Australia Dancing - Sheherazade (1979

Sheherazade (1979 - )

McMurdo, Don: Scene from Graeme Murphy's 'Sheherazade', Sydney Dance Company, 1979

Graeme Murphy's Sheherazade premiered at a Gala Performance on 9 August 1979 and was then performed as part of the immediately following Signature Season at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. For this season Murphy's company performed under the banner of The Dance Company - without the added descriptor (NSW), which had been part of the original company name. The new name, Sydney Dance Company, was adopted at the end of this season.

The cast for the original Murphy production of Sheherazade comprised Graeme Murphy, Janet Vernon, Sheree da Costa and Ross Philip. The work was performed to a score by Ravel, his Sheherazade a piece for voice and orchestra inspired by three poems by Tristan Klingsor. The first song, 'Asie', was danced by Janet Vernon and Graeme Murphy, the second song, 'La Flute enchantee', was a solo for Sheree da Costa, and the third song, 'L'Indifferent', was danced by Janet Vernon, Graeme Murphy, Sheree da Costa and Ross Philip.

Sheherazade was designed by Kristian Fredrikson who was inspired by the art of Gustav Klimt. Fredrikson wote in program notes: 'Maurice Ravel, in his music, coveted that which Gustav Klimt reveals in his painting, the quivering light and dark of the human heart'. A Christian Dior perfume, Diorissimo, was used as an added component during the performance.

The work was highly regarded by critics. Brian Hoad, writing in The Bulletin said: 'Sheherazade is choreographic mood painting at its most luscious'.

Sheherazade remained in the Sydney Dance company repertoire for a number of years and in 2000 the the duet originally danced by Murphy and Vernon was revived for Murphy's celebratory Body of Works season when it was danced by Josef Brown and Katherine Griffiths.

Bibliography:

Kristian Fredrikson's designs for Sheherazade are held by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Research Materials

Oral history | Picture | Printed music | All

McMurdo, Don: Artists of Sydney Dance Company in Graeme Murphy's 'Sheherazade', c. 1979

McMurdo, Don: Artists of Sydney Dance Company in Graeme Murphy's 'Sheherazade', c. 1979 (Picture): Murphy, Graeme ; Sydney Dance Company; Location:; Don McMurdo personal archive collection; National Library of Australia; PIC/8336/18, Album 8336/1
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Interview with Graeme Murphy, 1980 (Oral history): Interviewer: Radio station 7THE-FM Hobart; Interviewee: Murphy, Graeme; Audiotape; 12 mins; Radio interview for 7THE-FM, Hobart

Graeme Murphy talks about working with Ballet Caravan, his return to the Australian Ballet after working overseas, Sydney Dance Company and its dancers and audiences, and the strengths of dance as an art form. He then talks about four works scheduled for performance in Hobart at the time of the interview - Animus, Dialogues, Viridian and Sheherazade.; Murphy, Graeme; Location:; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 188416

Interview with Graeme Murphy, 1987 (Oral history): Interviewer: Radio station 3LO Melbourne; Interviewee: Murphy, Graeme; Audiotape, 23 mins; In this radio interview for 3LO, Melbourne, Graeme Murphy talks about his Melbourne season of Sheherazade, Late Afternoon of a Faun, Rumours and Afterworlds. There is also a discussion of his family and dance background, the people who have inspired him.; Rumours ; Murphy, Graeme ; Late Afternoon of a Faun; Location:; National Film and Sound Archive; Title no: 415573

McMurdo, Don: Janet Vernon in 'Sheherazade', Sydney Dance Company, c. 1979

McMurdo, Don: Janet Vernon in 'Sheherazade', Sydney Dance Company, c. 1979 (Picture): Sydney Dance Company ; Vernon, Janet; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8336/117, Album 1036/1
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Maurice Ravel: Songs, 1896-1914 (Printed music): This collection of songs of Maurice Ravel, edited by Arbie Orenstein, includes music and text for the three songs that make up Ravel's Sheherazade and that were used in Graeme Murphy's 1979 production for Sydney Dance Company.; Murphy, Graeme ; Sydney Dance Company; Location:; National Library of Australia; MUS m783.242 R252
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McMurdo, Don: Scene from 'Sheherazade', Sydney Dance Company, c. 1979

McMurdo, Don: Scene from 'Sheherazade', Sydney Dance Company, c. 1979 (Picture): Sydney Dance Company; Location:; National Library of Australia; PIC/8336/30, Album 1036/1
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Research Materials Top

Other resources

Find more about Sheherazade in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia