Artistic Collaborations abound for the Lydians performance of Handel's Messiah!

The Lydians - Handel's Messiah, December 10th - 13th 2009
Rehearsal - Bishop Anstey High School Hall

6 Days to Opening Night...

The Lydians rehearsal for Handel's Messiah seemed an evening for the creative callaloo of artistic collaborations, with the additions of Guru Mondira Balkaransingh and Mr. Michael Lucien, and the Malick Folk Performers. The combination itself truly represents all that is Trinidad and Tobago culture, a mixture of varied influences and unique artistic expressions!

Indian-born Mondira Balkaransingh is the Artistic Director of the Nrityanjali Theatre, Institute for the Arts and Culture. The Nrityanjali Theatre was founded in 1977 by the Balkaransinghs ( Sat and Mondira) and has produced numerous ballets and stage productions. It has travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean, USA and UK. The theatre is noted for staging productions at the highest professional level and has always won accolades for its works.

The artistry and great tradition of the Kathak classical style of dance, usually includes rich musical accompaniments of the tabla, sitar sarangis and vocal renditions. However, with the Handel's Messiah, Dr. Pat Bishop has fused the sounds of classical baroque music, in the form of the harpsichord and organ instruments, along with the steelpan, the Tassa and African drums, and last evening, the rhythmic bells of Kathak dance to create an entirely new sound, which is wholly Caribbean and entirely new to any performance of Handel's Messiah before now!


The Malick Folk Performers, over 20 years in existence under the directorship of Michael Lucien, have been performing with the Lydians for the past 5-6 years. Out of the group's large ensemble, only an average of 6-8 perform during concerts on stage with the choir. The Malick Folk Performers have participated in the two operas by the Lydians, Koanga in 1995 and Elixir of Love in 1996, have performed with the choir at the Prime Minister's residence, and were also part o the choir's performance for the leaders of Cuba and The Netherlands in 1995. For Handel's Messiah, this Christmas, the Malick folk Performers joins the cast to bring several of the Messiah choruses alive with the jubilation of their unique dancing styles!





Tickets (TT$125.00, US$19.64 EU$13.03) for the Lydians performance of Handel's Messiah are available at the following locations:

Queen's Hall Box Office, Queen's Hall Auditorium, Port of Spain
http://www.CaribbeanBoxOffice.net
La Tropicale Flower Shop, Patna Street, St. James
Signature 2000, The Marketplace, Normandie Hotel
And all Choir members!

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