“The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO)/Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa joins forces with the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) to perform Igor Stravinsky’s mesmerising “pocket theatre” experience, The Soldier’s Tale, around the country from 24 February. The production features a talented ensemble of NZSO musicians, RNZB dancers and actors, who bring the great Russian-born composer’s riveting and timeless work to 13 centres. In February and March, The Soldier’s Tale will be performed in the Greater Wellington region and the South Island. The North Shore, Manukau, Kerikeri and Whangarei will have performances in June. Written during the deadly 1918 influenza pandemic, Stravinsky designed The Soldier’s Tale to be easily toured and performed in even small locations. He included speech, mime and dance beside music written for a distinctive assortment of instruments and inspired by popular music of the period, including tango and ragtime. This production will be directed by Sara Brodie, an accomplished director and choreographer in New Zealand and overseas. Her work spans multiple disciplines, including theatre, dance, opera and interdisciplinary productions. RNZB Choreographer in Residence Shaun James Kelly says, “As a choreographer, I take huge inspiration from the music. I like an audience to feel the music and movement moving together, and I had such fun pairing my choreographic style with this wonderful Stravinsky score, played so powerfully by the NZSO. With many varieties of musical influences – such as tango, waltz and ragtime – it gave me a great opportunity to tell this story of the new lovers, ultimately creating a light-hearted and contemporary spin on classical ballet.”
For tickets and more information, visit
www.nzso.co.nz/concerts-and-tickets/season-2021/setting-up-camp-the-soldiers-tale.”
Laura Di Orio, Feb 2021
