Jan McNulty Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Press Release 25 JULY 2017 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New life given to lost MacMillan work A MACMILLAN CLASSIC RETURNS AND A ROYAL OPERA HOUSE PREMIERE FOR SCOTTISH BALLET THIS AUTUMN Kenneth MacMillan’s original choreography of The Fairy’s Kiss (Le Baiser de la Fée) will be brought back to life in a stunning new production by Scottish Ballet this Autumn. Scottish-born MacMillan created the work in 1960 for The Royal Ballet, and this revival marks the 25th anniversary of his death and its first presentation since 1986. The work will be performed as part of the MacMillan Festival at the Royal Opera House in October – a celebration of this iconic 20th century British choreographer. Several Scottish Ballet dancers will also perform alongside artists from Britain’s other ballet companies in MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations. This will be the first time the company performs at the prestigious London venue. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ice Maiden, MacMillan’s The Fairy’s Kiss stays true to the original tale’s dark edge and in the words of Clive Barnes ‘not only appears as a telling homage to the 19th-century Russian ballets that inspired it, but also as a work full of noble, singing poetry.’ Scottish Ballet’s new production features sets and costumes designed by Gary Harris, who worked closely with MacMillan. The choreographic score has been tirelessly re-constructed by professional Benesh notator Diana Curry over a 3-month period from fragmented records including piano reductions, rehearsal notes, and poor quality video recordings. The Fairy’s Kiss will be performed alongside Christopher Hampson’s The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps). Previously performed by the company at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2013, The Rite of Spring is a brutal and physical response to the raw energy of the Stravinsky score. The Fairy’s Kiss and The Rite of Spring, Scottish Ballet's Stravinsky season, will tour to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness this October/November 2017. The Fairy’s Kiss will be performed at The Royal Opera House, London in October 2017. Scottish Ballet CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson: ‘It is thrilling for Scotland’s national dance company to revive Le Baiser de la Fée, an early work showing the prodigious talents to come from one our most cherished choreographers. Reviving this formative work will allow generations to come to better understand Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s journey from a nurtured, young choreographer to becoming the 20th Century’s most iconic storyteller through dance.’ Scottish Ballet's Stravinsky season: THEATRE ROYAL, GLASGOW 6-7 OCT FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH 11-13 OCT HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE, ABERDEEN 24-25 OCT EDEN COURT, INVERNESS 3-4 NOV Top image: Set model design by Gary Harris for The Fairy's Kiss. The recreation of The Fairy’s Kiss is generously supported by The Linbury Trust. Media Partner: MORE INFO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) All praise to Scottish Ballet for reviving MacMillan's Fairy's Kiss and great that it is returning to the Royal Opera House where it surely belongs. Despite the fact that tickets are limited to 2 per booking it is already virtually sold out there so I'm all the happier that I've booked a family outing to see it in Edinburgh! Hopefully the Royal Ballet will take it up while they still have the likes of Jonathan Cope who performed it in the 1986 revival among their numbers. As with Song of the Earth, the Company has been up-staged but hopefully, as with Song of the Earth, they will have the sense to take the opportunity to bring it into their repertoire! My one sadness is that I shan't be able to see Scottish Ballet at the Royal Opera House this time round but hopefully the door has been opened and there will be other opportunities. And incidentally, it is a d.... sight cheaper (tickets/rail fares/hotels) to see it in Edinburgh that it would be to catch it in London!!!!! PS. I see the two performances at the Royal Opera House are being filmed - does anyone know what for? The BBC perhaps? Edited July 26, 2017 by David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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