an event bringing together speech, dance and song (especially as Shakespeare incorporated all three arts into his plays) 

[Beryl H]

How wonderful to get something different for a change although I thought the Radio Times mentioned the RB and Prokofiev, perhaps there will be two ballet pieces. 

[Lisa O`Brien]

Sounds fantastic.

[Jan McNulty]

How wonderful to get something different for a change although I thought the Radio Times mentioned the RB and Prokofiev, perhaps there will be two ballet pieces. 

 

 

I've got a feeling I've read somewhere that the balcony duet from R&J is being performed.  If it's not BRB then I assume it must be dancers from RB.

[Duck]

Intriguing. This looks like two separate events..

 

The BRB link in Janet's post mentions an event that is broadcast at 8.30 pm on Sat 23 April on BBC2, link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0791mqd. The text for this event however mentions The Royal Ballet, not BRB. Given the press release by BRB, my assumption is that the information on the BBC site is a typo. The event is to celebrate Shakespeare however I can't find the event on the BBC site for Shakespeare 2016 lives http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb (it may be there but I can't see it), only on the BBC2 site.

 

The Royal Ballet event is streamed live from the Royal Opera House at 1 pm on Sat 23 April, link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb/acts/a9zmzc. This includes a rehearsal by Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson for Winter's Tale and an extract from Romeo & Juliet, http://www.roh.org.uk/news/shakespeare-insights-live-streamed-from-royal-opera-house-on-23-april-2016. This event is part of an all-day live stream; line up here http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb/performances/lprbj5 (the event at 8.30 pm on 23 April is from the BFI and with a different moderator; David Tennant who is one of the moderators for the event that includes the BRB is starring in Richard II when the above show is broadcast).

 

Anyway, it seems that both the RSC/ BRB and the Royal Ballet event will be available online afterwards.

[alison]

"It will also be screened live to 368 cinemas in the UK and Europe by Picturehouse."

Just thought I'd highlight that bit

[alison]

(Even though, owing to the peculiarities of the site's posting facilities depending on the browser in use, I had to use two computers to do it!)

[RMM1]

 

 

The BRB link in Janet's post mentions an event that is broadcast at 8.30 pm on Sat 23 April on BBC2, link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0791mqd. The text for this event however mentions The Royal Ballet, not BRB. Given the press release by BRB, my assumption is that the information on the BBC site is a typo. The event is to celebrate Shakespeare however I can't find the event on the BBC site for Shakespeare 2016 lives http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb (it may be there but I can't see it), only on the BBC2 site.

 

 

 

My understanding is that the Shakespeare Lives project is mainly the BBC hosting other organisations material. So maybe as the BBC2 programme will be broadcast nationally anyway they are not promoting it on the Shakespeare Lives site.

[Two Pigeons]

Tyrone - great!

[Don Q Fan]

Is Elisha Willis retiring?

[Jan McNulty]

Is Elisha Willis retiring?

Not heard anything. Why do you think that?

[Sim]

As part of the live Shakespeare broadcast on BBC 2 this Saturday 23rd, Yasmine Naghdi and Matthew Ball will be performing the balcony scene from R&J. I'm not sure of the exact timings, but as mentioned elsewhere BRB will also be performing, as will Royal Opera singers and others.

 

For anyone who wasn't lucky enough to be at Yasmine and Matt's R&J last October, this will give you a little taster.

Edited April 22, 2016 by alison
To add surnames

[zxDaveM]

worth staying in for! :-)

[SusanR]

Thanks, Sim,

Really looking forward to seeing them!

Susan

[Indigo]

Fabulous. I'd read that the RB were to be involved & had wondered which dancers would be performing. Never occurred to me it might be Yasmine & Matthew - how lovely. I can now relive their wonderful debut & must remember to set the TV recorder...  

[penelopesimpson]

As part of the live Shakespeare broadcast on BBC 2 this Saturday 23rd, Yasmine and Matthew will be performing the balcony scene from R&J. I'm not sure of the exact timings, but as mentioned elsewhere BRB will also be performing, as will Royal Opera singers and others.

