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Vol 1, No 4, 19 July 1999
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E V E N T S: Coming Up in the UK Andrew J Horton Details of selected Central and East European cultural events in the UK over the next few weeks, including angelic sounds from Bulgaria; love in an elevator - Bosnian style; a puppet-performed contemporary Hungarian opera; and highlights of the forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In this week's Coming Up section we have:
Click on the appropiate heading or just scroll down to browse.
The Gate, located in ultra-trendy Notting Hill, is one of London's smaller but more innovative theatres. This year, for the first time, the Gate is presenting a summer season of international work. To inaugurate what will hopefully become a regular summer feature, the Gate offers five productions by young companies from Central Europe. Already gone is The Comedy of Errors produced by Bulgaria's Theatre de Complicite, but still to come are productions from Serbia, Romania, Latvia and Croatia. The Trial, Franz Kafka's novel adapted by Sonja Vukicevik
Toujours L'Amour by Dan Puric
The Tunnel, based on the novel by Ernesto Sabato
Mr Single by Zeljkio Vukmirica, Matko Raguz and Pavlica Bajsic
For bookings and more information contact:
In 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival was formed with the idea of an international arts festival helping to bring about peace to a Europe still recovering from war. The concept may sound idealist but it must have resonated at the time, because 8 theatre companies turned up uninvited and, playing at hastily arranged venues, they cashed in the success of the official festival. The trend continued the following year and the phenomenon of the uninvited guests was labeled the Fringe Festival. Today the proportions of the Fringe, held every August, are staggering, with over 500 theatre, dance and music groups from all over the world performing 1,643 shows with 14,108 seperate showings. And that's on top of the events connected with the official festival. Full details can be found on the Fringe website, which has details of performances, venues, times, prices and even a map of Edinburgh to help you find your performance. Their site also usefully has a search engine which enables you to search by performer, title, country or venue The listings below contain some of the Fringe events, covering performers hailing from Siberia to Bosnia and most places in between. For full details click on the links to the Fringe's own pages. Eulogies copied from the Fringe's blurb appear in quotes and are by no means always endorsed by CER! Kurtag has emerged in recent years as one of Hungary's foremost contemporary composers. The Edinburgh Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival honour him in a series of concerts and events. ConcertsConcert including Kurtag's music (Hommage a R Sch and Jelek)
An Evening of Gyorgy Kurtag's Music
The Sayings of Peter Bornemisza by Gyorgy Kurtag
Concert including Kurtag's music (Stele)
Concert including Kurtag's music (Grabstein fur Stephan)
TalksThe Music of Gyorgy Kurtag (by Rachel Beckles Wilson)
Conversations (with Kurtag himself)
Secrets - Nomad Dance Company
"An Islamic woman and a Western man are suspended together in an elevator shaft in London, unwitting pawns in a terrorists game. Their own battles over faith, trust and elevator music reach acrobatic heights. Spectacular Dance." Click here for more information. The Bulgarian Voices: Angelite
Internationally acclaimed female choir. "...the most unearthly, beautiful, eerie, joyous sounds the voice can make" (Guardian). A highly recommended series of shows which will undoubtedly sell out. Pounce soon. Click here for more information. "Fly, Fly my Sadness": Huun Huur Tu, Angelite, Moscow Art Duo
"Final performances of a five year world adventure. Incredible visionary musical collaboration. Beyond anything ever heard." Intriguing Russo-Bulgarian mixed bill. Click here for more information. Croatian Theatrical Triple Bills
Three of Croatia's top theatre companies in repertory with a different combination of shows presented each day. Includes a world premiere.Click here for more information. CinemaRough Trade at the Lux
Mandragora (1997), 20-22 August 1999, 6.30 + 9pm
Body Without Soul, documentary (1996), 26 August 1999, 9pm Not Angels but Angels, documentary (1994), 27 August 1999, 9pm ArtHommage a Jiri: Czech Collage of the 80s and 90s
Picture poet Kolar's latest work presented in the context of other prominent collage artists. and more Czech Culture in London The Czech Cultural Centre in London has just gone electronic! Look here if you want to see a full calendar of Czech related events in London. DanceTurul - Grotesque Myth of a Plucked Angle
"Hungarian company Artus' incomparable talent lies in its East European poetic language. The absurdity of scenes obeys the logic of dreams, surrealistic images connect dark humour with audacious fantasy. Awarded and played worldwide." Click here for more information. MusicAndo Drom
"Award winning, renowned Gypsy music group, topping World-Music charts and spreading fantastically frenetic folklore throughout Europe. Compared to the Gypsy Kings and Loyko." Highly recommended Click here for more information. Kati Szvorak and the Water Carriers
Folk, jazz and world music described as"beautiful material with a Balkan edge, pretty wonderful stuff" by Folk Roots playing into the early hours. Click here for more information. Kalman Balogh: Romano Kokalo
Marriage of Kocsonya Mihaly
"The modern opera company, Kolibri presents this one-act opera. A 17th-century masterpiece using exciting and innovative, man-sized puppets. The contemporary music has been especially composed and is heavily influenced in its style by Hungarian folk traditions." Click here for more information.
