artistic director: Jean Grand-Maître
executive director: Martin Bragg
Click to be a subscriber to our newsletter:
Tubular Bells
Tubular Bells at the High Performance Rodeo
Alberta Ballet, Bergmann Piano Duo & Honens International Piano Competition.
In 1972, Mike Oldfield released his earth-shattering rock-instrumental album, Tubular Bells. In 2008, Calgary audiences witnessed the album’s dramatic adaptation for four pianos by composer Marcel Bergmann, teamed with startling ballet by choreographer Yukichi Hattori. Now, by popular demand, this daring juxtaposition of music and dance returns to the Rodeo with Alberta Ballet’s company dancers and four world- class pianists – the German/Canadian Bergmann Duo, the Netherlands’ Jeroen van Veen and 2009 Honens Laureate, Russia’s Evgeny Starodubtsev.
This event is part of the 24th annual High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts. For more information, visit www.hprodeo.ca.
VENUE: Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1st St SW, Calgary, AB.
DATES/TIMES: January 7 – 7:30 pm
January 8 – 7:00 pm
January 9 – 8:00 pm
January 10 – 2:00 pm
PRICES: $35-$45
LIVERUSH: $15
WEBSITE: www.hprodeo.ca/2010/tubular-bells
The Secret of the Nutcracker
CBC Nutcracker Project
The Guild of Creation, a group of highly-motivated ballet supporters, created its first film project in 2008: the full-length, high-definition, made-for-television movie which aired December 2008 on CBC Television. The Secret of the Nutcracker was nominated for a Gemini in 2009.
The Secret of the Nutcracker
Produced by Joe Media Group and broadcast on CBC Television December 19, 2008, with subsequent international release on DVD, this full-length movie is an instant classic. A twist on a popular Christmas story, The Secret of the Nutcracker is a made-in-Alberta production featuring a host of local talent and settings.
Story and Background
The Secret of the Nutcracker tells the tale of 12-year-old Clara and her magical Christmas journey to rescue her father from a World War II prisoner of war camp.
The story begins as Clara settles in for sleep after an unusual and eventful Christmas dinner, late Christmas Eve afternoon in 1943, in the Alberta Rocky Mountain town of Snowy Valley.
After defeating an army of martens, with help from her new friend Drosselmeyer and his gifts of magic and a wooden Nutcracker, Clara wins a special wish to bring her father home for one night. Together they experience a fantastic dance spectacle full of mystical creatures.
Clara convinces her father to believe in Drosselmeyer and the power of magic so that he can see his family safe in their beds and renew his hope for the future.
On Christmas morning Clara awakes from her dream… But was it all a dream?
Designing The Nutcracker
Designer/ Producer Wendy Partridge's imaginative concept sketch of the ballroom scene.
Wendy's design is brought to life as our dancers twirl and spin through the elegant ballroom.
Company Artists Laetitia Clement, Matthew Lehmann & Erica Turner.
Cast and Credits
The screenplay, written by John Murrell and based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, adds new layers to a story that has been told primarily through ballet.
Edmonton composer John Estacio interprets Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, and actors play the characters of Drosselmeyer, Clara, her father, mother and brothers, Frank and Billy.
Alberta Ballet’s acclaimed Company Artists, under the direction of Artistic Director Jean Grand-Maître, perform the dance scenes.
The film is directed by Eric Till.
- Clara: Janelle Jorde
- Drosselmeyer: Brian Cox
- Mom: Helene Joy
- Dad: Tom Carey
- Billy: Ryan Grantham
- Frank: Brendan Meyer
- Sasha: Ricardo Hoyos
Follow Us