AQUILA THEATRE COMPANY
8th to 11th January 2004

Aquila Theatre Company
in William Shakespeare's
OTHELLO
8th and 9th January

Set in a hotbed of racial hatred, jealousy and mistrust, this great Shakespearean masterpiece explores the destruction of a noble spirit. Othello, a Moor and mercenary for the Venetian army, secretly marries Desdemona, the daughter of a high powered senator. Othello’s ensign, Iago, enraged at being passed over for promotion and envious of Othello’s conquests, begins his revenge by planting seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, about his wife’s infidelity, while advising Desdemona to act in ways that will only fuel her husband’s suspicions.

In its usual vibrant and visual way, with an original musical score, Aquila ’s production brings relevance and clarity to this enlightening story of human nature.

Pre-performance Talk Bermuda National Gallery

Performance City Hall Theatre

Aquila Theatre Company
in Rudyard Kipling's

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING

10th and 11th January

One of Rudyard Kipling's finest stories, The Man Who Would Be King, is brought to life in Aquila 's adventurous and innovative production. Written in 1888 at the height of British Imperialism, Kipling's hilarious yarn centres around two rambunctious ex-British Army sergeants who dream up a scheme to conquer the invented kingdom of Kafiristan , positioned to the north of India . The compelling tale tells of a mission of conquest, coercion and confidence tricks designed to fleece Kafiristan of its riches and provide the heroes with a luxurious retirement.

Pre-performance Talk Bermuda National Gallery

Performance City Hall Theatre

NATALIE CHOQUETTE
13th, 14th and 15th January 2004

NATALIE CHOQUETTE with La Scala de Montreal Quintet

In response to great audience demand, La Diva returns! With her hilarious approach to opera, and accompanied, this year, by her personal ensemble, La Scala de Montreal Quintet, this Canadian comedienne presents a new programme of favourite arias. Blending consummate musical expertise with a fine sense of comedy, La Diva provides a flamboyant, visual feast with rich musical nourishment.

Performance City Hall Theatre

BRANFORD MARSALIS
16th and 17th January 2004

AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS
A rare opportunity to catch the remarkable saxophonist Branford Marsalis, in this performance of jazz played in his own distinctive style. Accompanied by his trio of Eric Revis on bass, pianist Joey Calderazzo and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, Marsalis’ performances are “full of mercurial tempo changes, and driven along at a breathless tempo” (The Times)

Performance Ruth Seaton James Centre

PASCAL RIOULT DANCE THEATRE
21st and 22nd January 2004

Fresh from success at New York’s Joyce Theatre, this company showcases its exciting, ground breaking new choreography in a diverse programme which includes Pascal’s sensational version of Ravel’s Bolero, and Veneziana, based on Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, which was premiered at the Joyce, last year. Since its last visit to the Festival, this company has garnered much praise for its thrilling performances, featuring “highly physical choreography that builds into strong emotional undercurrents” (The New York Times).

Performance Ruth Seaton James Centre

THE BERMUDA MENUHIN FOUNDATION with MANDY WONG
23rd and 24th January 2004

The abundant talent of teachers from Bermuda ’s Menuhin Foundation are given prominence in tonight’s performance, when they will be joined by the remarkable young Bermudian pianist, Mandy Wong, who is currently embarking on her career as a concert pianist. A delightful assortment of quartets and piano solos, to suit all tastes.

Programme 24th January

• Chaconne from Violin Sonata in D minor, BWV 1004 J.S.Bach , trans F. Busoni

• Quartet No. 2 in D major Borodin

• Quartet in G minor, KV 478 W.A. Mozart

Programme 25th January

• Ballade, Op. 10 no.1 Johannes Brahms

• Third Party Lee Hyla

• Ballade, Op.10 no.2 Johannes Brahms

• Quartet in G minor, KV 478 W.A. Mozart

Performance City Hall Theatre

TEATRO HUGO & INES
26th, 27th and 28th January 2004

TEATRO HUGO & INES in Short Stories

Enchanting vignettes of puppetry and mime, Short Stories are a sure-fire hit with audiences from 7 to 70 (and beyond!). Celebrating the total versatility of the human form, this dextrous duo introduces the audience to a whole host of entertaining characters and creates a world of emotive images spiced with abundant humour. The tiny venue of Daylesford has been selected for this programme to ensure good visibility for everyone.

Performance Daylesford Theatre

POLKA THEATRE
30th, 31st January and 1st February 2004

POLKA THEATRE presents Martha’s Wild Goose Chase

Polka Theatre, the renowned British children’s theatre company presents

Martha’s Wild Goose Chase by Jay Manley, Gill Robertson and Annie Wood.

This charming and heart-warming tale tells of a reclusive, grumpy woman, who lives alone in her driftwood shack by the sea, and of how her life is changed forever by a mischievous, fun-loving goose. Intended specifically for young children, this show has delighted audiences on Broadway, in Britain and beyond, so prepare to be captivated!

