The Imperial Russian Ballet present to Australia their interpretation of “The Nutcracker” accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s remarkable score. This version is set in an old German town at the beginning of the last century.

The story is of a mysterious toy maker (Herr Drosselmayer) who comes to visit a family over Christmas. With him he brings toys for the households two children Clara and Fritz. Clara is particularly taken by one toy, the Nutcracker, and the ensuing adventures she encounters blur the line of dream and reality.

For more information and to book ballet tickets please visit the official website www.russianballet.com.au

The Imperial Russian Ballet present to New Zealand “Sleeping Beauty”. This classic masterpiece in three acts, commences with the christening of Princess Aurora. The King forgets to invite the bad fairy, Carabosse, who bursts into the castle at the conclusion of the ceremony and casts a spell that the Princess will die from a prick of a needle at age 16.

On her sixteenth birthday, Princess Aurora dances with each of the four princes who have come to ask for her hand. However she pricks her finger on a concealed knitting needle hidden in a bouquet of flowers and falls into a deep sleep.

For more information and to book ballet tickets please visit the official website www.russianballet.co.nz

Scottish born singer-songwriter Isla Grant returns to New Zealand in 2010 with a fresh look and brand new songs, as well as old favourites. The popular singer will be touring with her equally as talented husband Al Grant and band members. Her beautiful voice together with an ability to write sensitive songs that cross over from country/folk to easy listening have now established her as a major recording artist in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Isla Grant 2010 Tour Itinerary:

Please click on your local city below for internet bookings (where available) or book via phone booking (phone numbers listed below).

Prices all venues $59* cash/eftpos, $61* creditcard.

*A handling fee may apply.

By arrangement with Harold Thau, theatrical producer, manager and business partner of the late John Denver, in association with Aruba Productions, New York Whisper the Wind made its world premiere in Dunedin, New Zealand on 20th of September 2008.The production then toured nation wide and will play throughout the world in 2011.

Whisper the Wind is a stage production that combines a live concert concept featuring Bevan Gardiner and international musicians performing the John Denver songs together with exclusive and rare footage that explores the music, highlights and insights of one of the worlds most captivating and celebrated men.

John Denver was one of the world’s best-known and best-loved performers, who earned international acclaim as a songwriter, environmentalist and humanitarian. His music spanned three decades, outlasting countless musical trends, and garnering numerous world music awards and honors, including the 1996 induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and in 1993, the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Music award.

By 1975 John Denver was probably the biggest entertainment star in show business. That year bill board magazine rated him the number one artist in pop, easy listening, pop singles and LP sales. Leaving on a jet plane, Take me home country roads, Annie’s song, Rocky mountain high, Sunshine on my shoulders, Back home again, Thank God I’m a country boy and Calypso were world wide hits.

His concert tours and television appearances reached millions globally and gave him a world wide platform to speak out on a number of charitable causes for the environment, the homeless, the poor & hungry. He stated “I know we have the where with all to end hunger on this planet. I know we have the potential to live in peace with one another without the threat of nuclear weapons. I give my life and my music to that world of peace.”

His auto-biographical folk rock ballad Let Us Begin (What are we making weapons for) was a blunt jab at the results and futility of war.

John Denver died on October 12th 1997, when the light aircraft he was piloting along the California Coast experienced engine failure. He was 53.

Whisper the Wind is the story of a gifted entertainer who struggled to find a balance between his personal life and his love of music.

Whisper the Wind is the music and life of John Denver. 25 songs performed live:

Take me Home, Country Roads
Matthew
Back home again
Leaving on a Jet Plane
What are we making weapons for
It’s about time
Wind Song
Sunshine on my Shoulders
Rocky Mountain High
Calypso
Sweet Surrender
Whispering Jesse
Some days are diamond, some days are stone
Flying for me
Perhaps Love
Annie’s Song
Falling out of Love
For You
Thank god I’m a country boy
The boy from the Country
Foxfire suite
Grandma’s Feather Bed

Musical director David Walker recently cast Ron Rich and Bevan Gardiner both in the lead roles to play John Denver in Whisper the Wind.

International musicians including musical director David Walker from Vancouver Canada, fiddle, banjo & mandolin extraordinaire Robert O’ Donovan from Florida USA and award winning guitarist Glen Bain, accompany Bevan in performing 25 of John Denver’s best known songs.

Bevan Gardiner

Bevan is 21 years old and has lived all his life in Dunedin, New Zealand. Being partially sighted has not stopped Bevan from achieving his dreams and goals. He has travelled half way around the world (twice), sung in awards throughout New Zealand, Australia and America, and is currently studying at Otago University for a Bachelor of Music, with the aid of his guide dogs Tammy & Denim.

