SBW to feature in Wales v the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium!
On Saturday June 2nd Symphonic Brass Wales will take to the hallowed ground of the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to provide the pre-match entertainment, accompanying the 1500 voice male choir under the direction of Dr Haydn James, and performing the Welsh National Anthem to start the Wales versus the Barbarians match.
SBW is delighted to be involved in the event and support the national rugby team in their Grand Slam winning year.
Tickets for the match, along with further information, are available at www.millenniumstadium.com
Busy Summer Ahead!
Symphonic Brass Wales are all set for a busy Summer 2012 with invitations now accepted to perform in Germany and Russia.
From 20 to 22 July SBW will travel to Nurtingen, Germany to perform alongside our good friends at the Stadtkapelle Nurtingen in the 14th annual Nurtingen Tattoo. A large scale outdoor concert, the Nurtingen Tattoo will feature three bands performing individually and combined, all culminating in a spectacular performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with fireworks.
From 25 to 31 July SBW has then been invited to perform in Russia, firstly to Archangelsk, to participate in an event in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Russian Northern Fleet, followed by a two day stay and concert performance in St Petersburg.
Further information on both of these events, and past SBW performances can be found in the On Tour section of this site, or contact us here.
From 20 to 22 July SBW will travel to Nurtingen, Germany to perform alongside our good friends at the Stadtkapelle Nurtingen in the 14th annual Nurtingen Tattoo. A large scale outdoor concert, the Nurtingen Tattoo will feature three bands performing individually and combined, all culminating in a spectacular performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with fireworks.
From 25 to 31 July SBW has then been invited to perform in Russia, firstly to Archangelsk, to participate in an event in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Russian Northern Fleet, followed by a two day stay and concert performance in St Petersburg.
Further information on both of these events, and past SBW performances can be found in the On Tour section of this site, or contact us here.
Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Happy New Year to all from everyone at Symphonic Brass Wales. 2011 was another good year for the organisation with the now annual performances for the Royal British Legion in Carmarthen on Remembrance Sunday, the annual Christmas carolling in aid of Ty Cymorth Children's Hospice, and also the group featuring in the closing event of the Wales Millennium Centre Christmas Cymanfa in December.
The biggest performances of the year though were of course those at the 2011 Mediterranean International Festival of Arts on the Greek island of Crete in September / October, both as part of the Crete International Tattoo and the concerts with Just Harrie and West End star Peter Karrie there.
A number of invitations for 2012 are now being considered, further information on which will be posted here as and when it becomes available.
Symphonic Brass Wales would like to wish all members, friends and followers a happy, healthy and successful year in 2012 and look forward to the fresh opportunities and challenges that the year ahead will bring.
Σας ευχαριστούμε Κρήτη
Symphonic Brass Wales would like to offer huge thanks and congratulations to all involved in the 2011 Mediterranean International Festival of Arts.
From the first ever performance of the Mozart opera Idomeneo (Re di Creta - King of Crete) upon the island on which is is set, through to the Ballet Gala at the Fortezza, Rethymno; the first ever concert in St Minas Cathedral, Heraklion; the Russian State Ballet company's production of Adolphe Adam's Le Corsaire; the Crete International Tattoo; and the series of concerts with musical theatre star Peter Karrie, accompanied by Symphonic Brass Wales and Just Harry, the Festival was a tremendous success.
Appearing in the Tattoo alongside leading performers from Canada (Paris Port Dover Pipe Band, Kitchener Fire Department Pipes & Drums), Estonia (world gymnastic club champions Club Piruett), Greece (Heraklion Philharmonic Orchestra), Italy (Sbandieratori Gubbio & Sansepulcro), Russia (Moscow College Wind Band) and Scotland (Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers, Massed Pipes & Drums) in shows in Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos & Rethymno was a fantastic experience; while the performances with Peter Karrie and Just Harrie at the magnificent Rethymno Fortezza and in Lion's Square, Heraklion were superb.
SBW would like to thank Crete and the Cretan people for the generosity and hospitality they showed to ourselves and all visiting perfomers, and also the Periphery of the Governor of Crete, the Municipalities of Heraklion, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos and Hersonissos, and all the Festival sponsors, particularly Tez Tour, for their support.
