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32 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com CMBA The Champion • Wednesday 17 April 2013ENTERTAINMENTChampion reviewSpectacular operastaged at EmpireReview byRon Ellis•Bizet’s ‘CARMEN’ (ELLEN KENTOPERAS)•LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATREELLEN Kent is the lady who brought the LasVegas touch to opera and ballet, opening themup to people who previously might havethought them too highbrow for their tastes.Over the past two decades, she has introducedanimals, topless courtesans, birds of prey,lavish sets and extravagant costumes but neverneglected the musical side, working with thebest musicians, dancers and singers, takenfrom the orchestras and choirs of EasternEurope.This current tour, playing major theatres andconcert halls the length and breadth of GreatBritain, has ‘Tosca’ running alongside‘Carmen’ on alternate nights and features theChisinau National Opera and PhilharmonicOrchestraThe theatre was packed for ‘Carmen’, whichwas nothing less than spectacular with a whitestallion onstage, a donkey, a chorus ofchildren, colourful costumes and a set based ona flamboyant Goya painting. An Englishtranslation from the French was lit up on anoverhead display.Musical on way toLittle TheatreBIRKDALE Orpheus Society isset to return to the SouthportLittle Theatre next month withCarousel.The classic Rodgers andHammerstein musical is anemotional roller–coaster of aride filled with laughter, love,and life told through a thrillingtale of tragedy and triumph.Director of music atCathedral to make firstappearance in townA MUSICAL event will takeplace this Saturday (April 20)when David Poulter, director ofMusic at Liverpool Cathedral,visits Southport to play aconcert of music on the pipeorgan.The event, held in EmmanuelParish Church, CambridgeRoad, is David’s firstappearance in Southport andwill play a programme of musicon Emmanuel’s fine organ,built by Harrison and Harrisonof Durham whose instrumentsare to be heard in WesminsterAbbey, King’s CollegeCambridge and many EnglishCathedrals.David came to Liverpool in2008 having previously servedThe basic themes of love and passion, betrayaland jealousy are what have made this opera alasting success plus, of course, the music withthe famous ‘Toreadors Song’, as always,being the highlight of the show.International mezzo–soprano, NadezdhaStoianoiva, made a seductive Carmen whoentices the soldier, Don Jose (Sorin Lupa), todesert his regiment and leave his childhoodsweetheart, the sweet and virginal Michaela(Ecatrina Danu), only to discard him in favourof the preening bullfighter, Escamillo (IurieGisca).Ellen Kent herself was in Liverpool for theshow and, over a glass of wine at the interval,she told me how she had cut 30 minutes off therunning time, “to keep it faster paced”.“The donkey you have just seen onstage is arescue donkey,” she said, adding that hermother had run a sanctuary for donkeys and, ather shows, she had collected over £30,000 fordonkey sanctuaries.“I have a big house near Canterbury in 15acres with a giant swimming pool. I’m 64 now,perhaps I should retire.”But not quite yet. Already an Autumn tour islined up featuring ‘Aida’, ‘La Boheme’ and‘Nabucco’. Ellen Kent is likely to be around fora good while longer and her thousands of fanswill be delighted.STAR RATING. 7 out of 10. Vibrant andspectacular.Music includes June Is Bustin’Out All Over and You’ll NeverWalk Alone.Carousel will run fromSaturday, May 25 to Saturday,June 1 at the Little Theatre,including a matinee on the finalday. Tickets <strong>star</strong>t at £10 andadvance sales are available nowvia 01704 564042.as Organist at Coventry andthen Chester Cathedrals.Since then he has directed theLiverpool Cathedral choirs in abusy musical schedule whichhas included tours in Polandand Paris.He has travelled extensively,as a recitalist, and as aconductor, to France, Germany,and Holland. He will be playingin Texas in November this year.He has also appeared as asoloist with the BBCPhilharmonic Orchestraconducted by Jan PascalTortelier.The concert begins at 7.30 andadmission is £7, payable at thedoor.editorial@champnews.comTell us what you think!editor@champnews.comChampion review•Save The Last Dance For Me• Southport TheatreSAVE The Last Dance For Me <strong>star</strong>tedits week long run at the