Little Mermaid Live Action Remake:

Who’s in the cast, when is the Disney film released and what’s the soundtrack?

The Little Mermaid Trailer

Credit: Walt Disney Productions

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM

0

With a soundtrack by Disney royalty Alan Menken and rising star Halle Bailey playing Ariel, the remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ looks to be another live-action hit for Disney.

The Little Mermaid is receiving a live-action remake, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios and director Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns).

The original 1989 animation told the story of 16-year-old mermaid Ariel, who is fascinated with life on land.

When she falls in love with Eric, a human prince, she strikes a dangerous deal with a sea witch, Ursula, to become human for three days.

The remake will start production in April 2020, but here’s everything you need to know in the meantime...

The Little Mermaid – original 1989 animation. Picture: Disney

Who’s in the cast of The Little Mermaid?

Halle Bailey, a 19-year-old rising star and one half of viral singing duo Chloe X Halle, has been cast as Ariel.

Halle was first noticed by Beyoncé, who spotted the two sisters’ song covers on YouTube and signed them both to her label Parkwood Entertainment.

“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance – plus a glorious singing voice – all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” director Rob Marshall said in a statement.

Chloe X Halle at 10th Annual DVF Awards. Picture: Getty

Melissa McCarthy is rumoured to be playing sea witch Ursula, while Awkwafina (Ocean’s 8) is in talks to play Ariel’s seagull friend, Scuttle.

Jacob Tremblay, who was named Best Young Actor at the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards for The Room, will play Flounder the fish. Prince Eric, Sebastian the Crab and King Triton are all yet to be announced.

What’s the soundtrack?

The Little Mermaid will include many of the best loved songs from the animation, including ‘Under the Sea’, ‘Kiss the Girl’ and ‘Part of your World’ by original composers Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

The remake will also feature new songs from Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda.

What’s the release date?

The Little Mermaid will start production in April 2020 and an official release date is yet to be announced, so we’ve still got a while to wait...

Nigel Kennedy - His Music and His Life

Nigel Kennedy

Violinist Nigel Kennedy’s unique talent and improvisational technique has done much to popularise classical music, particularly among young people.

Brighton-born Nigel Kennedy was a pupil at the Yehudi Menuhin School, tutored by the legendary Menuhin himself, and later at the Juilliard School under Dorothy DeLay.

Kennedy's career has taken him across four continents, performing with the world’s major orchestras and conductors and appearing at the most important classical festivals in Europe and the United States. 

Major debuts include his 1977 London Royal Festival Hall performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, with the Philharmonic under Riccardo Muti, his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1980 and his New York orchestral debut in 1987. 

When not touring, he divides his time between residences in Malvern, Worcestershire and Kraków, Poland with his wife and daughter. Kennedy is a supporter of the football club Aston Villa. 

Signed to EMI Classics, Nigel Kennedy's multi-award-winning discography is extensive. He has made two highly-acclaimed recordings of Elgar’s Violin Concerto; the first, with the London Philharmonic and Vernon Handley, achieved gold disc status, was voted 1985 Record of the Year by Gramophone magazine and was awarded Best Classical Album of the Year at the BPI Awards, selling in excess of 300,000 copies. 

Kennedy is notorious for the improvisatory elements in his performances, especially in his jazz and fusion recordings. He has recently been performing with Polish jazz band Kroke. 

Did you know? 
Nigel’s recordings of the Brahms and Beethoven violin concertos have each sold over 100,000 copies and his landmark recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling classical work of all time.

(C) ClassicFM London

Composer Sid Ramin dies aged 100

 – musical tributes pour in

3 July 2019

Sid Ramin, composer. Picture: Getty

By Helena Asprou, Classic FM

277

The Oscar-winning composer and adapter of on–screen musical West Side Story died of natural causes at his New York home on Monday.

Composer Sid Ramin on orchestrating ‘West Side Story’

Credit: New York Philharmonic

Legendary American composer, orchestrator and arranger Sid Ramin has died, aged 100, of natural causes at his home in New York.

He passed away on Monday 1 July after turning 100 earlier this year — and tributes have been pouring in.

Born on 22 January 1919, Ramin was best known for winning an Academy Award in 1961 for co-orchestrating the music to Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story.

The composer had teamed up with Bernstein and Irwin Kostal to re-work the music to the popular Broadway production for the big screen, also taking home a Grammy for the spectacular soundtrack album.

Fans in the musical world have taken to Twitter to share their condolences:

View image on Twitter

Leonard Bernstein

✔@LennyBernstein

We are deeply saddened by the passing (at the age of 100) of our beloved Sid Ramin, composer, arranger and orchestrator. He was a life-long friend of Leonard Bernstein and worked on the score for both the Broadway and film versions of West Side Story.

155

2:00 AM - Jul 3, 2019

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John Mauceri@maucerij1

Replying to @wclvnowplaying

SID Ramin has passed away at 100. He was at my side for out West Side Story Dances. Also the State Fair Overture and the Irving Berlin Patriotic Overture. He was a great man.

1

12:50 AM - Jul 3, 2019

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Rob Mathes@robmathesmusic

West Side Story and Candide, a million other things including the expansion of the WSS material into Symphonic Dances. An absolutely brilliant and peerless orchestrator!!! R.I.P. Sid Ramin!!!! https://twitter.com/lennybernstein/status/1146116328119570432 …

Leonard Bernstein

✔@LennyBernstein

We are deeply saddened by the passing (at the age of 100) of our beloved Sid Ramin, composer, arranger and orchestrator. He was a life-long friend of Leonard Bernstein and worked on the score for both the Broadway and film versions of West Side Story.

115

5:32 AM - Jul 3, 2019

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25 people are talking about this

Alongside his orchestration for West Side Story, Ramin’s work also included 'Smile, You're On Candid Camera' for US TV show Candid Camera and a musical collaboration with arranger Robert Ginzler on the 1959 musical, Gypsy.

He also penned the hit ‘Music to Watch Girls By’, which was released as an instrumental single in 1967.

Ramin married Gloria Breit, in January 1949, and they had a son, Ronald, who has followed in his father’s footsteps and now works as a composer for TV and film.

His other accolades include a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on the drama series, All My Children.

Andre Rieu replaces instruments ...

... stolen from disabled musicians: 

‘My heart broke’

Picture: Getty

By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London

5K

The Dutch violinist has vowed to reimburse an orchestra for the mentally disabled, whose trailer full of instruments was stolen in the early hours of Thursday morning.

André Rieu has pledged to replace 20,000 euros of musical instruments, which were stolen from an orchestra of musicians with mental disabilities.

The instruments, which belonged to the Haarlem brass band ‘Happy with Music’, were stolen in the early hours of Thursday 13 June, along with the band’s trailer.

The chairman of the band, Juria van der Lubbe, told Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf: “Seventeen years of work is in it. Sponsor promotions, the VriendenLoterij, the local Vomar. All these years they have contributed bit by bit to all instruments. That is gone in one fell swoop.”

After reading about their story, Dutch violinist and maestro André Rieu decided to step in.

He said: “My heart broke when I read on the Telegraaf website that this group of musicians had been robbed of all their instruments. I want them to be able to perform again very soon.

Van der Lubbe described the news as “fantastic” and “almost unbelievable”.

She told RTL Nieuws: “What a lovely man that he is going to do this for our brass band. I am completely confused.”

Last year, Rieu pledged 700 tons of steel towards the restoration of Notre-Dame, following the fire which devastated the 850-year-old cathedral in April.