He started playing guitar at age 6 when he came across an old guitar down in his Dads garage. He enrolled in guitar lessons and continued these for 10 years, eventually branching off to singing and drumming. He joined a local country music club and has won many awards at various Country Music Awards, some of the more recent awards being Gold Guitar Overall Runner-up 2007 singing “My Sweet Lady”, Male Vocal Award CCMA 2006 Tamworth Awards, and Gold Guitar Overall Intermediate Winner 2005 singing “Whispering Jesse”.

Bevan has been a fan of John Denver since aged 7, and his earliest memory was listening to a cassette of him in the car during a family holiday. He was immediately attracted to his unique style and vision, and found the tones in his voice enabled him to perform and sing his music with an uncanny similarity.

In 2007 Bevan travelled with Duo partner Jayne Evans to the 10th Annual John Denver Tribute Week, held in Aspen, Colorado. This was the second time appearing at the Tribute week, and Bevan was well received among the other artists and supports who came together to celebrate John Denver’s life and accomplishments. During his visits to Aspen, Colorado Bevan met John’s mother Irma Deutschendorf and John’s brother Ron.

“I’m really looking forward to participating in ‘Whisper in the Wind – the music of John Denver’ and sharing with everyone my love for his music and all he stood for”

Reviews

Otago Daily Times Review

Taranaki Daily News Review

The Ten Tenors 2010 New Zealand Tour

With an unparalleled palette of repertoire, The Ten Tenors have taken their passion for quality music and powerful singing to such venues as London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles – their high-octane vocal power and warrior-like approach to live concert touring puts them in a class of their own.

The Power of Ten… The storm is coming!

Visit www.thetentenors.co.nz for more details.

Music by P. Tchaikovsky
Choreography by M Ptipa & L. Ivanov Revised by G. Taranda

Swan Lake encapsulates the world of magic and mystical creatures with that of the real world to produce a story where betrayal and power are in the end conquered by the virtues of love and forgiveness.

The Evil Genius has bewitched sweet girls and turned them into graceful swans. This terrible spell will only be removed when someone falls in love with Odette, The Queen of Swans. Prince Siegfried is so in love with Odette that he is willing to sacrifice his life for her.

Staggered by such amazing and profound feelings, the Evil Genius dies.
Siegfried and Odette, surrounded by nymphs, sirens and naiads are carried away into the temple of ever-lasting happiness.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company will perform during their visit to Australia & New Zealand, Swan Lake…. the most loved classical ballet of them all.

The masterpiece ballet is presented in three acts and follows the original storyline with the happy ending which was decreed by Soviet rule in the 1930’s during the reign of then Russian Leader Stalin. Subtle revisions and variations have been introduced by Gediminas Taranda, Artistic Director of the Imperial Russian Ballet Company.

Swan Lake crosses the world of magic and mystical creatures with that of the real world. It is a story where the virtues of love and forgiveness in the end conquer evil and betrayal.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company was formed in 1994, headed by the Bolshoi Theatre soloist Gediminas Taranda. The Imperial Russian Ballet Company comprises 40 dancers from the major ballet schools of Russia: Moscow and Perm. Actively combining forces with the Imperial Russian Ballet Company are world renowned dancers and ballet stars including Patrick Dupond (Opera de Paris), Farukh Ruzimatov, Yulia Makhalina and Diana Vishneva (Mariinsky Theatre), Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Lyudmila Semenyaka and Nadezhda Pavlova (The Bolshoi Theatre), Vladimir Malakhov, Julia Kent(American Ballet Theatre) and Tamie Kusakari (Japan).

The name of the company recognizes the grand masters of the Russian Classical Ballet School and the Imperial Family who made such an enormous contribution to the development of Russian culture. This included the creation of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres.

The prime choreographic style adopted by the Company is a classical one, however, they also indulge in modern dance and choreographic novelties.

The versatility of The Imperial Russian Ballet Company is demonstrated by the fact they are able to tour the world presenting both full length traditional ballets and divertissements, as well as finding time to perform seasons at the Novaya Opera Theatre in Moscow.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company performed Swan Lake throughout New Zealand in 2005 to sold out theatres and critical acclaim.

The reviewers said:

Extraordinary Swan Lake
Deirdre Tarrant, Capital Times

From the lifting of the curtain on Act 1, and the sweeping entry of the courtiers, it was immediately clear that this was going to be an extraordinary evening.

Rare is the opportunity here to see the full-length ballets on which the art of classical ballet relies for its reputation and rarer to see the sort of technical mastery and virtuosity that ensures that the artistry and dramatic portrayal of the story are paramount. This was such a production and every dancer on stage contributed to the excellence of the whole.

This was ballet at its best and talent at the top of the profession.

The Russians Know Best
Jenny Stevenson, Dominion Post

Perhaps it is true after all that only the Russians can do the classic Swan Lake.

Last night’s performance in Wellington by the Imperial Russian Ballet reproduced the chocolate-box moments with the wilting arms and arched backs of the swans in perfect unison as an innate part of their performance, showing an unerring command of the romantic style.

