The Brolga and the Star     A Ballet in One Act.

Duration 45minutes

Instrumentation: 2 (1 picc), 0, 2 (bcl), 1 / 1111 / timp+2 perc /harp/pno/strings
There is also a piano reduction available for rehearsal or piano only production.

Available though The Australian Music Centre at: http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/work/applegate-cathy-brolga-and-the-star

There is an audio mock up of the overture on Soundcloud
Premiered on Saturday 26th November, 2016 at the Darwin Entertainment Centre.

Choreography by Jan Hedenig and Adam Thurlow

Conductor Martin Jarvis

Principal dancers Adam Thurlow (Australian Ballet) as The Brolga, and Jin Yao (Hong Kong Ballet) as The Star.

This ballet was commissioned by the Palmerston Association for Dancing.

 

The Brolga and the Star is a one act ballet in the classic tradition, both story-wise and musically. It has its inspiration in the grand ballet tales from the past and deals with universal themes. It is, at its heart, a love story, but also quintessentially Australian with its setting and subject matter. It is infused with the exoticism and beauty of the Top End of Australia. The music is eclectic but references Tchaikovsky’s style and romanticism.

The music was initially written for full symphony orchestra, but an arrangement was made for a smaller orchestra due to the constraints of the pit in the theatre.

The work was very well received as an important addition to the Australian ballet repertoire.

Photo credit: Eleanor Wilks