| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:38 am Post subject: Romeo and Juliet: The Ultimate Love Tragedy Comes Alive / Romeo and Juliet: The Ultimate Love Tragedy Comes Alive |
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[Hong Kong - fifteen Sep 2009] Fall is the season of melancholia, and there's no better time to experience an autumnal mood thru the immortal story of William Shakespeare's 'star-crossed' lovers Romeo and Juliet. This October, The hong kong Ballet brings vividly to life one of the most classic love stories and the ultimate tragedy. Romeo and Juliet by celebrated choreographer Rudi van Dantzig retells the drama, setting the ballet to a tough score by Sergei Prokofiev. The ballet will be staged at the Grand Theatre, hong kong Cultural Centre from 16-18 and 23-25 October 2009 for 8 performances. Tickets are on sale now.
Set in 15th century Verona, Romeo and Juliet presents a tale of passion, sorrow and vengeance set in a constant feud between 2 family clans. When Juliet finds love in Romeo, an affiliate of her family's arch rival, she takes the unusual step of pretending to be dead to escape an unwelcome wedding ordered by her folks, leading to terrible results.
With its luxurious set and costumes, thrilling fight scenes and the tragic culmination, Romeo and Juliet embodies everything a ballet should be. Set to Prokofiev's sublime orchestra score, the music conjures the oppressive mood and violence of the feuding families, to the poetic nightscape of the balcony love scene. The hong kong Sinfonietta, under the baton of Gerry Cornelius, will provide live accompaniment to the production.
A special lecture The Making of Romeo and Juliet at the hong kong Cultural Centre on friday, twenty-five Sep will give viewers an insider look and the walkthrough process. This is not-to-be-missed as the ballet's choreographer Rudi van Dantzig and his helper Andr Lewis ( artistic Director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet ) will also be present to share their insights. For registration and enquiries, feel free to call 2105 9724 or e-mail marketinghkballet.com.
Tickets for Romeo and Juliet, priced from HK$120 to HK$600 ( HK$1000 for VIP ticket ), are available now at all URBTIX outlets ( Tel. 2734 9009/ www.urbtix.hk ).
Romeo and Juliet celebrates the 30th Anniversary of The HK Ballet, the 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Culture Centre, and is an element of Home Affairs Bureau's Creative October.
About Romeo and Juliet
In a square in Verona about 1400s, the continuing feud between the city's two robust families, the Capulets and the Montagues flares up once more. The Duke of Verona puts a cap on the fighting.
At the courtyard of the Capulet Palace, the nurse of Juliet explains to her that she is no longer a kid. Juliet is introduced to Paris, the wealthy count, who wants her for his other half. At the engagement ball of Juliet and Paris, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio disguise themselves, entering the house of their arch rival.
Among the guests, Juliet meets Romeo. As love awakens in her, she realizes that her feelings toward Paris are untrue. Tybalt, spotting his enemy Romeo, exposes him. Juliet becomes aware that her days of untroubled youth are over. In the garden, Juliet lingers at the balcony, deep in thought. She reveals Romeo, who awaits her in the shadows of the garden. They feel that their love for each other is pure and powerful, enough for them to face any danger.
The town folk are celebrating in the square, with processions and dancing. When Romeo appears, Mercutio and Benvolio are disappointed at his grumpy mood. The nurse delivers a letter to Romeo. Juliet agrees to anonymously marry him at the chapel of her confessional priest, Friar Laurentius. After persuading the Friar to help them, Romeo weds Juliet. She returns home by herself.
The festivities by the town folks reach its climax. Tybalt, seeking vengeance for Romeo's intrusion upon the ball, quarrels with Mercutio. Romeo attempts to hold Mercutio back, but Tybalt kills Mercutio. Mad with ire about the loss of his mate, Romeo stabs Tybalt.
Banned from Verona for murdering Tybalt, Romeo spends the wedding night with Juliet. At dawn, he leaves. Juliet's parents decide to wed Juliet to Paris as quickly as possible. Despairingly trying to change the minds of her parents, she leaves the house at night, begging Friar Laurentius for advice. On her way to Friar Laurentius' chapel, Juliet encounters the ghosts of Mercutio and Tybalt. Fate casts its inevitable shadows ahead.
