UNITED KINGDOM: HOUSTON BALLET BRINGS "CLEOPATRA" TO LONDON'S SADLERS WELLS THEATRE

Record ID: 547022

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: HOUSTON BALLET BRINGS "CLEOPATRA" TO LONDON'S SADLERS WELLS THEATRE
  • Date: 4th April 2001
  • Summary: BALLET- CLEOPATRA BEING ROBED IN CLOAK
  • Embargoed: 19th April 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, UK
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAL8RAWACYAILJMZJ25DTCB02G
  • Story Text: The renowned Houston Ballet is thrilling London audiences with a sumptuous full-length version of "Cleopatra".
    The $1.2m ballet in two acts lasts more than two hours. In it stars Lauren Anderson, the USA's only African-American classical ballerina of her rank. It also been a welcome-home for the English Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet, Ben Stevenson, OBE (Order of the British Empire).
    Houston Ballet's winning rave reviews for its lavish new production of "Cleopatra" at Sadler's Wells. It's the company's first visit to London in over 18 years, and the $1.2m production showcases the company's star, Lauren Anderson, America's only black prima ballerina.
    The ballet has been choreographed by Ben Stevenson, the company's English artistic director, recently awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire). The ballet was premiered in March last year, as a co-production between Houston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet.
    The lavish production tells the story of the real-life Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, one of the world's most remarkable monarchs. She seduced Julius Caesar, and then had a torrid affair with Marc Antony. Her story was immortalised in film by Elizabeth Taylor in "Cleopatra" (1963).
    The first act features the opening bath scene, senate, orgy scene and presentation of Cleopatra to Caesar. Cleopatra is memorably rolled out of a rug ! She proceeds to capture Caesar's heart.
    Ben Stevenson has focussed on the powerful allure of Cleopatra and her relationship with not only Julius Caesar but also Marc Antony, against a backdrop of political intrigue and warring factions struggling for control of one of the world's great empires.
    This production has been likened to the passionate and exotic style of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, and its monumental Cecil B. DeMille-scale sets are by Thomas Boyd, lighting by Timothy Hunter and costuming by Judanna Lynn. The score, interestingly, has been culled from a number of Rimsky Korsakov's symphonic and operatic works, including "Le Coq d'Or", "Sadko" and "The Invisible City of Kitesh."
    Houston Ballet is also presenting with "Cleopatra" a mixed triple bill. The London season for the company is budgeted at $675,000 and Ben Stevenson, a former dancer himself at Sadler's Wells, says : "It is important for the company to be seen both nationally and internationally and I am looking forward to showing UK audiences how much the company has changed since we made our debut in 1983."
    ENDS
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