| See what they've been keeping under their hats If ever a cabaret act promised to deliver highbrow sex appeal, then Viva La Diva is it. Two of the most enthusiastically admired British stars of opera and ballet, the prima ballerina Darcey Bussell and the Welsh mezzosoprano Katherine Jenkins, are to join forces to put on a show their production team hopes will be 'as big as Riverdance'. Billed as a homage to divas down the ages, the touring song-and-dance extravaganza has a budget of more than £1m. The two performers, who first met three years ago, hatched a plan 15 months ago for a joint project that would allow them to experiment with popular theatre Directed by choreographer Kim Gavin, who has worked with Take That, the show is rumoured to include tributes to Audrey Hepburn, from Bussell, and Doris Day, from Jenkins. One of Jenkins' other heroines, she admits, is her future co-star. 'I've admired Darcey since I was young,' she said. 'Her movement and style are second to none and I'm thrilled to be working with her.' The admiration is mutual: 'Katherine's voice has an exceptional quality and I'm very much looking forward to combining our very different talents,' says Bussell. Jenkins, a former school teacher from Neath who studied at the Royal Academy of Music, signed the biggest deal in classical recording history in 2004 and became the fastest-selling female opera singer since Maria Callas. Since then she has become the mascot of the Welsh rugby team. Bussell, born in London, joined the Royal Ballet's school at White Lodge at 13, and danced with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet before moving to Covent Garden. She became a principal at the age of 20. Viva La Diva will be launched in Manchester this November. Article courtesy of: Vanessa Thorpe, arts and media correspondent Sunday April 29, 2007 The Observer |
| Darcey and Kat, the song and dance actOlivia Cole and Steven Swinford DARCEY BUSSELL, Britain’s most celebrated prima ballerina, is swapping her pumps for tap shoes to star in a musical show paying tribute to some of the world’s greatest stage and film performers. Bussell, 38, is embarking on a new career after her two decades with the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden end in June. She will team up with Katherine Jenkins, the Welsh opera singer, for a touring song and dance show built around some of their favourite leading women including Ginger Rogers, the film star, and Maria Callas, the opera singer. For Bussell, the £1m show, Viva la Diva, fulfils a childhood ambition while providing a welcome alternative to the physical rigours of ballet. “This is totally different to anything I know,” she said. “I have always wanted to try a different style, but more as an entertainer. I love the old Hollywood movies and grew up watching Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Cyd Charisse. “Dance and ballet is like being an athlete. You are putting a major strain on your body because it’s very intense work, it’s very unnatural. This is much more fun.” Bussell and Jenkins met over lunch two years ago and within months began planning the show. They will give a combination of solo performances and duets of some classic Hollywood numbers and the show will feature tap, flamenco and ballet. While Bussell has no plans to sing, Jenkins, 26, is considering a departure into dance. The singer, who has won album of the year three times at the Classical Brits, said: “All I can say is I’m definitely going to be doing things people would never expect of me.” The show will include modern sources of inspiration. One of the highlights is expected to be a tribute to Dita Von Teese, the American burlesque dancer. Bussell, who has performed little but ballet and modern dance for 20 years, said: “It will test me no end. I went to stage school years ago so it’s like going back in time. The biggest challenge for me will be the tap dancing. I’m sure I’ll be criticised for something.” Bussell, who became the youngest principal of the Royal Ballet at the age of 20, is also looking forward to spending more time with her Australian husband Angus Forbes, a City banker, and their two daughters Phoebe, 6, and Zoe, 3. She also hopes the show will prove less injury-prone than her ballet career, which led to two operations on a spur of overgrown bone in her ankle. “It’s the wear and tear of the joints that causes the problems,” she said. “But I could never give up my dance altogether, so it’s fantastic to do something like this with Katherine.” |
| The show may be over but the memories will last a lifetime |
| NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD Thanks to Ken Kaliebe - a dedicated visitor to this site who recently notified me that his version of VLD did not play on his DVD player ( here in the US ) however it will play on his computer. I had the same issue with my copy. Please make sure when you place your order for VLD or any other Katherine Jenkins DVD's that you ask in advance of your order if the Regional Code is correct for your area or country. |