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Friar Laurentius gives Juliet a potion to drink, which will make her appear dead. After the funeral, she'll wake up in the family crypt, Romeo, forewarned by Friar Laurentius, shall free her. Juliet pretends to wed Paris. When she is alone, she swallows the potion, falling dead on the bed. On the morning of her marriage, Juliet is found dead by her folks.
Romeo, not having received Friar Laurentius' message, returns anonymously to Verona. Believing Juliet is dead, he kills himself in despair. Juliet wakes to find her beloved, and then she follows Romeo to a life where no one can separate them.
Romeo and Juliet
16, 17, 24, twenty-five October 2009 ( 7:30pm )
$1000 ( VIP tickets ), $600, $400, $260, $140
twenty-three October ( 7:30pm )
eighteen, twenty-four, 25 October 2009 ( 2:30pm )
$580, $480, $320, $220, $120
Grand Theatre, hong kong Cultural Centre
Performance duration : two hours 40 minutes ( including intermission )
*Children aged 5 or under cannot be admitted into the theatre
Tickets available at all URBTIX outlets
Reservation : 2734 9009
card booking : 2111 5999
net booking : www.urbtix.hk
Enquiries : 2105 9724 / marketinghkballet.com
Programme plus
The Making of Romeo and Juliet
an insider's's look into the walkthrough process and a discuss session with the show's choreographer Rudi truck Dantzig and his helper Andr Lewis ( creative Director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet )
25 Sep 2009 ( friday )
7:30 - 8:45pm
Rehearsal Room GR3, 8/F, Grand theatre Backstage, HK Cultural Centre
Conducted in English
Free admission, on a first-come, first-served basis
Call 2105 9724, or email marketinghkballet.com to reserve your seat
Pre-performance Talk
16 October 2009, friday, 6:50pm
18 October 2009, Sun., 1:50pm
Level four foyer, HK Cultural Centre
Programme is about 20 minutes
Conducted in English with Cantonese translation
Admission with Romeo and Juliet tickets, on a first-come, first-served basis
Call 2105 9724, or email marketinghkballet.com to reserve your seat
When Juliet Talks About Juliet
A Talk by Stella Lau
First, there had been the Italian tale of which William Shakespeare evolved, making Romeo and Juliet his own magnum opus. But how would a ballet tell this piquant love story?
Join Stella Lau, Lecturer of college of Dance ( Ballet ) of the hong kong Academy for Performing arts, and previous principal dancer of The HK Ballet in a special talk that explores the essence of this production. To occur at the wonderful set designed by Toer lorry Schayk, Stella will speak from her experience when she performed the role of Juliet.
The talk is accompanied with a dance preview by members of The Hong Kong Ballet, who will also share their insights with the crowd.
22 October 2009, thursday
7:30pm - 8:45pm
Grand Theatre, hong kong Cultural Centre
Conducted in Cantonese
Free Admission on a first-come-first-served basis
Call 2105 9724, or email marketinghkballet.com to reserve your seat
About The HK Ballet
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009, The HK Ballet is one of the premier classical ballet corporations in the East. It's also becoming internationally recognized as a top class establishment with an identity that completely reflects the unique vitality of hong kong.
The Company's inventive team originates from twelve countries and regions, performing a repertoire that mixes 19th and 20th century classical masterpieces, acclaimed up to date works and new commissions. Since 1997, The hong kong Ballet has raised its international profile and has concluded over twenty tours. Another integral part of the organization's activities are its extensive educational and community outreach programs, which bring the art of ballet to students as well as the wider community of hong kong.
Press Contacts :
Heidi Chik, or Hiram To
PR and promoting boss
hong kong Ballet
Tel. 2105 9742 ; 2105 9716
heidi_chikhkballet.com
hiram_tohkballet.com Chloe Kwung
marketing Officer
hong kong Ballet
Tel : 2105 9757
chloe_kwunghkballet.com |
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