Our best wishes go to all those who were involved, and we wish the festival, and the Cretan people, the very best of luck for the future.
For further information on the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts visit www.festarts.org
From the first ever performance of the Mozart opera Idomeneo (Re di Creta - King of Crete) upon the island on which is is set, through to the Ballet Gala at the Fortezza, Rethymno; the first ever concert in St Minas Cathedral, Heraklion; the Russian State Ballet company's production of Adolphe Adam's Le Corsaire; the Crete International Tattoo; and the series of concerts with musical theatre star Peter Karrie, accompanied by Symphonic Brass Wales and Just Harry, the Festival was a tremendous success.
Appearing in the Tattoo alongside leading performers from Canada (Paris Port Dover Pipe Band, Kitchener Fire Department Pipes & Drums), Estonia (world gymnastic club champions Club Piruett), Greece (Heraklion Philharmonic Orchestra), Italy (Sbandieratori Gubbio & Sansepulcro), Russia (Moscow College Wind Band) and Scotland (Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers, Massed Pipes & Drums) in shows in Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos & Rethymno was a fantastic experience; while the performances with Peter Karrie and Just Harrie at the magnificent Rethymno Fortezza and in Lion's Square, Heraklion were superb.
SBW would like to thank Crete and the Cretan people for the generosity and hospitality they showed to ourselves and all visiting perfomers, and also the Periphery of the Governor of Crete, the Municipalities of Heraklion, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos and Hersonissos, and all the Festival sponsors, particularly Tez Tour, for their support.
Our best wishes go to all those who were involved, and we wish the festival, and the Cretan people, the very best of luck for the future.
For further information on the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts visit www.festarts.org
SBW to feature in International Mediterranean Festival of Arts
Symphonic Brass Wales will return to the Greek island of Crete in September / October of this year, as featured artists of the 2011 Mediterranean International Festival of Arts
The Festival will be held between September 25 and October 5 across the whole of Crete, and will feature a host of high profile international artists from a wide variety of different genres throughout a ten day long series of events.
Particular highlights will include the second Crete International Tattoo, a large-scale musical, dance and gymnastic performance, which will feature performers from across the globe - represented nations for 2011 include Greece, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland & Wales), Canada, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand and Russia.
Other highlights include a very special staging of Mozart's 'Idomeneo', Re di Creta (King of Crete), the first ever performance of the masterful opera upon the island on which it is set. The opera will be staged in the Cretan capital of Heraklion, and feature artists from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, the United Kingdom and Greece. Other featured events include a ballet gala performance, featuring leading artists from the renowned Bolshoi Theatre Ballet and the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, plus a recital by leading medieval, renaissance & baroque artist Jordi Savall, performances by the Russian State National Ballet, and a host of other performances by leading artists from across a wide range of genres.
In addition to featuring in the Crete International Tattoo, Symphonic Brass Wales will this year also be undertaking a series of solo concert performances with Welsh musical theatre legend Peter Karrie. The performances will take place in a variety of major cities which include Agios Nikolaos, Rethymnon and the capital city Heraklion.
The full itinerary for SBW's visit is now available here, while further detailed information on and from the Festival will be placed here as and when it becomes available. Full information on the International Mediterranean Festival of Arts itself can be found at the Militfest website at www.militfest.com/crete_2011 and the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts' own website www.festarts.org
A general video about Crete can be found below:
Congratulations Treherbert & District
Llongyfarchiadau / Congratulations to the members of Treherbert & District Band, the newly crowned 2011 National Eisteddfod of Wales Third Division Brass Band Champions.
At the end of July the band made the long journey up to Wrexham, North Wales, and returned with first prize from the annual national cultural festival. Their programme of Summon the Heroes, Send in the Clowns (featuring principal cornet Louise Russell), Sweet Georgia Brown and MacArthur Park found strong favour with the three adjudicators Brian Buckley, Paul Holland & Iwan Williams and a responsive eisteddfod crowd.
