Sunday, November 01, 2009

The Fabulous Tales from Robert Lepage: The Nightingale

Screenshot: The Nightingale and Other Short Fables, Canadian Opera Company, Igor Stravinsky, Robert LepageScreenshot: The Nightingale and Other Short Fables
"This has to be the most enchanting work for the musical stage to hit Toronto in years." (Toronto Star)
NEW Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. performance just added. Order today!
Credit: Canadian Opera Company

The Nightingale & Other Short Fables by Igor Stravinsky

On Stage Oct. 17 to Nov. 5, 2009
NEW Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 at 7:30 p.m
At the Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W., Toronto.

Director: Robert Lepage
Conductor: Jonathan Darlington
Nightingale: Olga Peretyatko
Fisherman: Lothar Odinius
Emperor: Ilya Bannik
Death: Maria Radner
The world premiere of a new co-production with Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and Opéra national de Lyon, in collaboration with Ex Machina.
Notes & Impressions:

Igor Stravinsky was known for his innovative use of rhythm and harmony, but not for melody. But melody is "Our All" for Russian musical forms. Most of the Russian folk songs are very melodic, which influences on many Russian composers. No need to say here … Tchaikovsky.

The end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twenties century brought up a new composer’s breed like Scriabin, Stravinsky and others, who broke the rules. But what Stravinsky did was based on the different kind of Russian folklore and folk music. That was kind a Bakhtin's carnival, for the inner use only with violent rhythms and rough wordings. So, when Stravinsky was hanging out with Harlem’s musicians, he was pretty much inoculated with our own folk-jazz syncopes that might gave a life to his avant-garde music.

This is a preface to the today’s performance of The Nightingale and Other Short Fables by Igor Stravinsky at the Four Seasons Centre. And the feast we had today couldn’t be more synthetic than the performance: opera, ballet, puppet theatre, water show, theatre of shadows, circus, and, of course, the orchestra!

I might forgot a thing or two, or might missed something from the Ring #5 but, nevertheless, it was a feast for my eyes, my ears, and my Russian soul.

2009 © Natalia Silver
links:
thestar.com: Review: Nightingale and Other Short Fables are awash in magic
By John Terauds
bbc.co.uk: Discovering Music: WORK IN FOCUS: Petrushka: Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
The Arts Junction:
Three Robbin’s Ballet Pieces: Brilliant Canadian Tribute
National Ballet of Canada: The Life of a Ballet Dancer
National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It

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