 

For anyone who wasn't lucky enough to be at Yasmine and Matt's R&J last October, this will give you a little taster.

Oh, what a treat.  Thanks for the heads-up.

[LinMM]

Thanks for that Sim will look forward to it!

[Timmie]

I'll be recording this on all possible devices. And evicting all family members from the living room so I can watch it without any unruly ‘Audience Behaviour’. 

[Nina G.]

Oh how wonderful. I just can't wait to see Naghdi's Juliet and Ball's Romeo again!!! Recorder will be on for sure    

[Jan McNulty]

Don't forget Elisha Willis and Tyrone Singleton from BRB are performing Othello from David Bintley's Shakespeare Suite too.

[Coated]

worth staying in for! :-)

Oooops. I read that as 'worth slaying for', and whilst I wondered a little about the ferocity of the statement, I didn't materially disagree....

[zxDaveM]

yes on both counts!!  lol

[alison]

Intriguing. This looks like two separate events..

 

The BRB link in Janet's post mentions an event that is broadcast at 8.30 pm on Sat 23 April on BBC2, link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0791mqd. The text for this event however mentions The Royal Ballet, not BRB. Given the press release by BRB, my assumption is that the information on the BBC site is a typo. The event is to celebrate Shakespeare however I can't find the event on the BBC site for Shakespeare 2016 lives http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb (it may be there but I can't see it), only on the BBC2 site.

 

The Royal Ballet event is streamed live from the Royal Opera House at 1 pm on Sat 23 April, link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb/acts/a9zmzc. This includes a rehearsal by Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson for Winter's Tale and an extract from Romeo & Juliet, http://www.roh.org.uk/news/shakespeare-insights-live-streamed-from-royal-opera-house-on-23-april-2016. This event is part of an all-day live stream; line up here http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ehw2mb/performances/lprbj5 (the event at 8.30 pm on 23 April is from the BFI and with a different moderator; David Tennant who is one of the moderators for the event that includes the BRB is starring in Richard II when the above show is broadcast).

 

Anyway, it seems that both the RSC/ BRB and the Royal Ballet event will be available online afterwards.

Here's what I've just received in an email from the ROH:

 

"Shakespeare Day Live

Opera, Ballet and the Bard

 

As Duke Orsino is fond of saying;

 

‘If music be the food of love, play on,

Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken, and so die.’

 

We don’t want to sicken your appetite, merely whet it with our celebration of the life of the Bard. Marking 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare the Royal Opera House will live-stream an event focused around opera and ballet adaptations of his work tomorrow Saturday 23 April at 1pm BST live and for free at bbc.co.uk/shakespearelives.

 

As part of the BBC and British Council’s Shakespeare Lives online festival, ‘Opera, Ballet and the Bard’ will feature Royal Ballet Principals Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson dancing extracts in rehearsal from Christopher Wheeldon's award-winning production of The Winter's Tale with ballet master Jonathan Cope. Lauren will also perform the Potion Scene from Kenneth MacMillan's timeless Romeo and Juliet.

 

For opera lovers there will be a live opera rehearsal from Verdi's Falstaff with Jette Parker Young Artist Yuriy Yurchuk led by director Amy Lane. Soprano Susana Gaspar will perform Desdemona's hauntingly beautiful final prayer from Verdi's Otello and renowned Shakespearean actor Geoffrey Streatfeild will revisit the original text with extracts from The Winter's Tale and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

 

The Royal Opera House hour is one of a number of activities from cultural organizations that make up a day-long Shakespeare Day live-stream. Other contributors include the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe, the BFI and Hay Festival. The programme of events begins at 8am BST."

[alison]

I think I'm going to run all the ballet-related Shakespeare threads together for convenience.

[Nina G.]

Here's what I've just received in an email from the ROH:

 

"Shakespeare Day Live

Opera, Ballet and the Bard

 

As Duke Orsino is fond of saying;

 

‘If music be the food of love, play on,

Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken, and so die.’

