ADFAS Rockhampton is pleased to once again be able to invite overseas expert speakers on the Arts to visit Rockhampton after the disruptions of Covid and the first of these will arrive very soon.
The Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society Rockhampton will host Nigel Bates who is visiting from the UK for an Australian lecture tour and his first stop on his tour is Rockhampton.
On Friday evening, 3 March, Nigel will give an illustrated one hour presentation, ’It’s Not Just Tchaikovsky’ and on Saturday, 4 March, attendees will enjoy a two hour, in depth exploration ‘The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden – An Inside View’.
‘It’s Not Just Tchaikovsky’ on the Friday evening, will be a treat for ballet lovers as it explores the music chosen by ballet choreographers through the years, proving that the right piece with the right moves and design can create modern masterpieces and timeless classics.
This illustrated presentation will transition through the grandness of Imperial Russia with Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty into the current modern repertoire of The Royal Ballet. The evening will include historical and recent videoclips.
On the Saturday morning, Nigel’s illustrated presentation ‘The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden – An Inside View’ will look at life backstage at London’s Royal Opera House, the flagship of the British Arts World, and the tribulations and triumphs of working with The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet companies.
Nigel will discuss the way artistic inspirations, the people involved, and this very special building all function together to create world-class opera and ballet in a unique environment, the workplace of more than a thousand people.
The history and architecture of the building, costume and set design are described, along with the production values and the way daily performances and rehearsals of opera and ballet all fit into this elegant Victorian theatre. It looks also at how the digital age has been embraced by the opera and ballet worlds and will include several performance videoclips.
Who better than Nigel Bates to guide those attending on an insider tour through the Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet, given his musical career has been closely tied to both.
Nigel Bates started his musical career in the Band of the Scots Guards, leaving the army to join the Orchestra of Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, and to become a Professor at London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Nigel was appointed Section Principal Percussion of the Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden in 1993, a position he held for 17 years.
He later served as Music Administrator for the Royal Ballet and he is a regular contributor to the printed and online content of the ROH.
For over 20 years, Nigel has given lectures, presentations and masterclasses to arts societies and conservatoires in the UK and across Australia, including organisations such as ROH, the Royal Academy of Music London, Guildhall School of Music London, the Conservatorium of Music Sydney and the Victoria College of Arts in Melbourne. Outside music, his interests include technology, history, and film production.
Nigel has spent time locally in Central Queensland when he conducted the Capricorn Coast’s first ever performance of Handel’s Messiah with a community of 150 local performers; he also helped establish a community orchestra in central Queensland and has previously lectured twice on behalf of ADFAS Rockhampton.
If you enjoy ballet, good music and being right royally entertained, then this is an opportunity not to be missed. All are welcome to attend.
Both events will take place at St Theresa’s Church, corner of Albert and Bolsover Streets, Rockhampton.
On the Friday evening for the visit to the ballet, doors will open at 6.30pm and attendees are asked to ensure they arrive by 7pm for a 7.30pm start as light refreshments will be served before the presentation.
This event is free for members and $25 for visitors.
On the Saturday morning, the presentation will start at 10am sharp and doors will be open from 9am – this event is $35 for both visitors and members and includes a generous morning tea.
ADFAS Rockhampton Memberships for 2023 are available for the Earlybird price of $110 ( a bargain!).
For more information see the Rockhampton society page on www.adfas.org.au or ADFAS Rockhampton on Facebook.
