CARNIVAL MESSIAH: THE MONTAGE PERFORMED BY THE FULL COMPANY

Video moved to . Watch more http://ning.it/1c9zJ6T Carnival Messiah is a radical re-invention of Georg Freidrich Handel’s oratorio ‘Messiah’ for large scale stage and theatre, featuring Caribbean and contemporary popular music and dance genres, showcased through the spectacular carnival and masquerade of Trinidad and Tobago. The Prologue of Carnival Messiah begins with an Oresha invocation sung by Mother Earth – Shango priestess, Oloran and Chantuelle - to Eshu and Oshun. She sings to Eshu first, for a safe and trouble-free performance. Eshu is a male Oresha deity or loa in the Shango ritual, without whose authorisation no ceremony can begin. Conversely Oshun is a female Oresha deity or loa associated with fertility and the sea. Oshun is the Goddess of the rivers, the warrior woman, the Goddess of beauty, sensuality and fertility. A loa of great beauty and youth, Oshun is maternal: She is the sea that surrounds the Caribbean islands as well as a fertile womb of water. She is also the daughter of Yemanja, Goddess of the seas, who is the mother of all Oreshas , ‘Mama God’. Gordon Rohlehrs observes ‘There is a suggestion here of psychic and spiritual balance, with male and female principles – Eshu and Oshun - enjoying exact and equal authority in the ‘beginning of the world’ (Rohlehr: 2003:12). In Carnival Messiah, the production is opened with the pouring of a libation, in particular to appease Eshu. A chant is sung by Mother Earth in Eshu’s and Oshun’s honour. She is accompanied by four West African Djembe drums and supported by an unseen vocal chorus, the people of the world. Carnival Messiah blends the excitement, music and colour of carnival with some of the most inspiring and elating melodies of Handel’s Messiah. Gospel choirs, oratorio, soca, bhangra, reggae, hip-hop and ritual theatre combine with towering glittering carnival costumes and dancing masquerade mobiles. Caribbean folk rhythms and European classics mix with Yoruba ritual, Commedia del arte, Indian Kathak dance, Pantomime, Masquerade, street theatre and the story of the Messiah. They all come together in an exhilarating carnivalesque, musical and theatrical celebration that tells a universal story of birth, death and re-birth; innocence, loss and renewal. Best described as a cross between a major pop music event, spectacular opera and street theatre, it straddles the artistic disciplines of carnival, music and theatre. Carnival Messiah proudly proclaims to the world, that a new, unique, dynamic, robust and exciting genre of theatrical practice has arrived ! Carnival Messiah at The West Yorkshire Playhouse 2002 Executive Producer The West Yorkshire Playhouse Book written by Geraldine Connor and Mark Tillotson Music composed by Geraldine Connor and George Friederich Handel Video directed by Yao Ramesar Video filmed and edited by Ashley Karrell Production designed by Wayne Berkeley and Clary Salandy Choreography by Carol La Chapelle Musical Direction Michael Lovelock Artistic Direction Geraldine Connor

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CARNIVAL MESSIAH: THE MONTAGE PERFORMED BY THE FULL COMPANY

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