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The Orchestra of English National Ballet: more than just an accompaniment |
Since Dame Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin founded what is now English National Ballet in 1950, the Company has always been committed to achieving the highest musical as well as dancing standards. From the very beginning, the orchestra of English National Ballet has played an important part in creating the magic which is a vital part of every live performance.
The critically acclaimed Orchestra of English National Ballet is the largest of its kind in Europe and English National Ballet is one of the only ballet companies in Europe to tour with its own symphony orchestra. Recently, it was a particular thrill to have English National Ballet’s Orchestra play at Wembley Stadium both for the Company’s performance of Swan Lake and for the whole Concert For Diana.
For these performances the full Orchestra of around 60 musicians will accompany the dancers led by newly appointed Music Director Gavin Sutherland. The dancers and the musicians do not usually see each other until the dress rehearsal, instead rehearsing separately. However, the conductor will attend as many of the dancers’ rehearsals as possible so they know the tempi at which the ballet should be played. This is not an easy task – each Principal dancer will want his or her solo at a specific speed whilst every other divertissement must be at a consistent tempo so the other dancers know what to expect. It is one thing to conduct a piece of music, it is quite another to conduct it as the accompaniment for ballet.
Members of English National Ballet’s Orchestra
Violin I
Leader: Matthew Scrivener
Rachel Allen (Co-Leader)
Emil Chakalov
Anne Martin
Ruth Knell
Linda McClaren
Fiona Chesterman
Rosalind McIntosh
Violin II
Alain Petitclerc*
Susan Croot
Charlotte Howes
Caroline Barnes
Catherine Smart
Stephen Dinwoodie
Viola
Emma Sheppard
David Danford
Elizabeth Sharpe
Sarah Harris
Cello
Gary Stevens*
Naomi Elliott
Rosemary Edwards
Lars Payne
Double Bass
Jeremy Gordon*
Dominic Black
Catherine Ricketts
Flute
Christopher Green*
Flute II/Piccolo (vacancy)
Oboe
Gareth Hulse*
Nicky Holland
Clarinet
Derek Hannigan*
Paul Allen
Bassoon
John McDougall
Howard Legge
French Horn
Mark Johnson
Andrew Paterson
Richard Dilley
(vacancy)
Trumpet
Andrew Mitchell
Patricia Reid
Trombone
Michael Crowther
Paul Barrett
Bass Trombone
Leslie Storey
Tuba
Martin Knowles
Harp
Isabel Frayling-Cork
Tympani
Kate Eyre
Percussion
Kevin Nutty
Austin Beattie
*Section Principal
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