 

We don’t want to sicken your appetite, merely whet it with our celebration of the life of the Bard. Marking 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare the Royal Opera House will live-stream an event focused around opera and ballet adaptations of his work tomorrow Saturday 23 April at 1pm BST live and for free at bbc.co.uk/shakespearelives.

 

As part of the BBC and British Council’s Shakespeare Lives online festival, ‘Opera, Ballet and the Bard’ will feature Royal Ballet Principals Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson dancing extracts in rehearsal from Christopher Wheeldon's award-winning production of The Winter's Tale with ballet master Jonathan Cope. Lauren will also perform the Potion Scene from Kenneth MacMillan's timeless Romeo and Juliet.

 

For opera lovers there will be a live opera rehearsal from Verdi's Falstaff with Jette Parker Young Artist Yuriy Yurchuk led by director Amy Lane. Soprano Susana Gaspar will perform Desdemona's hauntingly beautiful final prayer from Verdi's Otello and renowned Shakespearean actor Geoffrey Streatfeild will revisit the original text with extracts from The Winter's Tale and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

 

The Royal Opera House hour is one of a number of activities from cultural organizations that make up a day-long Shakespeare Day live-stream. Other contributors include the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe, the BFI and Hay Festival. The programme of events begins at 8am BST."

 

 

So there will be a 1pm live-stream showing Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson in rehearsal it seems.

 

Also this on ROH website: 

http://www.roh.org.uk/news/shakespeare-insights-live-streamed-from-royal-opera-house-on-23-april-2016

[alison]

And here's the BBC page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0791mqd

[Timmie]

Here's what I've just received in an email from the ROH:

 

Alison, do you remember what you subscribed to or what box you ticked to get that email? I get some emails from ROH but not that one and I can't see how I can get them.

[Indigo]

Alison, do you remember what you subscribed to or what box you ticked to get that email? I get some emails from ROH but not that one and I can't see how I can get them.

I'm wondering if there's a glitch or delay with ROH emails as Alison posted the news at 6:21pm but my email about this from the ROH didn't come through till much later - after 9pm. I've noticed some of their other email updates take a long time to appear in my inbox too. So far as I recall, I'm just signed up for general ROH updates.

[Coated]

I didn't get the email at all.

 

Not really impressed with the streaming, the presenter talked over Cope at some point, ushered Watson, Cuthbertson and Cope out of the studio like small children and read from a list of plays to inform those of us who don't know about Geoffrey Streatfeild credentials. A list of two plays. Sure, there's a lot of random detail in programmes like this, but if you can't remember at least just look at your crib sheet instead of telling me about it. He seems to have a fair share of ego and comes across as patronising at times. Come back, Darcy. All is forgiven.

 

ETA: ah, he's a sports journalist. That pretty much explains my dislike of tone for me (at this point I probably need to state that I will run for the remote as soon as any sport show comes on to change channels asap to avoid feeling irritated)

Edited April 23, 2016 by Coated

[capybara]

Come back, Darcy. All is forgiven.

 

 

Not really!

 

I enjoyed the Winter's Tale rehearsal sequence. It struck a good balance between a bit of coaching and enabling us to see the whole Act 3 pas de deux.

[Quintus]

That wretched presenter pops up every time, presumably because the powers that be think that associating sport with ballet makes it cooler. He appears to do no preparation and always fluffs names. This time we got 'Federica Bonelli' as Romeo. Go back to your football, mate! ????

[Sunrise]

That wretched presenter pops up every time, presumably because the powers that be think that associating sport with ballet makes it cooler. He appears to do no preparation and always fluffs names. This time we got 'Federica Bonelli' as Romeo. Go back to your football, mate!

I like Ore! He is cool, with or without sports credentials. And I think it's perfectly fine to have a ballet novice presenting as you get the feeling he is learning along with the rest of the audience and it feels very genuine. I get that more experienced ballet fans may not find his interviews very enlightening but I presume the program is aimed at a broader audience.