The Prince of the Pagodas (MacMillan)

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The Prince of the Pagodas is a ballet created by Kenneth MacMillan in 1989 for the Royal Ballet, London, based on the original 1957 John Cranko version. The music is by Benjamin Britten. The scenario was by Colin Thubron, the set and costume designer was Nicholas Georgiadis, and the lighting designer was John B Read.

Kenneth MacMillan British ballet dancer and choreographer

Sir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer who was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977, and its principal choreographer from 1977 until his death. Earlier he had served as director of ballet for the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. He was also associate director of the American Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1989, and artistic associate of the Houston Ballet from 1989 to 1992.

The Prince of the Pagodas is a ballet created for The Royal Ballet in 1957, by choreographer John Cranko, with music commissioned from Benjamin Britten. The ballet was later revived in a new production by Kenneth MacMillan in 1989, achieving widespread acclaim for Darcey Bussell's premiere in a principal role. The world premiere of Cranko's original production took place on 1 January 1957 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, conducted by the composer. MacMillan's production premiering at the same venue on 7 December 1989. A recording of a slightly cut version of the score was produced with Britten conducting the orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

John Cranko South African choreographer

John Cyril Cranko was a South African born ballet dancer and choreographer with the Royal Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet.

The first performance was at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 7 December 1989. The lead roles were danced by Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope. [1]

Royal Opera House opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London

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Covent Garden district in London, England

Covent Garden is a district in Greater London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between Charing Cross Road and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and with the Royal Opera House, which is also known as "Covent Garden". The district is divided by the main thoroughfare of Long Acre, north of which is given over to independent shops centred on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials, while the south contains the central square with its street performers and most of the historical buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the London Transport Museum and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Darcey Bussell British ballerina

Dame Darcey Andrea Bussell, is an English retired ballerina and a judge on the BBC television dance contest Strictly Come Dancing.

Original cast

Jonathan Cope, CBE is a British ballet dancer, a former principal and current répétiteur with The Royal Ballet.

Tetsuya "Teddy" Kumakawa is a Japanese ballet dancer and a former principal dancer with the Royal Ballet.

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References

  1. ↑ "The Prince of the Pagodas". Kennethmacmillan.com. Retrieved 15 October 2014.


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