Stepping into the limelight with triple bill

Jun 20 2008 By Diane Parkes

CHOREOGRAPHER Michael Corder brings a new version of Stravinsky's Le Baiser de la fee to Birmingham.

The work, which will be premiered at Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre next month, will form part of a Stravinsky triple bill alongside Card Game and Petrushka.

The new shows sees Corder returning to the 80-year-old score as the sole inspiration for his classically based work.

Le Baiser de la fee, which translates as The Fairy's Kiss, is derived from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Ice Maiden, which is also the basis for The Snow Queen.

It tells the tale of a fairy who finds a baby lost in a storm and gives him a magic kiss. Brought up by villagers, the boy lives a normal life until he reaches his wedding day when the fairy returns to claim her prize.

The work has seen various guises over the years with choreographers including Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine creating versions.

Commissioned by Birmingham Royal Ballet, this new production is part of the company's ongoing Stravinksy celebration which has already seen works such as The Rite of Spring and The Firebird given a new lease of life.

Performed on July 3-5, it forms part of a spring season with the classic ballet Giselle which takes to the stage next week between June 25-28.

Tickets: 0844 338 5000 and www.birminghamhippodrome.com