RIP Eleanor Fazan

 Choreographer Eleanor Henta Fazan Dies at 93

Opera Wire

By Francisco Salazar

January 22, 2024

 

Famed choreographer Eleanor Henta Fazan died at the age of 93.

Born on May 29, 1930, Fazan was a Kenyan-born British actress and choreographer who trained in dancing with Sadler’s Wells Ballet and later joined the Arts Educational School.

Throughout her career, Fazan worked in cinema as a choreographer as well as actress where she appeared in “Oh! What a Lovely War,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Willow,” “Cold Comfort Farm,” “Mrs. Henderson Presents” and “Hot Fuzz.”

Fazan also worked in the opera world and made her debut in 1974 at the Royal Opera in a production of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” directed by Götz Friedrich. From there she would work with the London company and contributed to productions by Elijah Moshinsky, John Copley, Friedrich and John Schlesinger. Among the operas which she choreographed included “Peter Grimes,” “Lohengrin,” “The Rake’s Progress,” “Macbeth” “Otello,” “Attila,” “Elektra,” “Les Contes d’Hoffmann,” and “Der Rosenkavalier.” ‘

Fazan also made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1986 in a production of “Samson” and would also work on productions of “Otello.”

In 2013, Fazan was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 Queen’s New Year Honours List for her services to dance.

FAZAN, Eleanor (Eleanor Henta Fazan)

Born: 5/29/1930, Kenya

Died: 1/22/2024, U.K.

 

Eleanor Fazan’s western – choreographer:

Heaven’s Gate - 1980