The performance was televised nationally and footage of the band's prize winning performance, conducted by Symphonic Brass Wales MD Craig Roberts, can be found online at the BBC Wales website here. Treherbert's full performance can also be found in the video section of their own website www.treherbertband.weebly.com
Members of Treherbert & District will be part of the ensemble travelling to Crete this September with Symphonic Brass Wales, immediately following their performances at the Welsh Open Entertainments Contest (Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl, Saturday September 17) and the National Championships of Great Britain (The Centaur, Cheltenham, Sunday September 25).
Treherbert's full performance at the National Eisteddfod can be viewed in sequence by clicking on the link here
SEWBBA Champions join SBW for Crete
Llongyfarchiadau / Congratulations to all members of Treherbert & District and Abergavenny Borough Brass Bands on their success at the recent SEWBBA Championships.
Treherbert & District took third prize in the Second Section of the contest, while Abergavenny Borough are the 2011 SEWBBA Champions, following their first prize placing in the Championship Section of the contest.
Musicians from both prize winning bands will be part of the ensemble that visits Crete in September / October this year, as part of the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts.
Further information on Treherbert & District and Abergavenny Borough Bands can be found at their respective websites www.treherbertband.weebly.com and www.abergavennyboroughband.org.uk Further information on the Mediterranean Festival of Arts can be found at the Militfest website at www.militfest.com/crete2011
Llongyfarchiadau Tom
Congratulations to Symphonic Brass Wales' Tom Scaife on his third place finish in the final of this year's Urdd National Eisteddfod of Wales in Swansea.
After beating his way through various rounds and competitiors from across Wales,Tom now looks forward to reprising his award winning performance in concert with Symphonic Brass Wales when they tour the Greek island of Crete this autumn.
Tom's televised performance of Variations on The Blue Bells of Scotland at the National Eisteddfod can be viewed, for a limited period, at the S4C website www.s4c.co.uk
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb
Happy New Year to all from everyone at Symphonic Brass Wales. 2010 was a superb year for the organisation with visits to Crete and Hamburg, performances earlier in the year at the Royal Albert Hall with the Imperial Ice Stars, and a series of very worthwhile and enjoyable charitable performances to close the year.
With a number of invitations and engagements already lined up for the year ahead Symphonic Brass Wales looks forward to another superb year in 2011.
Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy festive season, and a super New Year throughout 2011.
With a number of invitations and engagements already lined up for the year ahead Symphonic Brass Wales looks forward to another superb year in 2011.
Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy festive season, and a super New Year throughout 2011.
Previous News - 2010
Nadolig Llawen / Merry Christmas
Nadolig Llawen / Merry Christmas to all friends and supporters of Symphonic Brass Wales.
SBW rounded off a full and incredibly fulfilling 2010 with a series of charitable Christmas appearances, which will culminate in a day long series of performances across Croesyceiliog, Carmarthen, in aid of the local children's hospice Ty Cymorth
Further information on Ty Cymorth can be found at their own website www.tycymorth.org.uk
SBW rounded off a full and incredibly fulfilling 2010 with a series of charitable Christmas appearances, which will culminate in a day long series of performances across Croesyceiliog, Carmarthen, in aid of the local children's hospice Ty Cymorth
Further information on Ty Cymorth can be found at their own website www.tycymorth.org.uk
Symphonic Brass Wales again lead Remembrance Parade
Symphonic Brass Wales once again lead the annual armistice parade through Carmarthen, West Wales on Remembrance Sunday, November 14.
In addition to performing in this parade, one of the largest in the principality, individual SBW musicians also performed in a series of other remembrance events across South Wales that morning.
SBW is proud to support Remembrance Sunday and the ever vital Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
For further information on the Poppy Appeal, including details of how you can show your support, please visit www.poppy.org.uk
Swan Lake On Ice returns to Cardiff
The world’s premiere theatrical ice skating company, the Imperial ice Stars, return to the UK this autumn with a dynamic new interpretation of their award-winning masterpiece Swan Lake on Ice, part of a two year, 22-country world tour.