The Scottish Poetry Library Presents: The Poetry of Hungary
With guests Zsuzsa Rakovszky, Gyozo Ferencz and George Szirtes. Music and song. Click here for more information. TheatreLaodamia
An English language performance of Mihaly Babits's play by the Hungarian Merlin Theatre group as part of Edinburgh's Fringe Festival.Suicidal macho pride kills King Protesilaos in Trojan War. Lusting widow Laodamia begs the gods for his ghost's return. Her gruesome wish is granted but for three hours only. Click here for more information. DanceThe Light - Magapar
"Based on the myth of Prometheus, performed by 16-17 year olds who have given up words for language of the body. Theatre of light and illusion traversing the boundaries between childhood/ maturity, truth/ illusion - revealing man's quest for a perfect place on Earth." Click here for more information. TheatreCarmen Funebre (Funeral Song)
"Tragic testimonies from Bosnian war victims inspired this astonishing anti-war show which won The Scotsman Hamada Prize in 1996. A unique outdoor performance in aid of Amnesty International's work with Kosovo refugees." Click here for more information. Drink Vinegar Gentlemen
After Teatr Biuro Podrozy's 1996 Fringe success (see above), the group reveal their versatility with this new show inspired by a short (less than 200 words) story by persecuted Russian satirist and master of the absurd Daniil Kharms. Already it has received a top Polish award. Click here for more information.
Out of the Present
This award-winning film proudly boasts that it is the first film to have been shot in space. Part documentary, part visual feast for the techno generation, part philosophical meditation on the divide between man and nature, Andrei Ujica's film is enjoyable on whatever level you choose to watch it. Click here for a Kinoeye review. Highly recommended
"Physical In the aspiration to the World Spirit, you see the spiritual substance in the uncovered bloody flesh the unity of human substance ascending to Death. The choreographer transfers the national worldly drama into the crystal of the world tragedy." Click here for more information.
Farlanders
"Highly original, brilliant, driving five piece fusion jazz/folk/rock band fronted by charismatic singer Inna Zhelannaya. Unbelievable!" Click here for more information. Loyko: The Russian Gypsy Band
Click here for more information. Prodigies
"Two astonishing solo singers, Pelageya (12, Siberia) and Katya Chilly (18, Ukraine) with their band, astonish, delight, exhilarate, amaze!" Click here for more information. Eurasian Guitars: Two Virtuosos
"Solo electric guitarist, Crimean Tartar, Enver Izmailov creates incredible musical universe. Ivan Smirnov Trio: acoustic guitar and accompanists - powerful delivery, total mastery, passion and poetry. Both world class." Click here for more information.
Mozart & Salieri Ulysses Theatre Company
"Why did Mozart perish? Did Salieri poison him? Who was the man in black who commissioned the Requiem? Two actors - Scottish and Russian - desperately and selflessly play Pushkin's Little Tragedy as an unexpected version of Superstar Amadeus's mysterious death." Click here for more information. Pushkin on the Moon Ulysses Theatre Company
"A troupe of wandering actor clowns perform a farce. The great Russian poet's spirit doesn't come alone... Masks images people puppets fairytales mysticism transform into a joyous carnival of love and dance of death." Click here for more information. Compiled by Andrew J Horton
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