Enraptured by the Magic
Robyn Sinclair, Otago Daily Times

Swan Lake has always conjured up thoughts of lithe ballerinas with seemingly boneless arms, all dressed in white and performing in unison.

Last night’s performance at the Regent Theatre by the Imperial Russian Ballet Company captured this image perfectly and transported the capacity audience into the magical world of this most famous ballet in the traditional classical repertoire.

The Imperial Russian Ballet company 2009 Australia and New Zealand tour.

Please visit www.russianballet.com.au for more information and booking details for Swan Lake..

Whisper the Wind, Double CD – The songs of John Denver on sale here

To purchase a copy of the Whisper the Wind double CD please send cash/cheque for $35 New Zealand Dollars to the following address:

Event Entertainment Ltd.
P.O.Box 99 Mosgiel
New Zealand

Please be sure to include your mailing address for delivery via courier.

kind regards,

Event Entertainment

Isla Grant & Event Entertainment wish to thank all patrons of the May 2009 New Zealand tour.

Isla’s current Compact Disc “Isla sings Hank” is available through leading record stores.

Isla Grant merchandise including her soon to be released Compact Disc “Moving on” will be available at all New Zealand performances.

Presented by
Imperial Russian Ballet Company
Music Tchaikovsky
Choerography V.Vainonen (Revised – G. Taranda)
Libretto author G. Taranda

The illustrious cast of the Imperial Russian Ballet enjoy performing The Nutcracker more than any other ballet from their extensive repertoire, especially when they are joined by children from local ballet schools in the various towns and city’s they perform in around the world.

During their forthcoming tour of New Zealand the Imperial Russian ballet company will perform with children from New Zealand’s premiere ballet schools throughout New Zealand when they present their interpretation of the most famous and loved ballet of them all, the ageless tale of bravery and dreams that is The Nutcracker.

The Russian Imperial Ballet Company perform all around the world as well as in their own theatre The New Opera in Moscow.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Co. was formed in 1994. Headed by the Bolshoi Theatre soloist, Gediminas Taranda, the Imperial Russian Ballet Co comprises forty five dancers from the major ballet schools of Russia, Kiev & Perm. Actively co-operating with the Imperial Russian Ballet Co are world renowned dancers & ballet stars, including Patrick Dupond (Opera de Paris), Farukh Ruzimatov, Yulia Makhalina and Diana Vishneva (The Mariinsky Theatre), Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Lyudmila Semenyaka and Nadezhda Pavlova (The Bolshoi Theatre), Vladimir Malakhov and Julia Kent (American Ballet Theatre), Tamie Kusakari(Japan).

The name of the company is recognition of the grand masters of Russian Classical Ballet School and the Imperial Family who made such a great contribution to the development of Russian Culture including the creation of the Bolshoi and Marinsky Theatres.

The prime Choreographic style adopted by the company is a classical one, however, they also indulge in modern dance. Their stage repertoire is based on the combination of classical masterpieces and modern choreographic novelties.

First half – 55 minutes. Intermission 20 minutes. Second half – 50 minutes.

Event Entertainment wish to thank all patrons of this ballet during the 2008 New Zealand tour.

Whisper the Wind - The songs of John Denver

“Whisper the Wind, the songs of John Denver” set to be launched in Dunedin, New Zealand in September 2008.

New York, Thursday 17th July – Harold Thau, theatrical producer, manager and bussiness partner of the late John Denver, in association with Aruba Prodcutions, are proud to announce the world premiere of “Whisper the Wind” in Dunedin, New Zealand in September 2008.

Whisper the Wind, the songs of John Denver is a stage production that combines a live concert concept with international musicians and singers performing the John Denver songs together with archival footage that explores the music, highlights and insights of one of the worlds most captivating and celebrated men.

John Denver was one of the world’s best-known and best-loved performers, who earned international acclaim as a songwriter, environmentalist and humanitarian. His music spanned three decades, outlasting countless musical trends, and garnering numerous world music awards and honors, including the 1996 induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and in 1993, the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Music Award.

Musical Director David Walker from Vancouver, Canada has auditioned north American entertainers for the lead role of John Denver and final casting is about to be decided by the producers. Harold Thau will travel to New Zealand to oversee the world premiere production.

John Denver’s music and his songs are known and loved throughout the world. He experienced his first major hit with “Leaving On A Jetplane”, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, “Rocky Mountain High”, “Sunshine On My Shoulders”, “Annie’s Song”, “Back Home Again”, “Thank God I’m A Country Boy, and “Calypso”. His concert tours and television apperances reached millions globally.

John Denver was killed on October 12th, 1997 when the light aircraft he was piloting along the California Coast experienced engine failure. He was 53.

click here for the John Denver “Whisper the Wind” itinerary and booking details