Aurora breaks out with classical music fusion

Aurora team up with breakdancing collectives, innovative composers and choreographer for their most ambitious dance collaboration to date

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   1. Aurora Orchestra

   The Aurora Orchestral are performing their most ambitious dance commission to date fusing orchestral music with breakdancing.

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   2. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   Battle is built around Aurora’s Principal Viola Max Baillie who, in addition to his considerable instrumental skills, is a trained dancer.

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   3. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   The project sees composer Julian Philips teaming up with choreographer Mickaël ‘Marso’ Rivière.

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   4. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   The eclectic playlist ranges from the baroque fireworks of Biber’s Battalia to Barshai’s orchestral scoring of Shostakovich’s war-themed String Quartet No. 3.

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   5. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   It will also feature a new breakbeat arrangement of Holst’s Mars by Chris Willis.

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   6. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   Alongside these works, Aurora presents the world premiere of Maxamorphosis, a major new work from Julian Philips for chamber orchestra, dancers, and solo viola.

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   7. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   The piece was created especially for Max Baillie and it’s been described as “a concerto like no other”

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   8. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

   Battle premiered at Dover Town Hall on at the beginning of the month as part of the Deal Festival.

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    9. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    Aurora Orchestra's New Moves residency at LSO St Luke's launched in 2010 and has since established itself as one of Europe's most innovative orchestral concert series.

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    10. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    The Aurora Orchestra have a commitment to new, challenging and exciting collaborations.

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    11. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    In the two years since they took up residency at St Luke’s LSO, Aurora have collaborated with everyone from tango and capoeira dancers to film-makers, visual artists, novelists and theatre directors.

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    12. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    The group of dynamic and talented instrumentalists strive to re-invent chamber music for a new generation and aim to deconstruct the established ideas of classical music should be presented.

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    13. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    These photos were taken at rehearsals of Battle earlier this week and give a flavour of what to expect.

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    14. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    The London premiere takes place on Friday 13 July at LSO St Luke’s.

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    15. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    Highlights from the programme will also be performed outdoors at Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf in London on 15 July at 1.30pm and as part of the City of London Festival.

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    16. Maxamorphosis Aurora Orchestra

    The project will go on to tour to venues throughout the UK in spring 2013.

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