Change text size : a a a



News and features index



News items
What's Happening at BRB

Features
Interviews and background articles.

Press releases

 Company Gala to be attended by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall
25 February 2010
 Birmingham Royal Ballet scoops prestigious South Bank Show award
27 January 2010
 New production of Cinderella announced for winter 2010
07 December 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet announce appointment of new Music Director
06 November 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet Nominated for a TMA Award
15 October 2009
 Promotions and New Dancers Announced
06 July 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet Appoints New Ballet Master
18 June 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet's Summer Performances at the Hippodrome
13 May 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet announces 2009-10 season
09 April 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Coliseum
26 March 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet's Spring 2009 Season at the Birmingham Hippodrome
09 February 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet's Triumphant Return from China
06 February 2009
 Birmingham Royal Ballet's Tour to China
18 December 2008
 Appointment of New Chairman to Birmingham Royal Ballet Board
03 December 2008
 Birmingham Royal Ballet to take part in Spring Dance at the London Coliseum
22 October 2008
 Company invites first-time attenders for free
06 October 2008
 Company announcements 2008
15 July 2008
 David Bintley announcement
26 June 2008
 Summer season at Birmingham Hippodrome 2008
12 May 2008
 Desmond Kelly OBE Appointed as Artistic Director of Elmhurst
07 May 2008
 Birmingham Royal Ballet Unveils 2008/09 Season
28 April 2008
 Dance Track Celebrates 10 Years and Expands
02 April 2008
 Young and old unite at Easter
01 April 2008
 Five Years of Freefall Dance
11 March 2008
 Iain Mackay and Sylvia Jimenez Announce Future Plans
06 March 2008
 Chi Cao to Feature in Film Adaptation of Bestseller
04 March 2008
 National Dance Awards for Desmond Kelly, Marion Tait and Carol-Anne Millar
23 January 2008
 Swan Lake and All That Jazz at the Birmingham Hippodrome
15 January 2008
 Swan Lake at the Belfast Grand Opera House
14 January 2008
 Company tour Japan 2008
19 December 2007
 The Nutcracker returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome
30 October 2007
 Birmingham Royal Ballet triumphs at TMA Awards
22 October 2007
 Guest Artists for autumn 2007 dates
17 September 2007
 Sadler's Wells autumn 2007
13 September 2007
 Birmingham Royal Ballet's autumn season at Birmingham Hippodrome
01 August 2007
 End of Season Announcements
08 July 2007
 Principal dancer Robert Parker announces 2006/07 season his last
05 February 2007
 Newly appointed Director of Learning
25 January 2007
 BRB to debut at 2007 Virginia Arts Festival
08 December 2006
 Royal Patron for Elmhurst School for Dance
17 October 2006
 BRB to perfom romantic classic Romeo and Juliet at Birmingham Hippodrome
25 August 2006
 BRB announcements August 2006
10 August 2006
 Development Director appointed at Birmingham Royal Ballet
16 June 2006
 Elmhurst School for Dance appoints new Artistic Director
02 February 2004

 
Reviews
Look up external reviews and articles on the Company.

Discussion forum
Join in the discussions on BRB and its performances, hosted by ballet.co.uk 
 

Summer season at Birmingham Hippodrome 2008


12 May 2008

A world premiere for Birmingham Royal Ballet
19th Century Romanticism
Igor Stravinsky Celebration


Birmingham Royal Ballet's summer season 2008 continues with David Bintley and Galina Samsova's production of Giselle. After an absence of almost five years, the full-length ballet returns to the Hippodrome stage from 25 - 28 June 2008. The triple bill Stravinsky: the real deal, celebrates the music of the great ballet composer and consists of three contrasting works. This programme runs from 3 – 5 July 2008, including Le Baiser de la fée, a world premiere for the Company by choreographer Michael Corder.

Giselle
25 – 28 June
This production of Giselle, a full-length ballet, was first performed by the Company in 1999 and tells the tragic story of a gentle peasant girl and her doomed love for a young nobleman.

Giselle is unaware that the man she loves, Albrecht, is in fact a nobleman, engaged to be married to a Countess. When Albrecht’s true identity is revealed, Giselle is distraught at the betrayal and dies of a broken heart. We are then transported into the eerie world of the forest, with its gliding ghosts and tortured spirits where Giselle and other would-be brides are destined to remain.

The tragic story of Giselle is considered by many to be the epitome of the 19th Century Romantic classical ballet and broke new ground when it was first conceived. The fusing of the popular appeal of historical local colour with shadowy spirits created The Wilis, ghosts of girls jilted by their lovers, who haunt the forest. These spirits dance to death any man they meet during the hours of darkness.