Swan Lake on Ice began its UK tour on Tuesday 5 October, and will appear in Wales between October 26 to November 6 at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
This production of Swan Lake features exhilarating new choreography and some of the world’s most stylish dancing on ice from Artistic Director Tony Mercer, widely regarded as the world’s leading creator of theatre on ice, as well as new effects and costumes. The prerecorded score is, as always, masterfully prepared by composer / arranger Tim A. Duncan, and features musicians from Symphonic Brass Wales.
The Imperial Ice Stars have received standing ovations from UK audiences on each of their previous three tours (Sleeping Beauty on Ice 2004, Swan Lake on Ice 2006, Cinderella on Ice 2008/09) and earned outstanding reviews with their adrenaline-infused performances. The 26 World, European and National Championship Imperial Ice skaters, who between them hold more than 250 competition medals, take contemporary ice dance to a new level with their daring and graceful feats – some of which are so complex they haven’t yet been named – and all in the intimate setting of a frozen theatre stage.
The Imperial Ice Stars have performed to almost three million people across five continents, at some of the world’s most prestigious venues – London’s Royal Albert Hall and Sadler’s Wells, Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre, Montreal’s Place des Arts and Cape Town’s Artscape, winning five-star praise from audiences and critics alike.Their world tours have earned them an unrivalled reputation for pushing the boundaries in the genre of ice dance with their skill and athleticism on the ice, their creative and powerful story-telling, their sumptuous sets, spectacular special effects and opulent costumes.
Swan Lake on Ice is performed against lavish backdrops and scenery created by one of Australasia’s leading scenic designers, Eamon D’Arcy. The costuming has also been refined for this new production, with some dazzling and sophisticated designs from renowned costumier Albina Gabueva of Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theatre, and made by the famous Bolshoi Ballet’s costume cutters. Together with Tchaikovsky’s uplifting music, this innovative portrayal of the classic love story literally takes your breath away.
Further information on the show and the Ice Stars themselves can be found at their own site www.imperialicestars.com while a promotional video for Swan Lake On Ice, in which Symphonic Brass Wales musicians can be heard, can be found below:
Danke Schön Hamburg a Diolch Yn Fawr Wales Tartan!
Vielen Dank a Diolch yn fawr to all at the Hamburg Polizei Show and the Wales Tartan Centre for making Symphonic Brass Wales' recent visit to Germany such an absolute pleasure.
The 35 piece ensemble looked splendid in their St David's Tartan cilts generously provided by the Wales Tartan Centre and plaudits on the uniform were received from event producers from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Canada, as well as the host of performers and audience members who interacted with the group throughout the run of the Polizei Show.
The Hamburg Polizei were incredible hosts throughout the group's stay, and particular thanks to Polizeipräsident Werner Jantosch, Vorsitzende des Polizeivereins Dirk Reimers and show producers Michael Krohn & Herbert Everding.
Symphonic Brass Wales would also like to offer its thanks to Major Denis Burton of the Band of the Royal Welsh for his incredible leadership throughout the group's stay in Germany. The group looks forward to returning to Germany again sometime soon.
Further information on the Polizei Show can be found at www.polizeishow-hamburg.de while information on the Wales Tartan Centre, the St David's Tartan cilts and full range of other products can be found at www.welsh-tartan.com
The 35 piece ensemble looked splendid in their St David's Tartan cilts generously provided by the Wales Tartan Centre and plaudits on the uniform were received from event producers from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Canada, as well as the host of performers and audience members who interacted with the group throughout the run of the Polizei Show.
The Hamburg Polizei were incredible hosts throughout the group's stay, and particular thanks to Polizeipräsident Werner Jantosch, Vorsitzende des Polizeivereins Dirk Reimers and show producers Michael Krohn & Herbert Everding.
Symphonic Brass Wales would also like to offer its thanks to Major Denis Burton of the Band of the Royal Welsh for his incredible leadership throughout the group's stay in Germany. The group looks forward to returning to Germany again sometime soon.
Further information on the Polizei Show can be found at www.polizeishow-hamburg.de while information on the Wales Tartan Centre, the St David's Tartan cilts and full range of other products can be found at www.welsh-tartan.com
Symphonic Brass Wales to lead Remembrance Sunday Parade
Symphonic Brass Wales will lead the annual armistice parade through Carmarthen, West Wales on Sunday November 14. The parade, which is one of the largest in the principality, will leave from the Guildhall Square and be led by SBW through Carmarthen to the main church service.
