A Soldier's Tale and Renard: thrilling fusion of opera, ballet and theatre in all-Stravinsky programme

Constella Ballet and Orchestra, the trailblazing company founded to showcase young artists, are teaming up with the equally adventurous Helios Collective for a thrilling evening which fuses opera, ballet and theatre. Both companies are dedicated to exploring new, cutting-edge work that pushes classical art forms into new realms, and the all Stravinsky programme they present at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London, on Tuesday 31 March, and Wednesday 1 April is no exception.

The production comprises a loose revival of Constella’s Soldier’s Tale with choreography by Jaerad Glavin (first presented to acclaim in 2013), and the première of a new production of Stravinsky’s less well-known opera-ballet Renard – a bizarre farmyard tale – with new choreography by Erico Montes of the Royal Ballet.

The works, which involve six dancers, two actors, four singers, and an orchestra, are directed by Helios Collective’s Artistic Director Ella Marchment and conducted by Leo Geyer. For Renard the orchestra will include a Hungarian folk instrument, the cimbalom, and all the performers – singers, dancers and musicians – will be on stage as the fantastical tale unfolds.

Leo Geyer, the founding Artistic Director of Constella who is conducting the show, explains why he is so keen to put his musicians on stage:

“This production highlights both Constella’s and Helios’s emphasis on collaboration. All the performers, including the orchestra, will be active in the storytelling. This collection of performing art forms working together, makes for an exhilarating performance; a true spectacle for the eyes and ears!”

All the dancers, singers and actors are young freelance performers many of whom work with major companies in the UK and abroad including The Royal Ballet, Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera. They include the tenors Leonel Pinheiro and Daniel Joy, and the dancers Matt Petty and Michael Walters.