The curtain has just gone down on a triple bill that contains two world premieres. Here is a first look at the Bernstein Centenary programme. The Royal Ballet celebrates the centenary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth with an all-Bernstein programme from the Company’s three associate choreographers: Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett and Christopher Wheeldon. This mixed programme is … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s celebration of Leonard Bernstein
West Side Story
Cecilia Bartoli to sing Maria in West Side Story
At next year's Salzburg Whitsun Festival, Cecilia Bartoli will sing Maria in West Side Story! The exclamation mark is my surprise at the announcement, though I have no doubt that hers will be a lively and touching performance. And talking of lively... Gustavo Dudamel will be conducting the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. (No exclamation mark.) Norman Reinhardt … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli to sing Maria in West Side Story
Rebecca Caine answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? As a professional at 19 thanks to being chucked out of the Guildhall. I always sang as a child. Why did you start singing? I simply loved it. I grew up with no tv and only classical music played at home. My parents were wonderful at taking us to opera. I saw Sutherland, Price, Gobbi and so on at a very young age. I decided to be a singer at … [Read more...] about Rebecca Caine answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Rita Moreno, as she approaches her 80th birthday
The effervescent Rita will be 80 in December. She's still going strong with stage and television commitments. We've seen her go from the singing and dancing black-haired Anita in the film of West Side Story, to the gritty realism of strong-willed grey-haired Sister Pete in tv's Oz. A remarkable career, a remarkable woman, who tonight opens in an autobiographical show Rita … [Read more...] about Rita Moreno, as she approaches her 80th birthday
Remembering Arthur Laurents
Playbill's Kenneth Jonesand Adam Hetrick have complied a list of some of the tributes to Arthur Laurents - here are some: Terrence McNally: Arthur always told you what he thought, whether you wanted to hear it or not. This made being his friend challenging. When Arthur liked something, which was not often, his praise was genuine, generous and loud." Patti LuPone: The … [Read more...] about Remembering Arthur Laurents