SouthportTheatre on Monday night (April 15)to a sell out crowd.Written by Laurence Marks andMaurice Gran (GoodnightSweetheart, Birds of a Feather) andfeaturing the unmistakable music ofDoc Pomus & Mort Shuman, the showwas a innuendo filled feel–goodjourney, which is designed totransport you back to the 60’s.Set throughout the summer of ‘63,Save The Last Dance tells the story oftwo young sisters, Marie and Jennifer,embarking on a seaside holiday forthe first time without their parents.Full of freedom and high spirits, thegirls meet a handsome youngAmerican who invites them to adance.However young love and holidayromance for both girls proves to bequite a challenge, and the sisters soonrealise that while the world aroundthem is still watching itself in blackand white, life and love can be muchmore colourful.Violin master toreturn to cityReport by Mike DawberTHE violin master André Rieu is returning tothe UK and Ireland with his brand new showfollowing his tour in December 2012, whichearned the number one spot in the Billboardmagazine’s top tours chart beating runner upJustin Bieber to the top.André Rieu will be performing his newinternational tour named And The Waltz GoesOn Tour at the Echo Arena Liverpool onDecember 22 and the newly announced date ofDecember 13.Rieu already tweeted in December that heabsolutely loved his 2012 UK tour.“Just back home. I absolutely loved the UKtour. Thank you to all audiences for giving ussuch great concerts,” he said.The maestro praised the British audience fortheir enthusiasm and added: “My Orchestraand I had a great time in December, weabsolutely loved the UK tour.“Maybe it’s a bit odd to say, but in othercountries you often hear that British people arerestrained or not very emotional. But in fact,we experienced the complete opposite on ourtour! The British audience gave us such a warmwelcome... we are all really looking forward tocoming back!”According to Rieu it all has to do with themusic – particularly the Waltz: “Every nightwhen I play around the whole world, I see withmy own eyes what the waltz does with theaudience.“People get out of their seats and waltz in theaisles spontaneously. Whether they’reMexican, Australian, Canadian, German orBritish. They sing, they smile and for a momentthey forget all their worries and are happy.Marie is the main protagonist,played brilliantly by Elizabeth Carterwho stole the show with welldelivered numbers includingTeenager In Love, I Count The Tearsand Please Mr Postman.Marie falls in love with a young blackAmerican soldier called Curtis (KieranMcGinn) and they both battle againstracial oppression, sexism and socialdivides to make the most of theirholiday romance.Marie’s sister Jennifer, played byVerity Jones, also made the stage herown as she portrayed the older, caringsister who faces her own love woesAndré RieuCode NAThat is why this tour is an ode to the waltz!”The maestro has said he and his orchestra willperform beautiful waltzes on this tour. Rieu’sconcerts are a mix of romantic, festive andemotional melodies combined with surprises,balloons, soloists and of course Rieu’s sense ofhumor.Tickets are on sale now and can be purchasedat the Echo Arena box office on 0844 8000 400or www.echoarena.comeditorial@champnews.comShow is not to be missedReview byOllie CowanSave the Last Dance for Me castwhile trying to look out for youngMarie.Kieran McGinn and LeeHoney–Jones played their partsbrilliantly as the two American bestfriends Curtis and Milton. The duodrive the story forward and mirror therelationship of the sisters with greateffect.Will the two sisters find true love, oris this just another holiday romance?You’ll have to go and see the show tofind out.The audience on the night loved theconstant sixties references to goodsand radio shows of the time, whilstthe musical numbers all hit the rightnote. By the end of the show peoplewere dancing in the isles and manywere wiping away a nostalgic tear.Credit must also go to the rest of thecast who supported the leadsbrilliantly. Joe McCourt especially, asthe young actor stood in the for sadlyindisposed Jay Perry to play the role ofSergeant Rufus.Choreography on the night was nearperfect from Bill Deamer and you’dneed to be eagle eyed to spot anymistakes in Mark Bailey’s set andcostume design.Save The Last Dance is a great showwhich really should not be missed.9/10