Graeme Murphys Romeo and
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DANA STEPHENSEN, CORYPHÉE 2011 SEASON MELBOURNE 13 – 24 September the Arts Centre, State Theatre with Orchestra Victoria SYDNEY 2 – 21 December Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House with Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra Mum’s lounge room Cavendish Road High School Davidia Lind Dance Centre The Australian Ballet The Arts Centre, Melbourne TELSTRA IS PROUD TO SUPPORT DANCERS AT EVERY STAGE It’s a long journey from those first hesitant steps to a performance on the world stage. Telstra proudly supports Australian dancers through community grants, the People’s Choice Award, and as principal partner of The Australian Ballet. Broadcast Sponsor Supporting Sponsor Supporting Sponsor Principal Sponsor Cover and above: Madeleine Eastoe and Kevin Jackson Photography Georges Antoni TCON1179_D Madeleine Eastoe Photography Georges Antoni NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR If you ask any dancer, they’ll say that Romeo This production will be such a valuable and Juliet is a ballet they aspire to dance. To addition to the repertoire and will give us a have the opportunity to have this classic tale new way to engage with this timeless story. created for you by one of the world’s great It is also a wonderful vehicle for the artistry narrative choreographers would be a dream of our talented dancers. Equally it has been come true. That is just what’s been happening an amazing showcase for the artisans who for the last few months! It has been so exciting make the sets, props and costumes, as to watch this new production take shape well as the technical staff who bring them across the company, in the rehearsal rooms, to the stage. I would like to pay tribute to the set workshop, the painting studio and the Diana Ramsey, whose gift has so generously costume department. supported the creation of Akira Isogawa’s costumes for this production through the A new Graeme Murphy/Janet Vernon ballet is James and Diana Ramsey Foundation. Her always much anticipated and if you add into leadership in supporting artistic endeavour it Shakespeare’s best-known story, costumes is an inspiration to us all. by Akira Isogawa, a set by Gerard Manion and lighting by Damien Cooper, it becomes a must- My thanks go also to our Principal Sponsor see season highlight and a fantastic way to Telstra, whose long-term support makes it finish our 49th year. Each of these artists has possible for an innovative new production to an extraordinary vision for this new production. go from a dream to reality. It is great to once Bringing a unique new interpretation to this again work with our Broadcast Partner STVDIO, universal story has been a mammoth task and whose investment in bringing dance to the one achieved through hours of collaboration, widest possible audience we applaud. We enquiry and research. I thank each of them also salute our Pointe Shoe Partner Sambag, for their passion and talent in bringing this whose Romeo & Juliet collection was inspired new work to life. by our ballet, and Supporting Sponsor Napoleon Perdis, whose Love Unleashed Romeo & Juliet is a perfect way to honour range was released to celebrate this Dame Margaret Scott, whose life work has brand-new production. been to nurture great talent. Her passion for creativity made her one of the driving forces in Finally, I would like to thank you, our setting up The Australian Ballet. As founding wonderfully passionate audience. Thank director of The Australian Ballet School, she you to so many of you who have supported developed successive generations of dancers the company as subscribers and donors over and choreographers who have gone on to many years. To those who may be with us for shape Australia’s dance community, and built the first time I hope that it will the beginning an organisation that continues this work. She of many evenings at the ballet. To all I wish saw the potential of a young 14-year-old boy you every happiness for the coming festive from Tasmania, and planted the seed for the season and look forward to sharing the many amazing career that has led Graeme Murphy exciting 50th-anniversary performances to artistic triumphs around the world. and celebrations with you in 2012. David McAllister AM Kevin Jackson and Madeleine Eastoe NOTES FROM Photography Georges Antoni BEHIND THE SCENES The creation of an original full-length ballet is you’ll be watching our performances from the an exciting endeavour that involves the entire best seats in the house; you’ll save money company. This year, The Australian Ballet and and gain flexibility. Aside from benefits like our audiences have been eagerly anticipating discounts and priority notification of pre-sales Graeme Murphy’s interpretation of Romeo & and special events, you’ll learn more about the Juliet. Ballet fans who have enjoyed Nutcracker art form you love through our free informative – The