Thursday 3 October The Tunnel: 2
Friday 4 October Starstruck – a ballet inspired by Gene Kelly / Elite Syncopations
Thursday 10 October The Tunnel: 3
Friday 11 October A Celebration of Classic MGM Musicals from the Proms [MGM was founded a hundred years ago on 17 April 1924!]
Thursday 17 October The Tunnel: 4
Friday 18 October Bernstein conducts American music
Thursday 24 October ZANUPF Conference – Academy closed
Friday 25 October ZANUPF Conference – Academy closed
Thursday 31 October The Walk
Friday 1 November The Pharaoh’s Daughter – Bolshoi Ballet

OCTOBER CLOSURE

The ZANU PF conference takes place at the Trade Fair Grounds from 22 to 27 October.

There will be several thousand delegates and the President will be in attendance

so access to the Academy will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

We have therefore decided that there will be no teaching or other events including DVDs during that week and that the Academy offices will be closed.

Make-up lessons will be arranged so that the full quota will be taught before the end of the school term on 5 December.

We regret any inconvenience but believe it is sensible to make these arrangements now.

THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER AT 6.30 P.M. THE TUNNEL – 2

Carriages: 8.15 p.m.

In France, Karl and Elise battle to locate an elderly soldier before he freezes to death at the hands of the killer. Meanwhile, in England, the Truth Terrorist’s third truth begins and runaway teen has to be tracked down before she is found by the killer.

It is all very effectively done, creepily atmospheric and splendidly gruesome, but the best thing about the series is the interplay between Stephen Dillane’s easy-going, laddish, rosbif detective inspector and his po-faced, glacial but – wouldn’t you know it? – extremely sexy Gallic counterpart. [The Stage]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]

FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER AT 7.00 P.M.
STARSTRUCK / ELITE SYNCOPATIONS

Carriages : 8.30 p.m.

One of the first choreographers to bring the ‘American style’ to Europe, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. Dancing the lead role of Aphrodite was the ‘Étoile’ of Paris, Claude Bessy, who had worked with Kelly in Hollywood and encouraged him across the Atlantic. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux (sic!) was highly acclaimed at the time as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and was given a new set of wings for its UK premiere. In collaboration with Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet’s Artistic Director Christopher Hampson lovingly revived the original ballet and added a delightful new twist. ‘You’ll be transported into the world where jazz meets ballet and the stars align!’

Elite Syncopations completes the programme with a sparkling evocation of a dance hall that brings Scott Joplin’s ragtime rhythms to the dance, and a ragtime band to the stage. Choreographed by Kenneth Macmillan, it has ‘an up-beat, hip- swinging aura of spontaneity, with easy-going rhythms’.

If Starstruck was Gene Kelly’s love letter to ballet, then this is Scottish Ballet’s love letter to Gene Kelly. It simply oozes style, glamour and more than a dash of the golden era of Hollywood as ballet and jazz meet to make magic. [The Press and Journal]
A stylish treat from Gene Kelly and Scottish Ballet. [The Times]
There have been a few shows where I have come out and wished I could go back in and watch it all over again. This was one of them! [Edinburgh Music Review]
Elite Syncopations is a short, featherweight confection that continues to delight audiences. This production is pure eye candy; the choreography is alert to the rhythmic essence of the musical sources and there are many humorous elements, as in ‘The Alaskan Rag’ which pairs a very tall ballerina with a much shorter male dancer, whose enthusiasm makes up for his (intentional) terpsichorean shortcomings! [Fanfare]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Red Carpet Members]

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER AT 6.30 P.M. THE TUNNEL – 3

Carriages: 8.15 p.m.

As the killer’s incendiary fourth truth begins, Karl and Elise’s suspicions fall on Stephen Beaumont; a manhunt ensues, but Beaumont may be the wrong suspect. Police think they may finally have a lead as the serial killer’s actions escalate in his fifth and final ‘truth’, inciting mob violence in England and France.

A magnificent, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat drama series. Superbly acted, in especial, by Stephen Dillane. Tightly written, brilliant performances, superbly photographed. [IMDb]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]

FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER AT 6.30 P.M. A CELEBRATION OF CLASSIC MGM MUSICALS FROM THE PROMS

Carriages: 8.45 p.m.

MGM was founded on 17 April 1924 and the first of two hundred musicals, The Broadway Melody, followed five years later. Performing at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, John Wilson and his orchestra celebrate MGM film musicals, beginning with Johnny Green’s MGM Jubilee Overture, written for MGM’s thirtieth anniversary back in 1954. The concert was ‘an amazing, wonderful, feel-good trip through the nostalgia of music of a quality that just isn’t produced any more’. The singers were Kim Crisswell, Sarah Fox, Curtis Stigers, Seth Macfarlane and Sir Thomas Allen and the programme included songs from such great musical movies as Gigi, High Society, Meet Me in St Louis, Seven Brides for Seven Brother, Singin’ in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz and more.

So 6 stars (if possible) for John Wilson (the Sir Simon Rattle of Popular and Light Music); 5 stars for the chorus and orchestra (that rather lovely fair-haired violinist on the second row who smiles a lot, as well she might, the harpist with the fabulous moustache, overall surely the greatest Big Band ever assembled); the songs themselves (mostly wonderful); the arrangements (fabulous). [Amazon]
Though rain poured for the entire day, inside the Royal Albert Hall it was Californian sunshine, and that ‘feel-good’ factor, was omnipresent. The MGM Studio Orchestra that performed the original arrangements was superbly mimicked by John Wilson’s hand-picked players; rhythms are tightly performed and the sound is a blend of Palm Court and Swing. [Classical Source]

At its best, the lushness of the sound from the John Wilson Orchestra, the two harps like angels’ wings, and the promenaders who opened their umbrellas for Singin’ in the Rain made it impossible to feel anything but happiness. [The Guardian]
A celebration indeed. Charismatic conductor. Audience clearly relishing every moment – the orchestra too. Memories evoked of some of the greatest screen musicals. So many highlights, The orchestra was sublime. The vocalists truly showed their love for the music and lyrics, their enjoyment shone through. [Amazon]