SBW is proud to support this important annual event and the vital Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
For further information on the RBL Poppy Appeal please visit www.poppy.org.uk
SBW to wear the Cilt!
Thanks to the generous support of the Wales Tartan Centres, Symphonic Brass Wales will appear, for the first time, in full national attire for their forthcoming visit to Hamburg and the world famous Hamburg Polizei Show.
Sporting full Charlie Jacket & Waistcoat, Full 8 Yard Welsh Dress Kit, Wing Collar Shirt, Tartan Bowtie, Welsh Dress Ysgrepan (Sporran), Dress Shoes and Kilt Hose, the 35 piece band that will represent SBW and the principality at the international spectacle will never have looked finer, and look forward to performing in the tartan of the patron saint of Wales, St David.
Symphonic Brass Wales would like to thank Wales Tartan Centres for their incredibly generous support in this venture. For further information on the centres and their vast array of Welsh products, visit www.welsh-tartan.com
Symphonic Brass Wales to visit Germany
Symphonic Brass Wales has been invited to perform in Hamburg, Germany as guests of the Hamburg Polizei Show. The visit will be supported by the Hamburg Police Association and the Welsh Tartan Centre
Now in its forty first year, the Hamburg Polizei Show is a large scale indoor show and sister show of Canada's renowned Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. Each year the German spectacular features various and numerous artists and acts from the Hamburg Police Force alongside a host of international performers, in front of sellout crowds of four thousand per performance, at the prestigious Hamburg Sporthalle.
Domestic acts for 2010 include the world famous Flying Grandpas gymnastic display team, the Hamburg Police Motorcycle Display Team, the ever popular Schnauzball police dog football teams, and the Hamburg Police Orchestra. Guests artists include Traumfanger Gymnastics from Munich University, STV Wettingen Gymnastics of Switzerland, Talentholdet of Denmark, the Canadian Forces Jiffy Jeep team, World Club Gymnastics Champions Club Piruett of Estonia, the Kanakovs Russian Bar team of Moscow, the Starbugs hip hop comedy dance group and Symphonic Brass Wales.
Further details of Symphonic Brass Wales' visit to Hamburg can be found here, while further information on the Polizei Show itself can be found at its own website www.polizeishow-hamburg.de and further information, in English, on the 2010 show here
σας ευχαριστώ!
Symphonic Brass Wales would like to offer its sincere thanks to the Municipality of Heraklion, the Heraklion Philharmonic Orchestra, the Apollonia Hotel, and all our wonderful hosts who made Symphonic Brass Wales' recent visit to Crete such a warm & positive experience.
The ensemble thoroughly enjoyed working together with the Heraklion Orchestra, the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band, the Highland & Island Dancers and all the traditional Cretan musicians during their recent visit and look forward to hopefully returning to Crete next year as part of the proposed Mediterranean Arts Festival.
Further information on the event will be posted here as and when it becomes available. In the meantime Ηράκλειο, σας ευχαριστώ και πάλι
Full Heraklion Itinerary Now Announced
The full itinerary for Symphonic Brass Wales' forthcoming tour to Heraklion has now been confirmed.
The group will be staying at the Apollonia Resort Hotel and performing alongside the Heraklion Philharmonic Orchestra, the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band of Canada, the Highland & Island Dancers of Scotland, and the Crete Traditional Music & Dance Group.
Symphonic Brass Wales look forward to once again representing Wales and the UK abroad and promoting traditional British brass music in this festival, aimed at promoting international peace and cooperation and the positive image of the nation of Greece.
The full tour itinerary can be found here.
SBW to perform in Crete
Symphonic Brass Wales has been invited to perform in the Cretan capital of Heraklion City in September of this year.
SBW will perform alongside the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band of Ontario, Canada, representatives of the Highland School of Dance from Ayr, Scotland plus other international artists.
