Carousel – voted the best musical of all time by Time Magazine – is one of those select few. Written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, it’s a pretty dark and deep fare for a genre that typically likes to keep it upbeat (the duo’s previous creation, Oklahoma!, being a perfect example of this).

The main premise centres around Billy Bigelow, a fairground worker who loses his job working the carousel due to his boss’ jealousy over his loving relationship and thus declines into a life of crime in order to support his newly pregnant wife. The intricate storyline that unfolds deals with some difficult themes including morality, redemption and domestic violence.

This new production by Opera North at the Barbican is set to be world’s away from your typical musical fare. Not only does it feature real operatic singers, it also involves a full orchestra, led by conductor James Holmes, thus offering the impressive score the opportunity reach its full potential. Director Jo Davies is known too for taking lightweight content and giving it greater light and shade. It’s promising stuff.

Featuring classic songs ‘If I Loved You’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, Davies perhaps summed up the work best with a quote from fellow legendary musical composer, Stephen Sondheim: “Oklahoma! is about a picnic, whilst Carousel is about life and death.” Which is basically just another way of saying that  Carousel is not your average musical: it’s a true experience – with a story and message that has never been more relevant than it is right now. Don’t miss out.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel by Opera North at The Barbican runs from 15 August 2012 – 15 September 2012. For more information or to book tickets, click here.

The post Something you should see… Carousel at The Barbican appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Made up of five fantastically talented musical members, they play over 100 instruments between them from the usual orchestra makeup such as the piano and drums to the lesser-known, blowing on bottles, crushing cornflakes, playing coat hangers, apples,
squeaky toys, rubber gloves, bicycle pumps, nail clippers and more – all recreating every punch up, gunshot, and jangling spur we love that made up our most loved cowboy films.

Because so often it is the music that accompanies our favourite films that we remember most, The Spaghetti Western Orchestra bring this beautifully to life combining music, film and comedy to make an altogether different night out at the theatre.

Their touring schedule has taken them all around the world and is definitely worth a trip during their brief stay in London –  just
maybe leave your horse and cowboy hat at home… (Words: Lucy Palmer) 

From January 5-11 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank. Click here for more info. 

The post Something you should see…The Spaghetti Western Orchestra appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.