节目资讯
刊物:旅游精选
日期:2010-05-21
难易度:High
关键字:turn in, draw out, kick off, span, midnight sun, m
(Music).
Welcome back from the break, everyone.
St. Petersburg is a fitting place to have an international arts festival.
Historically, it’s been the center of Russian culture, art and music.
In fact, St. Petersburg is the birthplace of Russian ballet.
So if you go to the White Nights Festival, you can be sure the drama, music and
dance performances you see will be the best.
Let’s look more closely at some of what you can see and do at the festival.
We’ll resume the reading under the heading ”Stars of the White Nights”.
Fun Under The Midnight Sun.
Stars of the White Nights.
The festival kicks off tonight with a performance of Stars of the White Nights.
Composed of ballet, opera and symphony events, this portion of the festival
features famous local and international performers.
Maestro and festival artistic director Valery Gergiev created Stars of the White
Nights in 1993 as a ”musical gift’ to St. Petersburg.
Initially a 10-day event, Stars of the White Nights now spans the entire
three-month run of the festival.
Audience members enjoy outstanding performances by renowned conductors, dancers
and musicians in the historic Mariinsky Theatre and Mariinsky Concert Hall.
Welcome back.
So we’ve been talking about the White Nights Festival, which our article called
’’an international arts festival like no other.”.
And I think in this next portion of the article, we’ll be learning about why
this is an arts festival.
We’re going to be talking about the Stars of the White Nights, which is one
portion of the festival, correct?
Right.
This is the White Nights Festival, but the Stars of the White Nights is one part
of the White Nights Festival.
And we’re going to learn what that is right now.
Our text tells us that the festival kicks off tonight with a performance of
Stars of the White Night.
And if it kicks off, that means it starts or it begins.
So this is kind of the... the whole, uh, performance that begins the White
Nnights Festival - Stars of the White Nights.
And Chip, what is it composed of?
Well, our article says that it’s composed, or it’s made up, of ballet, opera and
symphony events.
And this portion of the festival features famous local and international
performers.
So we’re talking about a lot of these, uh, arts that would be very beautiful to
listen to and to watch.
Um, this is some high-class art.
So you can probably understand why it draws so many people out to St. Petersburg
to enjoy this festival.
Well there is a man that you need to know about.
He is a maestro and festival artistic director, and his name is Valery Gergiev.
I think I’m saying that right.
And he created Stars of the White nights in 1993 as a ”musical gift” to St.
Petersburg.
Now if he’s a maestro, that is a very high honor; it’s a nice title to have.
That means that you are a man who is very good or very skilled at playing or
conducting music.
So he has become a very famous name through out the St. Petersburg area; he is
the one who started the Stars of the White Nights Festival.
He is a very, very well-known conductor, and you can see a picture of him in
your magazine on page 43.
So this maestro is a master of the music.
Now, if you remember before the break we talked about this festival being three
months long.
Now we’re talking about a portion of the festival that was initially a 10-day
event.
But now, Stars of the White Nights now spans the entire three-month run of the
festival.
Now, if it spans a three-month run, then that means that encompasses or it
stretches out over that three-month time period.
Right.
That means it exists or continues for a certain amount of time.
And, of course, in this case, for three entire months,
people can go and enjoy symphonies and orchestras and ballets as part of the
Stars of the White Nights portion of the White Nights Festival.
So as you can already see, this is a very impressive arts celebration.
So audience members enjoy outstanding performances by renowned conductors,
dancers and musicians in the historic Mariinsky Theatre and Mariinsky Concert
Hall.
Now, if someone or something is renowned, that means they are just very famous
for something that they are able to do.
Now, Chelsea, I noticed that in our magazine theatre is spelled T-H-E-A-T-R-E,
which is a unique spelling.
I think usually in English we end that word with ”-er” rather than ”-re”.
Well, that’s true. Usually in American English.
Um, but often in British English, they end it with ”-re”.
And because this, uh, is a place that is outside of America, that might be why
they’ve chosen to end it in ”-re”.
OK.
But both are acceptable.
Both are acceptable.
OK. OK.
There’s many different kinds of English, I suppose.
Well, this sounds like a great thing to visit and a great thing to experience,
especially if you like arts such as ballet and opera and symphony.
Now, uh, Chelsea, have you ever visited a symphony or an opera or a ballet of
any kind?
I have been to some symphonies before and I love the arts. And I’ve been to
many, many Broadway shows and things of that nature.
But, unfortunately, I have not yet been able to experience an opera or a ballet
- although they are on the list of things that I would like to do.
And I think this would be an especially neat place to go as it says these take
place in historic Mariinsky Theatre and Mariinsky Concert Hall.
If they’re historic, that means they’ve been around for years and years. And
they’re very beautiful on the inside.
Russia has some beautiful architecture.
So I think it would be fabulous to go to one of these opreas or ballets at this
festival.
Yeah. Now, I have never actually been to a ballet, but I have seen some ballet
dancers, uh, dance in their ballet style.
And it is an impressive, uh, work of arts and beautiful dancing that requires a
lot of skill and strength.
So, well, we hope you’ve learned some things about the White Nights Festival.
We’ll have more for you tomorrow.
Let’s, uh, listen to what Michelle has to teach us about her Language Tips
before we go.
And before we go there, let’s watch today’s skit.
The darkness has settled in.
And I’m ready to turn in for the night.
What do you mean?
Good night. I’m going to bed now.
You can’t go to bed now.
I can’t?
No, this is St. Petersburg.
It is time for fun under the midnight sun. There’s a festival.
A festival? Right now? Tonight?
Yes. Tonight, and every night for the next three months.
But shouldn’t we be sleeping?
There’s no time for that.
The White Nights Festival is about to begin; visitors are coming from far and
wide for this international arts celebration.
But why celebrate so late at night?
It’s the season of the midnight sun - that’s why.
Now, wake up. Let’s go.
Does the festival have something I’ll enjoy?
Of course. This festival has something for everyone.
Like pillows and blankets?
Even better.
It kicks off tonight with a musical gift - ballet and opera.
Ballet and opera?
Yes! This show is the stars of the winter nights.
It has outstanding performances by renowned conductors, dancers and musicians.
It’s going to be great.
Let’s go.
(Background Noise).
But I’m wearing my pajamas.
Hi, everyone. I’m Michelle..
(Chinese).
And it’s not time to turn in yet. Stay tuned for more.
Thanks again, Michelle. We appreciate those tips.
Well, St. Petersburg, friends, is so far north that during much of the summer,
the sun is visible even at midnight.
In fact, for three weeks in June, the night sky never completely darkens.
That’s where, of course, the name White Nights comes from.
Now, even if you are not a fan of classical music, ballet or opera, you can
still have a lot of fun at this festival.
And we’ll dig more into that tomorrow.
Friends, until then, have a great day.
And be sure to join us again tomorrow for day two of Fun Under The Midnight Sun.
Bye-bye.
(Music).