Still Life at the Penguin Cafe
Encyclopedia
Still Life at the Penguin Cafe is the name of a ballet choreographed by David Bintley
and featuring music composed by Simon Jeffes
, founder of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. It is also the title of the accompanying album. Geoffrey Richardson co-wrote one of the pieces.
The ballet's debut production in 1988 was performed by The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, in England. The ballet was conceived by David Bintley (at that time resident choreographer at Covent Garden), who approached Simon Jeffes about the music. The music for the ballet was drawn from several musical pieces composed by Jeffes before the ballet was conceived, composed during the period 1981 to 1987. Most of the pieces were originally written for small ensembles, consisting of, for example, violin, cello, guitar and piano. Jeffes orchestrated the pieces for the ballet, and in the Royal Ballet production, they were performed by a full orchestra. The ballet was filmed in 1988 by London Weekend Television
and commercially released. The name of the ballet is derived from that of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra
, which was Simon Jeffes' ensemble.
) describing how the Great Auk was very recently made extinct by man. The initial segment is set in a cafe, and several humans and penguins dance. Each subsequent segment prior to the conclusion shows an endangered species (or, in the case of the Rain Forest People, a culture). The Conclusion shows all the characters withstanding a downpour, and gathering on an ark-like boat.
The overall theme of the ballet is pro-environment, pro-conservation. The ballet seeks to make the audience more aware of endangered species.
Both the Laser Disk and DVD contain a 50 minute documentary on the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
David Bintley
David Bintley, CBE, is a former English ballet dancer, the current artistic director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and co-artistic director of the New National Theatre Tokyo ballet company.- About :...
and featuring music composed by Simon Jeffes
Simon Jeffes
Simon Jeffes was an English classically trained guitarist, composer and arranger. He formed, and was the core performer of, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. He composed the ballet Still Life at the Penguin Cafe...
, founder of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. It is also the title of the accompanying album. Geoffrey Richardson co-wrote one of the pieces.
The ballet's debut production in 1988 was performed by The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, in England. The ballet was conceived by David Bintley (at that time resident choreographer at Covent Garden), who approached Simon Jeffes about the music. The music for the ballet was drawn from several musical pieces composed by Jeffes before the ballet was conceived, composed during the period 1981 to 1987. Most of the pieces were originally written for small ensembles, consisting of, for example, violin, cello, guitar and piano. Jeffes orchestrated the pieces for the ballet, and in the Royal Ballet production, they were performed by a full orchestra. The ballet was filmed in 1988 by London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
and commercially released. The name of the ballet is derived from that of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra was a collective of performing musicians created by classically trained British guitarist, composer and arranger Simon Jeffes...
, which was Simon Jeffes' ensemble.
Ballet Story
The pieces / sections in the ballet are:- The Penguin Cafe (musical piece Air á Danser)
- Utah Longhorn Ram (musical piece Prelude and Yodel)
- Texan Kangaroo Rat (musical piece Long Distance, original title Horns of a Bull)
- Humbolts' Hog Nosed Skunk Flea (musical piece The Ecstacy of the Dancing Flea, original title Pythagoras's Trousers)
- Southern Cape Zebra (SCZ)(musical piece White Mischief)
- Rain Forest People (musical piece Now Nothing)
- Brazilian Woolly Monkey (musical piece Music By Numbers)
- Conclusion (musical piece Numbers 1-4)
Story Line
The ballet begins with a voice-over (by Jeremy IronsJeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
) describing how the Great Auk was very recently made extinct by man. The initial segment is set in a cafe, and several humans and penguins dance. Each subsequent segment prior to the conclusion shows an endangered species (or, in the case of the Rain Forest People, a culture). The Conclusion shows all the characters withstanding a downpour, and gathering on an ark-like boat.
The overall theme of the ballet is pro-environment, pro-conservation. The ballet seeks to make the audience more aware of endangered species.
Production Details
From the 1988 production:- Performed by the Royal Ballet
- Composed by Simon JeffesSimon JeffesSimon Jeffes was an English classically trained guitarist, composer and arranger. He formed, and was the core performer of, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. He composed the ballet Still Life at the Penguin Cafe...
and Geoffrey Richardson - Choreographed by David Bintley
- Designed by Hayden Griffin
- Music performed by The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
- Conducted by Isaiah JacksonIsaiah JacksonIsaiah Allen Jackson is an African American conductor of world renown. He has recently concluded a seven year term as conductor of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, of which he has been named Conductor Emeritus...
- Narrated by Jeremy IronsJeremy IronsJeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
Dancers
- Utah Longhorn Ram - Deborah BullDeborah BullDeborah Bull CBE is an English dancer, writer, and broadcaster and Creative Director of the Royal Opera House.Born in Derby, and brought up in Kent and Lincolnshire, she studied dance from the age of seven, first locally, and then, on the recommendation of her teacher, at the Royal Ballet School...
- Ram Partner - Guy Niblett
- Texan Kangaroo Rat - Bruce Sansom
- Humboldt's Hog-nosed Skunk Flea - Fiona Brockway
- Southern Cape Zebra - Phillip Broomhead
- Rain Forest People - Tracy Brown, Jonathon Cope, Michelle di Lorenzo
- Brazilian Woolly Monkey - Stephen JefferiesStephen JefferiesStephen Jefferies was a South African cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman and a left-arm medium-fast bowler. Jefferies' career centred around his home country of South Africa, though in 1982 he briefly moved to England, subsequently playing for Derbyshire...
- The Great Auk - Nicola RobertsNicola RobertsNicola Maria Roberts is a British recording artist and entrepreneur. In 2002 Roberts auditioned for the reality televisions series and competition Popstars The Rivals which saw her finish in the final line-up of a girl group named Girls Aloud...
Recordings and Publications
- Laser Disk: London/Decca #071 222-1 (1991). See production details above for choreographer, etc. Out of print.
- Sheet music, arranged for piano by Henry Roche. Published by Peters Edition Ltd (London) 2002; ISBN 0-9542720-0-5. Still in print as of November 2007.
- VHS tape - Polygram Records; ASIN 630202367X, 1992. Out of print.
- DVD - Published by ArtHaus. ASIN: B000Y351ZC. In print since January 2008.
Both the Laser Disk and DVD contain a 50 minute documentary on the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
Album
The music for the ballet was released as an album, under Jeffes' name, together with an 18-minute suite called Four Pieces for Orchestra, comprising orchestral recordings of earlier PCO tracks:- Perpetuum mobile
- Southern Jukebox Music
- Oscar Tango
- Music for a Found Harmonium
- CD: Polygram records (1991) ASIN B00000E42T. BBC Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth. Out of print but available as a digital download.