Suitable for children aged 4+

City Hall Theatre

BLACK DYKE BAND
6th and 7th February 2004

A firm favourite with Bermuda audiences, Britain ’s renowned Black Dyke Band returns to the Island to present two concerts. With their customary energy and verve they will fill the auditorium at The Fairmont Southampton with more stirring and enthralling music from the brass repertoire. Under the baton of Principal Conductor Dr. Nicholas Childs, the Band presents two different programmes.

Fairmont Southampton Hotel

RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA WIND QUINTET
11th and 12th February 2004

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear the phenomenal Wind Quintet of the Russian National Orchestra, as it takes a break from its US tour to make its first trip to Bermuda . This youthful ensemble, led by oboist and composer, Andrey Rubtsov, will perform two different programmes, but both concerts will feature a blend of disciplines, when local dancers perform to the third movement of a work entitled Three Moods, composed by Andrey Rubtsov. This short piece, Frivolity, is especially choreographed for the occasion by Bermudian Conchita Ming.

Wednesday’s programme is particularly designed with families in mind. It features Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, and Wolf Tracks, a modern adaptation of the well-loved tale, in which the wolf’s image is converted and the contemporary environmental message is conveyed, in an entertaining and engaging manner. Both pieces have been transposed, for wind quintet, by Andrey Rubtsov. The performance includes a guest appearance, by actress Diana Douglas, as narrator.

Thursday’s programme:

• Haydn Divertimento
• Mozart Serenade No 11, KV 375, E flat major
• Strauss Die Fledermaus
• Strauss Pizzicato Polka
• Strauss Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
• Ravel Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
• Rubtsov Frivolity from Three Moods, with choreography by Conchita Ming

Performance City Hall Theatre

 DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM

Friday 13th February 2004

Arthur Mitchell’s neo-classical dance company makes a welcome return visit to the Bermuda Festival. Renowned for its eclectic repertoire, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s unique style was formed through deliberate expansion of classical ballet and is ever evolving. Performances feature principal dancers and rising stars in exciting and varied programming.

Performance Ruth Seaton James Centre

IAN TRACEY
Organ

18th and 19th February 2004

Ian Tracey, Organist and Master of the Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral, makes his first visit to the Bermuda Festival. Revered by critics for his “wide interpretive powers, “surety of touch”, and the “tenacity of his playing”, Mr. Tracey is renowned for treating his audiences to performances filled with verve and sparkle, which he punctuates with amusing and informative notes on the programme.

Performance St. Paul ’s Church, Paget

HIC! or THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WINE (abridged)

19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd February 2004

Dress up, step out and enjoy an evening of opulence, in the glorious, harbourfront setting of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

HIC! is a spectacular evening of good food, fine wines and amusing entertainment provided by actor, Julian Curry. Best known to local audiences for his role in the British television series Rumpole of the Bailey, Julian Curry presents his hilarious, one-man show, HIC! or THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WINE (abridged). Blending wine fact, fantasy legend and humour, with brief quotations from Shakespeare to P.G.Woodhouse, from Dickens to Dorothy Parker, this light-hearted entertainment, followed by a sumptuous three course dinner, with wines to satisfy the most discerning palate, promises to be one Festival event you will never forget!

Performance Fairmont Hamilton Princess

MANUEL BARRUECO and MICHALA PETRI

 22nd and 23rd February 2004

Virtuosic exchanges, between the Cuban fire of guitarist Manuel Barrueco and the masterful fingering of Danish recorder player Michala Petri, provide a thrilling evening of musical diversity. In the hands of these two consummate musicians, these much-loved instruments are given new voice to excite and entertain. Witness for yourself to what great heights every child’s first instrument can be taken, and be inspired!

Performance City Hall Theatre

NATIONAL BLACK TOURING CIRCUIT INC. presents MARIAN ANDERSON – Things of the Heart

24th, 25th and 26th February 2004

National Black Touring Circuit Inc. returns to Bermuda , after a long absence, to present Marian Anderson, a dramatisation of the story of the renowned black contralto. Cited as an inspiration to many of today’s African American singers, and championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson overcame adversity with dignity and grace to place herself amongst the most highly regarded opera singers of her time.

Performance City Hall Theatre

LES BALLETS AFRICAINS
27th and 28th February 2004

LES BALLETS AFRICAINS - Jubilee! Celebrating Fifty Years of Les Ballets Africains

Bringing this year’s Festival to a spectacular close, direct from The Republic of Guinea, Les Ballets Africains present a joyous celebration of the Company’s half century. Fascinating legends unfold in an explosion of dance and song, as the pulsing rhythms from ancient tribal instruments build the excitement. Acrobatics, storytelling, and traditional dance, combine to create a veritable carnival, which captures the essence of the Company’s native land.

Performance Ruth Seaton James Centre