Beethoven & Ballet: The Creatures of Prometheus In this lecture-recital, DMA Candidate Lucas D. Lynch discusses with choreographer Jayden Grogan and Ancient Historian Anita Sweeney the musical, artistic, creative and academic approach to staging the 2021 Australian Premiere of Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus Ballet. Presenters Lucas D. Lynch Anita Sweeney Jayden Grogan Harpist Jaclyn Miles Musical excerpts by Ludwig Van Beethoven
Lucas D. Lynch Lucas holds an MMus.st., B.Mus., A.Dip.SCSM Research(Hons)., A.Musicol.ASMC Research(Hons)., A.Dip.SCSM Perf(Hons)., and A.Perf.ASMC (Hons). With experience as conductor, pianist, composer, theatrical producer and musical director, Lucas’ production credits include: Producer and Creative for Lynch & Paterson’s Jesus Christ Superstar, The Pirates Of Penzance In Concert, Cinderella, and Lush; Conductor and Artistic Director of Cadenza Chamber Players; Ballet class pianist (Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, QUT Ballet); Cover Pianist/Assistant Conductor with Queensland Ballet’s Dangerous Liaisons and 60th Anniversary Gala. He studied a Bachelor of Music (Classical Piano), Master of Music (Conducting), and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Musical Arts at Queensland Conservatorium.
Jayden Grogan Jayden Grogan is a freelancing professional dancer-choreographer based in Brisbane, Australia. Jayden has performed professionally throughout Australia and internationally in productions by; Opera Australia, Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, State Opera of South Australia, Lisa Wilson Projects, Ozfrank Theatre, Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Collusion Music and Dance, Restless Dance Theatre, AJ Creative, Ballet Theatre of Queensland, and Leipzig Ballet Director Mario Schroeder. He co-created two works that were selected for presentation at the prestigious Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria with SynapSense premiering in prime position for the Opening Night Program in 2017 and Soundline in 2018. He performed on tour in China
on multiple occasions. Jayden was nominated in the highly competitive category Favourite Supporting Male Performance by the 2019 Del Arté Charts for his role as Jasper in Queensland Ballet’s production The Little Green Road to Fairyland. Jayden graduated from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with two degrees including a Master of Philosophy (Creative Practice) in 2020 and received Distinction for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance) in 2017.
Anita Sweeney Anita Sweeney, BA (Hons) (UQ), MA (UNE), is a historian, costume designer and theatre maker. Postgraduate research areas include ritual, magic, mythology and religion, particularly within the cultures of ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Celtic tribes of Europe. Creatively, she draws extensively on these areas, applying them to modern theatrical work. Anita has been involved in costuming for over 25 years, getting her start through historical recreation groups. An opportunity to produce costumes for a performance of the medieval Danse Macabre at Woodford Folk Festival in 2005 opened a door to theatrical costuming. Previous design work includes Pirates of Penzance, Cinderella (Lynch & Paterson), The Wizard of Oz (Gateway Theatre Productions), The Turn of the Screw, The Reindeer Monologues (Firelight Theatre), The Garden (Zen Zen Zo), James and the Giant Peach, Charlotte’s Web (Noosa Children’s Theatre), The Danse Macabre, Pan and Syrinx (with Musica Prima). Design for individual characters: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins, Noosa Arts Theatre), The Producers (Jally Entertainment), Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Noosa Arts Theatre). Written work includes short plays: The Messenger (2007), based on the ancient Greek mythology of Cassandra; A Problem Shared (2010), after Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus; and Unbinding Medea (2020), a reworking of Euripides' Medea.
The Creatures of Prometheus Ballet November 19-21, 2021 Twelfth Night Theatre Australian premiere of Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus ballet. Be drawn into the mythical story of Prometheus, who steals fire from the Gods to spark life into two clay figures and creates humankind. This ballet has been historically reconstructed from the 1801 performance and with new choreography by Jayden Grogan in an Australian Premiere. Experience Beethoven’s rare ballet score performed by the Cadenza Chamber Players and conducted by Lucas D. Lynch. Also featured in this performance is Beethoven’s powerful Coriolan Overture and the Allegretto from Symphony 7. With stirring music and beautiful dancers, this will be an unmissable event!