Heraklion City (Greek: Ηράκλειον) is the largest city and capital city of the island of Crete. It is also the fourth largest Greek city. Heraklion is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Monoan times was the largest centre of population on Crete. It is thought that Knossos may well have had a port at the site of Heraklion as long ago as 2000 BC, though the present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens.
Heraklion is one of the Mediterranean region's most fascinating and vibrant cities. With the current efforts to open up the wonderful medieval city centre, it speaks of a past full of history and great events that reflect its location at the crossroads of three continents. The city is also the commercial and technological centre of the island. It has a strategic geopolitical position in the south-eastern Mediterranean Sea connecting three continents and many different cultures. Heraklion offers a wealth of museums, a summer-long arts festival, historical sightseeing, plus amazing nightlife and events throughout the year.
Symphonic Brass Wales very much look forward to performing in the festival in Heraklion and once again representing Wales and the UK abroad.
Further information on the visit will be posted here as and when it becomes available. General videos of Heraklion itself can be found below.
SBW will perform alongside the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band of Ontario, Canada, representatives of the Highland School of Dance from Ayr, Scotland plus other international artists.
Heraklion City (Greek: Ηράκλειον) is the largest city and capital city of the island of Crete. It is also the fourth largest Greek city. Heraklion is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Monoan times was the largest centre of population on Crete. It is thought that Knossos may well have had a port at the site of Heraklion as long ago as 2000 BC, though the present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 AD by the Saracens.
Heraklion is one of the Mediterranean region's most fascinating and vibrant cities. With the current efforts to open up the wonderful medieval city centre, it speaks of a past full of history and great events that reflect its location at the crossroads of three continents. The city is also the commercial and technological centre of the island. It has a strategic geopolitical position in the south-eastern Mediterranean Sea connecting three continents and many different cultures. Heraklion offers a wealth of museums, a summer-long arts festival, historical sightseeing, plus amazing nightlife and events throughout the year.
Symphonic Brass Wales very much look forward to performing in the festival in Heraklion and once again representing Wales and the UK abroad.
Further information on the visit will be posted here as and when it becomes available. General videos of Heraklion itself can be found below.
|
|
|
SBW at the Royal Albert Hall
The Imperial Ice Stars and Royal Albert Hall present
Cinderella On Ice
24th – 28th February 2010
Strictly limited season – 8 performances only
Promotional Video
In February of this year musicians from Symphonic Brass Wales worked with composer Tim A. Duncan and the Imperial Ice Stars on Cinderella On Ice at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Presented by The Imperial Ice Stars and Royal Albert Hall, the critically acclaimed Imperial Ice Stars, the world’s leading theatrical ice skating company, brought a specially redesigned production of their spectacular, lavish new production of Cinderella on Ice to the hallowed stage of the Royal Albert Hall.
The production ran for a limited season of 8 performances, and Symphonic Brass Wales provided the brass and percussion elements of the show's live orchestral accompaniment.
This was just the second time in history that the arena floor of the Royal Albert Hall had been frozen with ice, and the first since the John Curry Symphony on Ice, featuring the Olympic gold medallist, was staged 25 years ago.
One of the most artistically challenging ice shows ever created, Cinderella on Ice has garnered outstanding reviews across-the-board during its tours of Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and will travel to Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan and South Africa as part of an extensive 2 year world tour before arriving in London.
“The Imperial Ice Stars are to skating what Cirque du Soleil is to circus - inspiring, original and great theatre.”
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SYDNEY
So far nearly three million people across five continents have greeted The Imperial Ice Stars’ adrenaline-infused performances with standing ovations. Over the last five years, The Imperial Ice Stars have performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues, from Sadler’s Wells in London’s West End to the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, from Montreal’s Place des Arts to Moscow’s Red Square, and will now be adding the magnificent Royal Albert Hall to the list. The Imperial Ice Stars are the only ice skating company to have won a theatrical award – the Manchester Evening News ‘Best Special Entertainment’ for their production of Swan Lake on Ice in 2007.
The show took 18 months of pre-production planning, with a brand new score specially composed for the ice dance medium, making the production a powerful contemporary musical genre. The score has been composed by Tim A Duncan and Edward Barnwell, both highly regarded contemporary composers, and was recorded by the 72-piece Moscow State Cinematic Orchestra and 10 soloists from the Manchester Symphony Orchestra. At the Royal Albert Hall it will be complemented by a live 20-piece orchestra.
