Jade Hale-Christofi of Ballet Ireland as the bullish Toreador
By Rose Rushe
CAN Arts page underline the point that unique, significant and brilliantly original things happen through Limerick City of Culture 2014?
Case in point: ‘Carmen’, the Ballet Ireland production choreographed to music by Riodion Schcedrin that will be played by Irish Chamber Orchestra, all within the Big Top at Milk Market.
Set aside Thursday May 29 and Friday 30 for the 8.30pm performances, surrounded by raised seating and orchestra on stage. Best of all, top ticket is just €20 thanks to the €70,000 funding secured by ICO for this bold Irish collaboration.
This idea for this orchestrated ‘Carmen’, set to Shchedrin’s ‘Carmen Suite After Bizet’, is Gerry Keenan’s who is chief executive of the ICO. He began to pull the strings together in 2013 after contact from Ballet Ireland’s choregrapher Morgann Runacre-Temple
“I first had the idea in February of last year, the orchestra having done the piece, when Morgann rang about setting the opera to dance. I tipped her off on the Shchedrin score and that worked for her. Then City of Culture came and there were projects to be. I applied and got the funding.
“I saw Ballet Ireland’s ‘Carmen’ when it came to Limerick and it’s a magic mix, sensual, lovely…”.
Next: to create an atmospheric arena where gypsy Carmen could play out passion. Keenan made tracks to David O’Mahony of the Milk Market with the news he “was going to wreck his Big Top for him” – and met with a joyful response.
‘Carmen Suite After Bizet’ is scored for 22 strings and five percussion; flamenco guitarist John Walsh has worked with Ballet Ireland to create the quieter scenes of the ballet, supplementing vital narrative.
“We are putting in 500 seats to cover three sides around the sprung dance floor, like a bull ring, with the orchestra on the stage on one side, in full view,” the visionary Gerry Keenan continues. ”We would never get to engage a ballet usually, and Ballet Ireland would never get to book an orchestra”.
Gabor Takacs-Nagy will again conduct Irish Chamber Orchestra for this work, running to a round 75 minutes.
University Concert Hall is booking office for these tickets at only €10 to €20. www.uch.ie for May 29, 30. Again, note the 8.30pm billow to Big Top excitement.
