Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall
June 17, 2013
Production photos of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall.
Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall
English National Ballet brings its spectacular in-the-round production of Swan Lake to the Royal Albert Hall (until 23 June 2013).
International guest stars dance with English National Ballet’s magnificent company of over 120 performers. Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary score is performed by the Orchestra of English National Ballet as 60 swans flood the arena floor.
Choreography by Derek Deane and design by Peter Farmer.
Photos by Roy Tan.
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BOOK
English National Ballet website
Celebrating 25 Years, Cameron Mackintosh Presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom Of The Opera At The Royal Albert Hall On Saturday 1st And Sunday 2nd October 2011
July 1, 2011
RAMIN KARIMLOO AND SIERRA BOGGESS LEAD A CAST AND ORCHESTRA OF OVER 200 TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 4TH JULY AT 10.00AM
Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 1st October at 7.30pm and Sunday 2nd October at 1.30pm and 7.00pm. Tickets for “Phantom of the Opera at the Albert Hall” go on sale on Monday 4 July at 10.00am and are available on 0845 401 5045 or at www.phantom25th.com
This lavish, fully staged production of “Phantom of the Opera at the Albert Hall” will star Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom’ and Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine’. They will be joined by Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André’, Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry’ and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi’ together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances.
“Phantom of the Opera at the Albert Hall” will be directed by Laurence Connor with Musical Staging and Choreography by Gillian Lynne. The Royal Albert Hall will be transformed with a spectacular and unique design by Matt Kinley inspired by Maria Björnson’s original design. Lighting is by Patrick Woodroffe and Andrew Bridge and Sound by Mick Potter. The original London production was directed by Hal Prince.
Ramin Karimloo’s theatre credits include, leading roles in “Love Never Dies” (2011 Olivier Award Nominee and Winner of the 2011 What’s On Stage Award, both for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’), “The Phantom of the Opera” (Theatre Goers’ Choice Award Nomination) “Les Misérables”, “Miss Saigon”, “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Sunset Boulevard”.
Ramin had the privilege of performing as ‘Enjolras’ in “Les Misérables – A Special Concert at Windsor Castle” to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, in front of Her Majesty The Queen and also reprised the role for the 25th Anniversary celebration of “Les Misérables at The 02”. Recordings include: his own album “Within the Six Square Inch” and the première symphonic recording of “Love Never Dies”. Ramin has signed with a major label and is currently recording his
first solo album.
Sierra Boggess is currently starring opposite Tyne Daly in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s “Master Class”. Prior to that, she starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Love Never Dies” in the West End. For her performance as ‘Christine Daae,’ Sierra received a 2011 Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Sierra’s other NY theatre credits include starring as the title character in the Broadway production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations and Broadway.com award for Favourite Breakthrough Performance) and in the City Centre Encores! production of “Music in the Air”. She starred as ‘Christine’ in “Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular” and has been seen in the national tours of “Les Misérables” and “West Side Story”. Recordings include the Symphonic Recording of “Love Never Dies” and the Original Cast Album for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”.
Sir Cameron Mackintosh said “It is amazing to think that the extraordinary success of The Phantom
of the Opera is about to celebrate 25 years.
From the very first performance, audiences have fallen in love with the unique alchemy of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s gorgeous score and Maria Björnson’s fabulously beautiful design, so brilliantly staged by Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne.
The success of the show has become the stuff of theatrical legend so Andrew and I felt we needed to create a really special performance to celebrate the 25th anniversary.
One of the great strengths of The Phantom of the Opera is that being set in an opera house, its production is totally theatrical. So we felt that there could be no better 19th Century theatrical auditorium in London for this occasion than the Royal Albert Hall. With its Victorian red plush and celebrated magnificent organ it is the perfect place for The Phantom to haunt. Though this special staging will naturally be drawn from the brilliant original, it will be both a spectacular and unique
production with a cast and orchestra of over 200 headed by Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. Both artists have been an outstanding ‘Phantom’ and ‘Christine’ in recent productions and have also enjoyed huge success together as the stars of Love Never Dies.
I have no doubt that these three performances at the Royal Albert Hall will be a thrilling celebration of the Music of the Night.”
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder “Cats”. This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 50 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End. It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Limited.
Worldwide, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including “Titanic”, “ET” and “Star Wars”. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 100 million people. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto.
Release issued by: Raw PR
LINKS
Book tickets to the Phantom 25th Anniversary at The Royal Albert Hall
Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London
Liza Minnelli at the Royal Albert Hall
July 1, 2011
Liza Minnelli played a show-stopping, one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 29 June 2011.
Having last performed in the UK in 2008, the uniquely talented, multi-award winning singer, actress and dancer was supported by award-winning Saxophonist Dave Koz.
After playing Kenwood House tonight, Friday 1 July 2011, she goes on to perform in Manchester at the Bridgewater Hall on 4 July and at the Glasgow Concert Hall on 6 July before continuing her European and US tour.
Photos by Roy Tan, with kind thanks to Marilyn Kingwill.
LINKS
Liza Minnelli official website
Production photos of English National Ballet’s Strictly Gershwin at the Royal Albert Hall
June 9, 2011
English National Ballet’s acclaimed production Strictly Gershwin has returned to the Royal Albert Hall until 19 June 2011.
The show first premiered in 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall and continues English National Ballet’s hugely popular and successful series of in-the-round ballet presentations.
