On Monday 21 June 2010 The Royal Ballet School and Petersham Festival will join forces for a one-off performance entitled A Magical Midsummer’s Night at The Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge in the heart of Richmond Park.

The event marks the first-ever collaboration between two of the most venerable Arts institutions based in the Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. All proceeds from this sold-out event will support The Royal Ballet School’s White Lodge Appeal which is funding the redevelopment of this Grade One, eighteenth century former Royal Hunting Lodge.

A Magical Midsummer’s Night will feature a recital by ‘one of the world’s most supreme instrumentalists’, the celebrated recorder player, Danish-born Michala Petri, accompanied by Lars Hannibal on guitar. In keeping with the pastoral setting of Richmond Park, Ms Petri will include works celebrating birds including Asger Lund Christiansen’s The Yellow Wagtail and the Cuckoo - a light hearted piece featuring the playing of several different recorders.

The highlight of A Magical Midsummer’s Night will see students of The Royal Ballet School and Michala Petri perform together in a ballet entitled Scheindienst Variations (music: Carl Scheindienst). This new work will be especially choreographed for the event by White Lodge ballet teacher, Antonio Castilla.

Kate Kingan, Director of The Petersham Festival, comments on the collaboration:

“A Magical Midsummer’s Night will be one of the artistic highlights of the Summer Season in Richmond-upon-Thames. We are delighted that Michala Petri has accepted our invitation to return to the Petersham Festival this year. Bringing together one of the world’s great ballet schools with one of the world’s most celebrated instrumentalists is a real ‘coup’ for the Festival and real cause for celebration in the borough. We are deeply grateful to Robin and Frances Tomkins and William and Penna Wells whose support has made this event possible.

For further information please contact Jim Fletcher, Development Manager,
The Royal Ballet School on 020 7845 7074 or email jimf@royalballetschool.co.uk

www.royalballetschool.co.uk
www.petershamfestival.org