The Fabulous Tales from Robert Lepage: The Nightingale

Screenshot: 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

A brand-new ROM and Ancient Peru Unearthed - A Must-See!

"Welcome to the Crystal Age!"
The public opening of ROM’s new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal extension
designed by Daniel Libeskind in Toronto, Sunday, June 3, at 0:30 am.
The ROM opened its doors for free access for public, throughout the night and into the following day.
2007 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

Notes & Impressions:
Sunday, June 3rd 2007

The Royal Ontario Museum re-opened its doors last week-end and to celebrate its renovated interiors plus the installation of the Lee-Chin Crystal the public were invited to join the celebrations. I was among the crowds who were able to appreciate the new ROM first-hand at its opening last Sunday.

The exhibition that most interested me was the Peruvian treasures excavated from an ancient tomb, a temporary exhibit on loan to the ROM. I headed directly for it as I may just not have another chance to see it.

On the way I saw the interiors behind the Lee-Chin Crystal structure which allowed visitors to have a panoramic view of Toronto through the glass panels, especially on the higher floors. Innovative and refreshing, a change from the “old” ROM I knew. Many new features have also been added such as large, silent elevators and steel-mesh bridges connecting the new crystal-wings to the main building.

I had the urge to visit all the sections at once- so many things to discover! But I maintained my original plan and with the help of museum staff I found the entrance to the collection of treasures from Peru. I did expect to be amazed but what I saw blew me away! It was quite a large collection of artifacts that had been buried together with an ancient Indian tribal Lord from the Northern coast of Peru, many made of solid gold, attesting to the sophistication and skill of the goldsmiths and other craftsmen of the day. Such fine work, worthy of today’s goldsmiths who use precision tools. Other artifacts were equally spectacular in terms of minute and precise detail. We have to thank the organizers of the exhibit for the extraordinary detail and attention they gave in preserving and presenting the exhibit to enable the visitor not only to admire, but to understand the significance of each item and the civilization to which it belonged.

I took my time, and thoroughly enjoyed learning about this ancient culture.
A spectacular exhibit, go and see it before it leaves! By the time I finished viewing it closing time had approached. I plan to return and see the rest of the New ROM, a Must!

2007 © Olivia

Ancient Peru Unearthed: Golden Treasures of a Lost Civilization
At the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Toronto, ON, Canada until August 6, 2007
Discover what was uncovered in an undisturbed, gold-filled tomb in this intriguing look into the mysterious pre-Inca Sicán civilization from northern Peru.
Credit: ancientperu.ca

links:

ROM News Release: Toronto Welcomes Michael Lee-Chin Crystal on its Opening Weekend

Image Gallery : Blogger's Preview

The ROM WebCam Live: from the roof of the downtown Park Hyatt Toronto

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A brand-new ROM and Ancient Peru Unearthed - A Must-See!
http://artjunction.blogspot.com/2007/06/brand-new-rom-and-ancient-peru.html

National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It

Ballet a La Carte
The creative idea was inspired by the National Ballet of Canada “Class on Stage"
luminaTO’s event and lunch at the Hosu Bistro.
2007 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

Class on Stage
Saturday June 2, 2007
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Watch the National Ballet’s dancers take class on stage at the Four Seasons Centre. Artist-in-Residence Rex Harrington will lead the dancers in their daily training routine while Senior Ballet Master Peter Ottmann provides insightful commentary. The event is part of Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity 2007 and is free of charge. Doors open at 12:00 pm - arrive early, seating is limited.

Credit: LUMINATO: Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity 2007

Notes & Impressions:
Saturday, June 2nd 2007

When Olga rang to tell me that the COC was hosting a ballet show called “Classes on Stage” at first I had my doubts, but agreed to come anyway.
I imagined a bunch of sweating dancers in tights doing warm-up moves with one hand clutching a long horizontal bar. As it turned out that was the beginning of the show, so I found myself dozing off.
Then they removed the bars! I set up, when I saw the dancers started to do their leaps and bounds into air like so many flying gazelles. It was a quite a treat seeing them giving their best performance, and repeating some of the more difficult steps for us. And Rex Harrington, NBC’s main dancer, kept the atmosphere relaxed and everyone of good humor.
All in all it was a show worth seeing and so graciously given.

2007 © Olivia

National Ballet Back Stage

When you watch ballet, you are amazed at how they make it look so easy. You take it for granted. You think it’s all their second nature. Part of it, certainly, is. But the rest is hard work day in and day out.
To spend almost two hours just to warm up BEFORE daily rehearsals and then hours of rehearsing, sounds like an excruciatingly painful daily routine. I’ve just watched one such routine – National Ballet’s Class on Stage in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and appreciated the hard work the performers put into their art for us to enjoy.
Thank you NBC!

2007 © Enhee

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permanent link:

National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It
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