“**** A truly spectacular piece of entertainment.”
THE SCOTSMAN
Performed on a specially-created stage, frozen at minus 15 degrees Celsius, Cinderella on Ice boasts stunning special effects including fire and rain, flying, magnificent projected scenery depicting a Siberian town square and a black and silver art deco theatre, and glorious costumes from Albina Gabueva, head designer at Moscow’s famed Stanislavsky Theatre.
Formed in July 2004 as a joint venture between two leading producers of live entertainment, James Cundall and Tony Mercer, and entrepreneur and former speed skater Vladislav Olenin, The Imperial Ice Stars specialise in theatrical ice skating in the intimacy of the theatre. Comprising the cream of Russian skating talent, the majority of the skaters have been trained by Russia’s leading coaches - some from as early as four years of age - and between them have won more than 250 competition medals.
In a novel twist on the timeless tale, set in a Siberian town, The Imperial Ice Stars tell the story of Cinderella, a humble chorus dancer who is thrust into the spotlight as a prima ballerina and captivates the handsome Lord Mayor’s son - the most eligible bachelor in town - with her graceful performance. Despite rival attempts by her ballerina stepsisters to steal his heart, engineered with true villainy by her stepmother – the local ballet mistress, true love triumphs thanks to the magical powers of the Gypsy Fortune Teller and Cinderella’s kindly father, the town’s Watchmaker.
Artistic Director and Producer Tony Mercer says “The ‘Cinderella’ story has been told in many different cultures over many centuries. I wanted to give our version a new setting while retaining the ingredients and emotions of this timeless story.”
Playing the lead role of Cinderella is Olga Sharutenko, who partnered John Barrowman in the first series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2006, to great popular acclaim. Her performance as Cinderella has earned worldwide praise from critics.
The Imperial Ice Stars’ Cinderella on Ice is their third production, following The Sleeping Beauty on Ice (2004 - 2006 and 2007- 2009) and Swan Lake on Ice (2006 - 2008).
Cinderella on Ice is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Tony Mercer, Vladislav Olenin and David Atkins Enterprises, and presented in association with The Royal Albert Hall.
Performances:
Wednesday 24 February 19:30
Thursday 25 February 14:30 & 19:30
Friday 26 February 19:30
Saturday 27 February 14:30 & 19:30
Sunday 28 February 14:00 & 18:00
Booking Information:
Royal Albert Hall
Box Office (9am -9pm daily)
An administration charge of £3.50 applies except to personal callers at the Box Office
Book online www.royalalberthall.com
Cinderella On Ice at the Royal Albert Hall website:
http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/cinderella/default.aspx
Cinderella In the Press
Following its stunning opening night at the Royal Albert Hall, the media offered their thoughts on Tony Mercer's production of Cinderella On Ice, featuring the Russian Imperial Ice Stars and the brilliant musical score of Tim A. Duncan and Edward Barnwell:
"...the kind of artistic innovation in ice dancing that Cirque du Soleil has achieved in circus"
Donald Hutera, The Times
Hearts Melt as Cinders Gets Her Skates On
"...that skating is something else. For the first half, my heart was mostly in my mouth"
Patrick Marmion, Daily Mail
"...exhilarating spins, lifts and leaps into a space just a third the size of a normal arena. Projected scenery and special effects of fire, rain and flying, combined with Tim A Duncan and Edward James Barnwell’s rousing score and Albina Gabueva’s lavish costumes, make this a spectacular production. It is rapturously received"
Liz Arratoon, The Stage
"a spectacular show along the lines of Cirque de Soleil"
Sarah Frater, WhatsOnStage.com
"As well as ice, expect to see fire, rain and jaw dropping stunts from [Cinderella's] cast of Olympic and World Champion ice skaters."
ITN itn.co.uk
Cinderella ran at the Royal Albert Hall, London Wednesday February 24 until Sunday February 28 2010.
Tel: 0207 838 3100
www.royalalberthall.com