Strictly Gershwin is a dazzling homage to George Gershwin, the big band era and the glamour of musical motion pictures. Gershwin’s timeless classics are combined with Derek Deane’s choreography and Roberta Guidi di Bagno’s designs to conjure up the Hollywood genius and glamour of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The full Company of 67 dancers tap, twirl, jeté and glide their way through a series of Gershwin classics performed by a live jazz orchestra designed to get the toes tapping.
Strictly Gershwin is a dance journey through ballet, tap, and ballroom. Act I ends with a re-creation of the Hollywood classic An American in Paris and Act II opens with Rhapsody in Blue, a spectacular ballet with the full Company of dancers dressed in glittering, Swarovski encrusted midnight blue costumes.
The show features a host of Gershwin favourites including Summertime, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, The Man I Love, Lady be Good,’ S Wonderful, and Strike up the Band, all performed by English National Ballet’s star dancers including the much-celebrated Daria Klimentová and Vadim Muntagirov, Elena Glurdjidze, Arionel Vargas, Dmitri Gruzdyev, Erina Takahashi, Fernanda Oliveira and
Begoña Cao.
The music is arranged for a 50-piece jazz orchestra by musical director, Gareth Valentine. Gareth’s previous work includes West End shows such as Porgy and Bess, Sinatra and Wicked.
“…a song and dance spectacular…” The Mail on Sunday
LINKS
Anthems with Brian May and Kerry Ellis – Save £11
April 27, 2011
Offer valid 1 May 2011
Anthems starring Brian May and Kerry Ellis
ANTHEMS: The Concert is the brand new, specially created, live version of Anthems, the stunning Kerry Ellis hit debut album produced by Brian May. This Gala Concert brings together West End and Broadway singing sensation Kerry Ellis (We Will Rock You, Wicked, Chess in Concert and Oliver!) and legendary Queen star Brian May in their first full-length performance.
For this unique production, Kerry Ellis and Brian May will perform live all of the acclaimed Anthems album, including May’s special rock-orchestral settings of songs which Kerry has made her own, and new material, including songs written especially for Kerry.
Under the Creative Direction of Brian May, the concert will feature the Anthems Ensemble of hand-picked rock musicians, the City of London Philharmonic, and the West End Chorus and Dancers – making this a truly spectacular one-off event on the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday of the Royal Wedding.
Featured as special guests will be Adam Pascal, the original star of Rent, Aida and Chess in Concert, and Escala, the stunning all-girl electric string quartet who have caused a sensation ever since the 2008 final of Britain’s Got Talent.
ANTHEMS: The Concert is to be for the benefit of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
BOOK NOW: Save £11 on tickets to Anthems starring Brian May and Kerry Ellis at the Royal Albert Hall
Offer valid 1 May 2011
Stephen Sondheim tribute at BBC Proms
August 2, 2010
A major tribute to musicals composer Stephen Sondheim was held on Saturday, 31 July, in London to celebrate his 80th year.
Judi Dench celebrates Sondheim
The tribute was led by actress Judi Dench as part of a special Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Judi Dench reprised Send In the Clowns from A Little Night Music, which she famously performed in Sean Mathias’s 1995 production at the National Theatre, winning an Olivier award for the role.
Dench said before the event: “Singing at the Proms is not something I ever imagined I would do and it’s a hugely exciting – if slightly daunting – prospect. I believe that Stephen Sondheim is a true genius. His impact on musical theatre can never be over-stated and I’m delighted to be part of his 80th birthday celebrations at the BBC Proms.”
The concert also saw a host of Sondheim aficionados perform, including Daniel Evans and Julian Ovenden, who will resurrect their original parts in the Donmar Warehouse’s 2000 production of Merrily We Roll Along in a special concert at the Queen’s Theatre on 31 October 2010; Simon Russell Beale sang a fabulously camp Everybody Ought to Have a Maid from A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and who is about to appear in Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre; and Bryan Terfel and Maria Friedman sang as Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett. Other performers included Caroline O’Connor, who will bring her one-woman show, The Showgirl Within, to the Garrick Theatre from 3 October, and Jenna Russell who will play the Baker’s wife in Sondheim’s Into The Woods at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park from this Thursday, 5 August.
Sondheim shows featured in the concert included Follies, Sunday In The Park With George, Into The Woods, The Frogs and Company.
The performers were joined by a chorus of singers from the BBC Performing Arts Fund, the BBC Concert Orchestra and conductor and architect of the Prom, David Charles Abell.
Stephen Sondheim was present at the concert and gave a pre-concert talk that was broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
LINKS
An audio recording of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms concert
BBC Radio 3 – Composer of the week: Stephen Sondheim
REVIEW: Andrew Clements in the Guardian, Sondheim at 80 BBC Prom
Chess in Concert to be released; Elaine Paige & Susan Boyle news
April 26, 2009
Exciting news for fans of the musical Chess. Following the cult musical’s brief concert revival at the Royal Albert Hall in London in December 2008, the show will be released on DVD and CD by Warner Music (16 June in USA and Canada, 15 June rest of world).
The concert version of the hit 80s show will also be broadcast by public TV station PBS in the USA from 17 June.
Written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus, the recording will air as part of PBS’ Great Performances strand. Chess originally played at the Prince of Edward Theatre in London in the late 1980s and also enjoyed a brief run on Broadway.
Chess in Concert was a star-studded two nighter at London’s prestigious venue, starring an acclaimed list of music talent including Idina Menzel as Florence, Adam Pascal as Frederick Trumper, Josh Groban as Anatoly Sergievsky, Kerry Ellis as Svetlana, David Bedella as Molokov, Marti Pellow as The Arbiter and Clarke Peters as Walter.