The role of Giselle is one of the most sought-after in ballet, demanding both technical perfection and outstanding grace and lyricism, as well as great dramatic skill.

Stravinsky: the real deal
Petrushka/Le Baiser de le fee/Card Game

3 – 5 July
Petrushka
Petrushka has remained an anarchic force on stages around the world since the Ballets Russes' 1911 premiere. In Fokine's ballet all the wild fun of the Butter Week Fair in St Petersburg floods the stage, and unruly Petrushka is soon creating havoc. Then, one wooden step too far, this harlequin meets a very mortal end – but there's spirit in the old doll yet.

Le Baiser de la fée
A brand-new version of Le Baiser de la fée, choreographed by Michael Corder and designed by John Macfarlane. This beautiful ballet breathes life into Hans Christian Andersen's chilling fairy tale The Ice Maiden. Enthralled by a child lost in the mountains, the Ice Maiden gives him a kiss – one that he will never escape.

Card Game
In Card Game, Stravinsky, himself a keen poker player, plays with allegiances, rivalries and power. John Cranko's witty choreography entered The Royal Ballet repertory in 1966. In this modern classic, the sly Joker banishes the proud Queen; the Two, Three, Four, Five and Six strike a straight flush and little Two of Diamonds tries to spoil everyone's fun.

ENDS

For further press information please contact:
Simon Harper on 0121 245 3562; Email: SimonHarper@brb.org.uk

PRINT THIS PAGE

  Contact Us | Legal Statements | Credits | Discussion Forum
® Birmingham Royal Ballet | Company registration no. 3320538 | Registered charity no. 1061012
Summer season at Birmingham Hippodrome 2008

A world premiere for Birmingham Royal Ballet
19th Century Romanticism
Igor Stravinsky Celebration


Birmingham Royal Ballet's summer season 2008 continues with David Bintley and Galina Samsova's production of Giselle. After an absence of almost five years, the full-length ballet returns to the Hippodrome stage from 25 - 28 June 2008. The triple bill Stravinsky: the real deal, celebrates the music of the great ballet composer and consists of three contrasting works. This programme runs from 3 – 5 July 2008, including Le Baiser de la fée, a world premiere for the Company by choreographer Michael Corder.

Giselle
25 – 28 June
This production of Giselle, a full-length ballet, was first performed by the Company in 1999 and tells the tragic story of a gentle peasant girl and her doomed love for a young nobleman.

Giselle is unaware that the man she loves, Albrecht, is in fact a nobleman, engaged to be married to a Countess. When Albrecht’s true identity is revealed, Giselle is distraught at the betrayal and dies of a broken heart. We are then transported into the eerie world of the forest, with its gliding ghosts and tortured spirits where Giselle and other would-be brides are destined to remain.

The tragic story of Giselle is considered by many to be the epitome of the 19th Century Romantic classical ballet and broke new ground when it was first conceived. The fusing of the popular appeal of historical local colour with shadowy spirits created The Wilis, ghosts of girls jilted by their lovers, who haunt the forest. These spirits dance to death any man they meet during the hours of darkness.

The role of Giselle is one of the most sought-after in ballet, demanding both technical perfection and outstanding grace and lyricism, as well as great dramatic skill.

Stravinsky: the real deal
Petrushka/Le Baiser de le fee/Card Game

3 – 5 July
Petrushka
Petrushka has remained an anarchic force on stages around the world since the Ballets Russes' 1911 premiere. In Fokine's ballet all the wild fun of the Butter Week Fair in St Petersburg floods the stage, and unruly Petrushka is soon creating havoc. Then, one wooden step too far, this harlequin meets a very mortal end – but there's spirit in the old doll yet.

Le Baiser de la fée
A brand-new version of Le Baiser de la fée, choreographed by Michael Corder and designed by John Macfarlane. This beautiful ballet breathes life into Hans Christian Andersen's chilling fairy tale The Ice Maiden. Enthralled by a child lost in the mountains, the Ice Maiden gives him a kiss – one that he will never escape.

Card Game
In Card Game, Stravinsky, himself a keen poker player, plays with allegiances, rivalries and power. John Cranko's witty choreography entered The Royal Ballet repertory in 1966. In this modern classic, the sly Joker banishes the proud Queen; the Two, Three, Four, Five and Six strike a straight flush and little Two of Diamonds tries to spoil everyone's fun.