Davis Carl - Aladdin (Ballet)(2 CD) - Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
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Commissioned by Scottish Ballet, who gave the première at The Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 20 December 2000. Some time in the mid-1990s came the dream...
Commissioned by Scottish Ballet, who gave the première at The Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 20 December 2000.
Some time in the mid-1990s came the dream phone-call – Robert Cohan, American choreographer and founder of the London Contemporary Dance Company asking if I would be interested in composing a score for a full length ballet on the subject of Aladdin, for what is the traditional Nutcracker slot, Autumn and Winter. The commission was from Scottish Ballet, then traditionally managed by the distinguished Russian ballerina, Galina Samsova.
Would I? – You bet! The story was familiar to audiences from pantomime. But the source, Sheherezade: 1001 Nights, revealed deeper levels; a Persian story set in China with an important interlude in Morocco. Lots of magic – the lamp, the ring, a flying carpet, split-second set and costume changes.
Every aspect of the story suggested a dance. The strong characters, the roguish but ambitious Aladdin, the powercrazed and sinister Magician and the dreamy Princess who will reveal great courage. On the one hand there are extended pure dance sequences: the cave of jewels is a set of virtually independent solos, the Court entertainment and several soli and pas de deux and the Princess. The Chinese and Near-Eastern elements can be suggested by, on the one hand, melodies based on the Chinese pentatonic scale and on the other, the drone and modes of the Indian Raga. And what a thrill it is to bring on stage the traditional Chinese symbols for good luck, happiness and prosperity – The Lion Dance and The Dragon.
I enjoyed revisiting the score five years after the first successful season by Scottish Ballet in 2000 and sincerely applaud the magnificent performance by the new and exciting Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.
I would like to personally thank Abdul Hamid Abu Bakar, Chief Executive Officer and the Management Team of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra for their support and generosity in bringing my Aladdin to life again.
Special thanks also to Faber Music and Threefold Music.
(Carl Davis, 2006)