Story of Clara, Swan Lake, The Silver talks, our fortnightly e-newsletter Behind Ballet Rose and Firebird – Graeme’s landmark works and the twice-yearly subscriber-only magazine for the company – will particularly look forward Ballet News. The impact on the company is to this latest addition. very real: subscribers make up a significant part of our annual income and we consider This sense of continuity and context is them a vital part of the ballet family. especially meaningful to our subscribers, who approach each season with layers of Some subscribers have chosen to deepen memories and knowledge that enrich their their commitment to the company by becoming appreciation. The subscriber experience gives donors. Their gifts support annual programs you an enhanced sense of closeness with and contribute to a more secure future for the company. You’ll watch different dancers the organisation, and they have the pleasure bring their unique interpretations to each of seeing the results of their generosity at work, and follow them as they develop from work on the stage, on tour and in our talented budding talents to full-blown stars. You’ll dancers. We greatly appreciate the loyalty get a fuller sense of The Australian Ballet’s and passion of our subscribers and donors; artistic range by seeing a variety of works that it is you who enable us, in the words of Dame reflect our commitment to presenting the best Peggy van Praagh, to bring “something of of classical ballet and the most innovative great beauty into other people’s lives”. contemporary works, while embracing emerging creative voices that will advance the art form. In addition to the intangible benefits of a long-term engagement with the company, there Valerie Wilder are a wide range of privileges that are enjoyed Executive Director by subscribers, and the announcement of our 2012 50th anniversary season is a perfect time to review the many advantages of renewing or starting a subscription to The Australian Ballet. As one of our subscribers, ROMEO & JULIET Concept and choreography Graeme Murphy CHOREOGRAPHER’S NOTE Creative associate Janet Vernon Music Sergei Prokofiev This timeless tale is in fact a tale for ALL Costume design Akira Isogawa times. LOVE transforms and transcends, Set design Gerard Manion opening a door to reveal a different world, Lighting design Damien Cooper where time bends and stretches and Projection design Jason Lam landscapes appear both familiar and foreign. Into this world our lovers stray, to pit their The costume creation for this production passion against bigotry, conflict and hatred. was made possible by a generous gift DEATH also transforms and transcends – flesh from the James and Diana Ramsey melts and becomes earth in life’s continuum. Foundation with a matching gift from the Ian Potter Foundation William Shakespeare’s prose is legend, his words immortal. My words, written in flesh Wallpaper design CHATTERTON F5710-01 and sweat, are ephemeral. Though I strive for used by kind permission of Osborne and Little some gestural equivalent, my language can These performances of Romeo and Juliet by only be read through the lens of the dancers’ Sergei Prokofiev are given by permission of artistry. Happily the commitment and talent of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agents for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd of London this company is my greatest ally. SYNOPSIS I am indebted to David McAllister for giving me the opportunity to tackle this glorious Between the Montagues and Capulets tale, and I am in awe of The Australian there is a bitter and ancient feud. Romeo, Ballet’s set design, costume and technical a son of the Montagues, goes uninvited to departments, who have supported my long- a Capulet ball and is instantly smitten with time collaborators Akira Isogawa, Gerard Juliet, the daughter of the house. Later that Manion, Damien Cooper and Jason Lam in night, Romeo visits Juliet’s balcony, and they realising their extraordinary visions. I also rapturously declare their love. thank the music department, led by Nicolette Fraillon, whose research and advice has A sympathetic Holy Man marries the pair in been invaluable. My personal Juliet, Janet secrecy, and they arrange to meet in Juliet’s Vernon, has been as lovingly determined as bedroom that night. But before their marriage Ms Capulet Jnr to put right my wrongs and find is consummated, Tybalt, Juliet’s hot-tempered solutions to the many twists and turns of this cousin, meets Romeo in the market place ballet’s journey. and tries to provoke him into a fight. When he refuses, Tybalt brawls with Romeo’s dear I trust my Romeo & Juliet brings some truths friend Mercutio and kills him. Enraged, Romeo and perhaps tears to you, the audience, and, kills Tybalt and is sentenced to exile. I hope, some small measure of pride to my teacher, mentor and friend Dame Margaret Before he leaves, the lovers spend their Scott, to whom it is lovingly dedicated.