Posted on April 25, 2014 by Rose Rushe
OUR City of Culture purse is behind the novel collaboration between Ballet Ireland and Irish Chamber Orchestra to bring the dance adaptation of ‘Carmen’ opera to Limerick.
Better still, this modern,wildly acclaimed production will take place in the evening, outdoors, shrouded romantically by The Big Top at the Milk Market. Set for May 29 and 30 at 8.30pm, booking is by concert hall box office at www.uch.ie
According to marketing manager for the orchestra, Charlotte Eglington: “Rodion Shchedrin’s popular and much-loved ‘Carmen Suite’ is based on Bizet’s themes, but innovatively arranged for string orchestra and a colossal percussion ensemble.
“Originally conceived as a ballet for Shchedrin’s wife, celebrated Bolshoi dancer Maya Plisetskaya, it is a fantastic mix of all the familiar tunes, dressed up in a way Bizet could never have imagined”.
Shchedrin himself says that “the ballet orchestra must sound several degrees hotter than an opera orchestra. It must better project the story, make it sharper, more evident”.
Artistic principal partner with the ICO, Gábor Tákacs-Nagy conducts; Ballet Ireland’s Morgann Runacre-Temple is choreographer.
‘Carmen’ follows the story of a naïve soldier José, bewitched by this fiery gypsy, played by Irish ballerina Zoë Ashe-Browne. The production features John Walsh, flamenco guitarist, performing live on stage.
Head of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Keenan describes this “unique celebration of dance in an open-air setting with full orchestra” as progressive and exciting: “We thank Limerick City of Culture 2014 for their confidence in our production and the Arts Council of Ireland for their ongoing support of ICO initiatives”.
