The living arts

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 23

The living arts

Ballet repeat /‘Cinderella’” the major work in the programme on the New Zealand Ballet’s first 1980 tour, is a revival of a work that was first produced for television, 11 years ago.“Cinderella” . is in two acts, and is set. to, the music written by Rossini for “Cenerentpla.” The choreography is by Ray Powell, who was responsible l|for one of the company’s most successful ballets last year, “Just for Fun.” “Cinderella” was screened on TV in 1969, and also toured the country. It received favourable reviews and drew full houses, and the company hopes that history will repeat itself. The four-day Christchurch season will begin next Wednesday, The supporting pro- ' gramme includes . two ' works, "Pieces of Eight’ 3 i and "Light Fantastic.” ; ‘ .“Pieces, of Eight’ 3 is by - Deirdre Tarrant, whoj began work on it at Banff,. Canada, last year and put ' the finishing touches to it i in New Zealand. “Light Fantastic,” by ' Walter Gore, is produced i by Harry Haythorne, • fdr- ' irierly ballet; master with I the Scottish Ballet and ar- ! tistic director of the I Queensland Ballet, ; , ; -Walter Gore first choreographed this ballet ■ in-May, 1953, .and since ■ then it has been danced many jtimes. Harry Haythorne produced it twice for the Scottish Ballet. The. 'New Zealahd Bal--1 let's presentation - is thought to be the first revival of Gore’s work since! his death in April of last year. In the ballet a go-getter, a moon gazer, and three hopefuls ponder on what young men fancy in springtime. The objects of their dreams are large dolls suspended in mid-air. ; Haythorne’s aim is to revive the spirit. of the. original production. ; Singers 9 success I The Christchurch-bom tenor, Richard' Greager,

has returned to Europe after - a successful season with the Australian Opera, singing in “Lucia di Lammermoor” . with Dame Joan Sutherland. He will return to Australia later this year for further performances of “Lucia di Lammermoor” and for a production of "The Barber of Seville, ’’ reports an NZPA pondentNext year Greageg will spend five months with the Australian Opera, singing Alfredo in "La Traviata” and Raoul in “The Hugenots,” both with Joan Sutherland, and the Marquis in Piccini’s “La Buona Figlioula.”

He is under contract to the Hanover State Opera in West Germany, but sings regularly as a guest with the Frankfurt City Opera, and has engagements also in England, Switzerland, and . Portugal, Greager returned tol New Zealand briefly while he was in Australia, but for a holiday only, bu| his increasing work with the Australian opera may enable him to perform regularly in New Zealnd, jtoo. Greager left New Zealand in 1970 to study in Australia. He won the three major singing competitions there, including the Sydney “Sun” aria, and in 1971 decided to go to England in 1972. He sang with the Royal Opera and the Scottish Opera bea fore moving to West Gen many. Another New Zealand tenor who is acquiring a international reputation in Europe is Patrick Power, formerly from Dannevirke. After three years with the Norwegian Opera, he is how with the Staatstheateg Um Gartnerplatz in West Germany. .. . Power, soon . will make his Swedish debut at the Royal Court Theatre at Drottningholm, near Stockholm, singing in performances of “Prosperin’ 3 by Johann Martin Kraus. The opera will be sung in Swedish. During his time with the Norwegian Opera Power became fluent in Norwegian, and

because of the similarity of the Scandinavian languages and the calibre of his singing, he became an obvious choice when no Swedish tenor of sufficient quality could be found. The opening performance, will be televised in Sweden. Last year Power made his English debut at. the Glyndebourne Festival; He will return there next year. Another New . Zealand singer, .the bass-baritone Rodney McCann, won praise recently for his performance in the Bach Choir’s annual production of the “St Matthw Passion” in the Royal Festival Hall, London. It was the fourth time McCann had sung the role of Christus. He presented a “dark-toned, strong and authorative Christ,” wrote the “Daily Telegraph" crit?t The first (requirement (for the part of Christus is a beautiful voice,” wrote Richard Joseph in .the

‘"'inancial Times.” “This h-dney McCann clearly has; his resonant, creamy tone is similar to Hermann Prey’s.” > McCann recently began studying under Otakar Kraus, after a recommendation from a fellow New Zealander, Barry Mora, Like Richard Greager g Rodney McCann is from Christchurch. He Jeff New Zealand in 1966 to join the 8.8. C. singers, made his major concert debuts — including Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Festival — in 1970 and has developed his career steadily since then. In recent years he has concentrated on opera. For the last year he has been a regular guest performer with the Welsh Opera singing in “La Traviata” and as the speaker in f ‘The Magic Flute.” Late Hast year he sang In a performance of Hands el’s “Acis and Galatea” in Athens. He! has engage-* ments this year in Britain and Europe,