Exploring Mark Morris’s L’Allegro ed Il Penseroso ed Il Moderato: DANSOX, Jacqueline du Pré Building St Hilda’s College, 9th June 2016

This forthcoming DANSOX event offers fascinating examination from a range of perspectives of a great work by a world leading choreographer, Mark Morris’s L’Allegro ed Il Penseroso ed Il Moderato.  DANSOX brings together distinguished lecturers from the disciplines of literature, music and dance to share their knowledge; Dr Jonathan Williams on Handel’s music, Dr Margaret Kean on the poetry of John Milton which inspired it, and Guest Lecturer Professor Stephanie Jordan from Roehampton University on Mark Morris’ uniquely musical choreographic invention.

Date:  Thursday June 9th 2016, 5.15pm  followed by Drinks Reception

Venue:  Jacqueline du Pré Building, St Hilda’s College, Cowley Place, Oxford OX4 1DY

Booking:  Free and open to all, but book your place via Eventbrite here

Find out more about Dance Scholarship Oxford (DANSOX) here

Or contact Dr Susan Jones here

 

 

The Rite of Spring: a centenary celebration. Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Oxford 20 February 2013 – Maggie Watson appreciates

I was thrilled by Dame Monica Mason’s talk at St Hilda’s College on Wednesday and the brief extracts of archive footage of her in performance. I saw her as the Chosen Maiden in the 1982 revival at the Royal Opera House, and I remember the excitement of the occasion, and Kenneth MacMillan coming on stage at the end. Unthinking and ignorant, I had no idea at the time that she had created the role for MacMillan, or of the vital connections between her generation of dancers and the Ballets Russes. Her anecdotes about Lydia Sokolova (who shut her eyes at the first night and “danced her own version”) and Marie Rambert’s sometimes embarrassing enthusiasm were both touching and hilarious, and there was a wonderful moment when she stepped forward to demonstrate what it was like to respond to MacMillan’s suggestions as he choreographed in the studio.

 

The Rite of Spring – A Centenary Celebration of the Music and the Ballet – 20th February 2013

In a year of significant musical anniversaries, here is one of particular dance interest – the centenary of the shocking premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris.  Dr Susan Jones sends information of a special event celebrating this groundbreaking work at St Hilda’s College with guest speakers Dame Monica Mason and Jane Pritchard and a concert performance of the score in Stravinsky’s version for two pianos…