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'Strictly Gershwin' Opens At Royal Albert Hall
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 17, 2008
The Royal Albert Hall and Raymond Gubbay celebrate Summer 2008 with a world premiere featuring English National Ballet. Strictly Gershwin continues the hugely popular and successful series of in-the-round ballet presentations which started in 1997, (Swan Lake / Romeo & Juliet), and is a dazzling homage to George Gershwin, the big band era and the glamour of musical motion pictures. Gershwin's timeless classics will be teamed 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 64 dancers will be joined over the season by international guest stars including Royal Ballet star Tamara Rojo, Stuttgart Ballet's Friedemann Vogel, Guillaume Côté from the National Ballet of Canada and Thomas Edur and Agnes Oaks (nightly casting will be available from www.strictlygershwin.co.uk). Strictly Gershwin is a dance journey through ballet, tap, and ballroom; each of the shows two acts culminating in a breathtaking balletic finale. Act I ends with a re-creation of the Hollywood classic An American in Paris and Act II features the climax of the evening, Rhapsody in Blue, a spectacular ballet with the full Company of dancers dressed in sparkling midnight blue costumes. The show will feature a host of Gershwin favourites including, Summertime, Fascinatin' Rhythm, The Man I Love, Lady be Good, S'Wonderful, and Strike up the Band. The music is arranged for 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. The band will be joined by Broadway legend and Grammy award winning singer Barbara Cook, and international pianist Jonathan Scott.
14, 15, 21, 22 June 2.30pm. To book call 020 7838 3100 or visit www.strictlygershwin.co.uk
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