Camille coming to Cape Town – and the link to Margot Fonteyn
One of Cape Town’s favourite ballerina’s, Tracy Li, returns to the stage as Camille. Photo courtesy of Cape Town City Ballet. Photographer: Pat Bromilow Downing
While ballet audiences in Johannesburg recently saw the triumph of young love over parental match-making with the humorous twists and turns of Don Quixote, the Cape Town City Ballet now prepares to serve a far more dramatic and tragic contrast with Camille (at Artscape from 2 to 12 May).
In this story, based on the 19th century novel The Lady of the Camellias by Alexander Dumas, the parental interference causes heart-breaking consequences for the two lovers, Armand and Camille.
Due to its dramatic intrigue and touching storyline, the novel was first adapted as a stage play. Then following the play’s success, Giuseppe Verdi set the story to music with his opera, La Traviata, in 1853.
Made famous by Fonteyn and Nureyev
Perhaps the most famous ballet version of the story was a 1963 adaptation created specifically for Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Read more about the fascinating background story for this ballet Marguerite and Armand here, or watch them in action with this video.
The return of Tracy Li
The forthcoming season of Camille is choreographed by Veronica Paeper. It was written in 1990 and last seen in Cape Town in 2007, a season which marked the last performance of the company’s celebrated partnership of the time, Tracy Li and Daniel Rajna, in the roles of Camille and Armand.
After a six year break from the stage, Tracy Li returns to renew her role of Camille, partnering with the young Jesse Milligan.
Other casts of Camille are Laura Bosenberg and Kim Vieira, while Armand is danced by Thomas Thorne and Daniel Szybkowski. The role of Monsieur Germont, Armand’s father, is performed by Johnny Bovang, previously the company’s danseur noble.
Verdi by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
The ballet is danced to Verdi’s La Traviata score, arranged by Allan Stephenson who will also personally conduct the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) where they accompany the Cape Town City Ballet at selected performances (see casting).
Laura Bosenberg and Thomas Thorne in Camille. Photo courtesy of Cape Town City Ballet. Photographer: Kirstel Jensen
Casting:
- Thursday 2 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne - Saturday 4 May, 14:00 (with CPO):
Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski - Saturday 4 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
Tracy Li & Jesse Milligan - Wednesday 4 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne - Friday 10 May, 19:30 (recorded music):
Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski - Saturday 11 May, 14:00 (with CPO):
Tracy Li & Jesse Milligan - Saturday 11 May, 19:30 (with CPO):
Laura Bosenberg & Thomas Thorne - Sunday 12 May, 15:00 (recorded music):
Kim Vieira & Daniel Szybkowski
Booking details:
Dates: 2 to 12 May, 2013
Venue: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town
Tickets: from R100 to R280 from Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.
Category: Dance News
