storytelling, there's something for everyone at this year's Bermuda Festival By Patricia Calnan The 24th Bermuda Festival opens its seven-week season on January 11 with a programme that embraces dance, classical music, jazz, drama, storytelling, and even a roller-dance company.
As usual, the 16 separate presentations cater to most tastes and, with most artists appearing from an array of different countries, emphasise the international nature of the performing arts.
Once again Festival organizers have succeeded in providing a mix of the famous (The King's Singers) with those who are on threshhold of international fame (the "sensational'' pianist Muza Rubackyte from Lithuania).
There can be no doubt, either, that ensembles such as Canada's famous Tafelmusik, The London Winds, the Carmina Quartet from Europe, and the Black Sea State Philharmonic Orchestra from Romania have all attained international reputations in their own fields.
A programme of modern, jazz and African dances should have wide appeal when the Dallas Black Dance Theatre appear in February, and Ranee Lee -- a jazz singer who is described as coming from Montreal via Brooklyn -- is one of Canada's most popular vocalists.
Also appearing next month, she sings a repertoire that includes plenty of standard jazz favourites. Drama lovers will be thrilled to learn that famed English actors Isla Blair and Julian Glover who regularly star in Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre productions (Glover also appeared in the immortal `Star Wars' films) will be appearing in Jane McCulloch's look at courtship and love in `As Long As Ye Both'.
McCulloch, who has scored great success with her English Chamber Theatre productions, makes a welcome return.
Those who wish to reserve seats for the Festival are advised to do so as early as possible. The first four attractions include The Daring Project, The Dukes of Dixieland, Tafelmusik and Paul Keens-Douglas.
There also promises to be a fascinating mix of ballet in the grand, classical Russian tradition and the intrinsically American dazzle of dance on Broadway when The Daring Company raises the curtain on this year's festivities.
Created by former Bolshoi ballerina Valentina Kozlova (who defected while on tour with the Bolshoi Company in Los Angeles in 1979, she replaced Natalia Makarova in the Broadway hit `On Your Toes') and Texas-born Margo Sappington who moved from the Joffrey Ballet to leading Broadway musicals.
While her nude pas de deux in `Oh Calcutta!' brought her instant fame, she has also distinguished herself as a choreographer.
Jazz fans will be turning out in force for the visit of The Dukes of Dixieland, the six-man New Orleans band that celebrates its golden anniversary in show biz this year.
The oldest continually-performing jazz ensemble in the city, who has become part of the New Orleans' scene as they ply their musical trade on the Steamboat Natchez. Known the world over from frequent tours, they have also had great success with CD recordings and appearances on nation-wide TV in the US.
Tafelmusik proved to be a spectacular success when they first brought their special sound of baroque music to the Festival -- and they are now back by popular demand.
One of the most highly acclaimed `period' orchestras in the world, played on instruments that would have been familiar to the likes of J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann and Corelli.
After appearing at the 1994 Proms in London, one critic wrote of their "stylish brilliance'' and the magazine `Classic CD' went so far as to describe them as "perhaps the world's finest period band''.
Storytelling in the oral tradition seems to only gain in popularity and, this year, Festival-goers can revel in the tales of Paul Keens-Douglas, a celebrated storyteller from Trinidad and Grenada who has held audiences spell-bound around the world.
Known as `Mr. Tim Tim' in the storytelling world, he provides a wondrous view of Caribbean culture, beliefs, attitudes. A popular performer in Bermuda who also conducted teachers' workshops in Cultural Affairs' programme on Creativity and Language Arts, this will be his first appearance at the Festival.
This season will mark the `christening' of Bermuda's latest theatre venue with several productions at the newly completed Ruth Seaton James Auditorium at Cedarbridge Academy.
This year marks the first time that the Festival has produced a range of Festival-related merchandise. Besides gift voucers, there will be mugs, tote bags, and notecards, all featuring the work of this year's Festival artist Don Trousdell. These are on sale at Opus Encore and at the Festival Box Office.
Bermuda Festival Posters and Souvenir Programmes are also on sale.
Tickets go on sale at the Box Office (next to the Ferry Terminal in Hamilton) on January 5. For further information please telephone 292-8572, Fax 295-7403 or Website at www.bermudafestival.com, E-Mail at bdafest y ibl.bm. The Box Office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.
NIGHT SONGS -- Don Trousdale's rhapsody of the sea -- Night Songs -- graces the cover of this Bermuda Festival programme. And, for the first time, festival merchandise will also be available.
