Dale Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 From the company: Pennsylvania Ballet Presents ROMANCE AND REVELRY: A Tribute to Choreographer Jerome Robbins Program Features Fancy Free, The Concert and the Company Premiere of In the Night October 11 – 15 at the Academy of Music PHILADELPHIA, PA — Pennsylvania Ballet opens the 2006 – 2007 Season with Romance and Revelry from October 11 to 15 at the Academy of Music. The Company’s first-ever tribute to famed American choreographer Jerome Robbins includes the return of Fancy Free andThe Concert, and the Company Premiere of In the Night. Single tickets, priced $10 to $122, are available beginning Tuesday, September 12 by calling TicketPhiladelphia at 215-893-1999, or by clicking here. Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets by calling 215-551-7000, ext. 1212. Fancy Free is a playful piece which has three sailors on leave from World War II courting two beautiful girls on a hot summer night in New York City. The ballet was first presented by Ballet Theatre in 1944 and was Robbins’ first collaboration with Leonard Bernstein. A year later, the two joined forces again to expand Fancy Free into the hit Broadway musical, On the Town. The team then transformed that show into the movie of the same name, starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Pennsylvania Ballet presented the Company Premiere of Fancy Free in October 2003. Set to a selection of Chopin nocturnes, In the Night explores three stages of an amorous relationship — tender young love, a mature and balanced love, and fiery passion — in three extended pas de deux. Robbins drew continual inspiration from the music of Chopin and choreographed four ballets to the composer’s piano works. The others are The Concert (1956), Dances at a Gathering (1969) and Other Dances (1976). This is the Company Premiere of In the Night. The Concert is a riotous masterpiece created in 1956 which follows the actions and straying thoughts of audience members gathered to hear a Chopin piano concert. From the wide-eyed music fan to a pair of teenage gum chewers, and from a bored husband and his stern wife to an angry lady who just wants to hear the music, the production will delight audiences with its clever and witty take on classical music performances. Solo Pianist Martha Koeneman gets involved in the action, performing the Chopin score alongside the dancers with haughty gestures and funny antics! The Concert was first presented by Pennsylvania Ballet in April 2005. Christine Redpath, Ballet Mistress and former soloist of New York City Ballet and Trustee of the Jerome Robbins Trust, will stage In the Night for Pennsylvania Ballet. Jerome Robbins (1918-1998) received world renown as a choreographer of ballets created for the New York City Ballet, Ballets U.S.A., American Ballet Theatre and other international companies. He received equal acclaim for his work as a director of musicals and plays for Broadway as well as movies and television programs. His career as a gifted ballet dancer developed with Ballet Theatre where he danced with special distinction the role of Petrouchka, and choreographed his first work, Fancy Free. This ballet was followed by Interplay (1945) and Facsimile (1946), all of which were performed by Ballet Theatre. Robbins then embarked on an enormously successful career as a choreographer and later as a director of Broadway musicals and plays. In 1949, he joined New York City Ballet as Associate Artistic Director. For his own company, Ballets U.S.A. (1958 - 1962), he created N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz (1958), Moves (1959), andEvents (1961). During this extraordinary career, Robbins served on the National Council on the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts/Dance Panel. His numerous awards and academic honors included the Handel Medallion of the City of New York (1976), the Kennedy Center Honors (1981), three Honorary Doctorates, an honorary membership in the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1985), and the National Medal of the Arts (1988). Subscriptions are available by calling 215-893-1955 or online by clicking here. Full season subscription prices range from $92.50 to $447.80. For more information or to subscribe to Pennsylvania Ballet’s 2006 – 2007 Season, please call 215-893-1955 or order online! Founded in 1963 by George Balanchine student Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company’s annual local season features six productions of classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, The Nutcracker. For more information, call 215.551.7000. Romance and Revelry: An Evening of Dance by Jerome Robbins Fancy Free (Music: Leonard Bernstein) In the Night* (Music: Frederic Chopin) (*Company Premiere!) The Concert (Music: Frederic Chopin) Academy of Music Wednesday, October 11 at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 12 at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 14 at 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, October 15 at 2 p.m. The acquisition of In the Night was made possible in part by a grant from Dance Advance, a program of the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts. The acquisition and presentation of The Concert was made possible by the generosity of Gary J. and Kathy Z. Anderson and the William Penn Foundation. The acquisition and presentation of Fancy Free was made possible by a generous gift from Penny and Bob Fox. Pennsylvania Ballet’s 2006 – 2007 Season is generously supported by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. AND Pennsylvania Ballet Presents "An Evening of Audience Favorites" One Night Only! October 13 at 7:30 p.m. In Conjunction with Pennsylvania Ballet’s Annual Fall Gala PHILADELPHIA, PA — In conjunction with Pennsylvania Ballet’s annual fall gala, the Company presents “An Evening of Audience Favorites” on Friday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Music. This special one-hour presentation will highlight the talent and skill of Pennsylvania Ballet’s Principals and Soloists with a presentation of Jerome Robbins’ The Concert, George Balanchine’s Tarantella and excerpts from Apollo, and the pas de deux from Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote. Single tickets, priced $17 - $84, are available beginning September 12 by calling TicketPhiladelphia at 215-893-1999 or by clicking here. Pennsylvania Ballet subscribers can purchase tickets at a 10% discount off single ticket prices. Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets by calling 215-551-7000, ext. 1212. Pennsylvania Ballet celebrates the opening of the 2006 – 2007 Season with its Annual Fall Gala. The black tie affair begins with cocktails in the Academy of Music’s Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. followed by “An Evening of Audience Favorites,” then dinner and dancing at the Union League. Tickets range from $150 to $550 per person, and tables for 10 range from $1,500 to $5,500. For more information on the Gala, please call Barbara Vogdes at 215.551.7000, ext. 1209, or click here to send an e-mail. Founded in 1963 by George Balanchine student Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company’s annual local season features six productions of classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, The Nutcracker. For more information, call 215.551.7000 or visit www.paballet.org. An Evening of Audience Favorites Academy of Music Friday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. Single tickets, priced $17 - $84, are available beginning September 12 by calling TicketPhiladelphia at 215-893-1999 or by visiting www.paballet.org. Pennsylvania Ballet subscribers can purchase tickets at a 10% discount off single ticket prices. Groups of 10 or more can purchase discounted tickets by calling 215-551-7000, ext. 1212. Pennsylvania Ballet’s Fall Gala Academy of Music and the Philadelphia Union League Friday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. Guests will gather in the Academy of Music Ballroom for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before a short program highlighting the talent of Pennsylvania Ballet’s Principals and Soloists. Following the performance, you’ll stroll to The Union League for dinner and dancing. Janis and Steve Goodman and Patti and John Gattuso co-chair the event. Jill Asher, Fran Fattah, Erin and Frank Merz, and Greg Montanaro are co-chairs of the Gala Young Friends Committee. Tickets range from $150 to $550 per person, and tables for 10 range from $1,500 to $5,500. For more information on the Fall Gala, please contact Barbara Vogdes at 215.551.7000, ext. 1209, or e-mail bvogdes@paballet.org. The acquisition and presentation of The Concert was made possible by the generosity of Gary J. and Kathy Z. Anderson and the William Penn Foundation. Pennsylvania Ballet’s 2006 – 2007 Season is generously supported by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. CASTING: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. FANCY FREE Bartender Alexei Charov Sailors James Ady Philip Colucci Jonathan Stiles Passers-by Tara Keating Amy Aldridge Emily Waters IN THE NIGHT (Company Premiere) ARANTXA OCHOA RIOLAMA LORENZO JULIE DIANA and and and MAXIMILIEN BAUD JAMES IHDE JAMES ADY Pianist: MARTHA KOENEMAN THE CONCERT (OR, THE PERILS OF EVERYBODY) RIOLAMA LORENZO MAXIMILIEN BAUD HAWLEY ROWE THOMAS BALTRUSHUNAS, ALEXEI CHAROV, PHILIP COLUCCI, YOSBEL DELGADO, VALERIE AMISS, TARA KEATING, EMILY WATERS and Ashley Flood, Elysia Lichtine, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance, Gabriella Yudenich Ian Hussey, James Ihde, Jermel Johnson, Keith Mearns, Michael Patterson, Adam Rogers, André Vytoptov ------------ Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. FANCY FREE Bartender Alexei Charov Sailors James Ady Philip Colucci Jonathan Stiles Passers-by Tara Keating Amy Aldridge EmilyWaters IN THE NIGHT ARANTXA OCHOA RIOLAMA LORENZO JULIE DIANA and and and MAXIMILIEN BAUD JAMES IHDE JAMES ADY THE CONCERT RIOLAMA LORENZO MAXIMILIEN BAUD HAWLEY ROWE THOMAS BALTRUSHUNAS, ALEXEI CHAROV, PHILIP COLUCCI, YOSBEL DELGADO, VALERIE AMISS, TARA KEATING, EMILY WATERS and Ashley Flood, Elysia Lichtine, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance, Gabriella Yudenich Ian Hussey, James Ihde, Jermel Johnson, Keith Mearns, Michael Patterson, Adam Rogers, André Vytoptov Friday, October 13, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY pas de deux JULIE DIANA JAMES ADY TARANTELLA AMY ALDRIDGE ALEXANDER IZILIAEV APOLLO (Excerpts) Apollo ALEXEI BOROVIK Terpsichore MARTHA CHAMBERLAIN DON QUIXOTE pas de deux ARANTXA OCHOA ZACHARY HENCH THE CONCERT (OR, THE PERILS OF EVERYBODY) A Charade in One Act Choreography by Jerome Robbins Music by Frédéric Chopin Staged by Jean-Pierre Frohlich Decor by Saul Steinberg Costumes by Irene Sharaff Lighting by Jennifer Tipton Recreated by Les Dickert RIOLAMA LORENZO MAXIMILIEN BAUD HAWLEY ROWE THOMAS BALTRUSHUNAS, ALEXEI CHAROV, PHILIP COLUCCI, YOSBEL DELGADO, VALERIE AMISS, TARA KEATING, EMILY WATERS and Ashley Flood, Elysia Lichtine, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance, Gabriella Yudenich Ian Hussey, James Ihde, Jermel Johnson, Keith Mearns, Michael Patterson, Adam Rogers, André Vytoptov Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. FANCY FREE Bartender Alexei Charov Sailors James Ihde Francis Veyette Maximilien Baud Passers-by Barette Vance Riolama Lorenzo Emily Waters IN THE NIGHT ARANTXA OCHOA AMY ALDRIDGE RIOLAMA LORENZO and and and MAXIMILIEN BAUD ZACHARY HENCH FRANCIS VEYETTE THE CONCERT (OR, THE PERILS OF EVERYBODY) ARANTXA OCHOA JONATHAN STILES ALYSON PRAY THOMAS BALTRUSHUNAS, ALEXEI CHAROV,YOSBEL DELGADO,MATTHEW NEENAN, REBECCA AZENBERG, LAURA BOWMAN, ABIGAIL MENTZER and Victoria Gates, Elysia Lichtine, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance Ian Hussey, James Ihde, Jermel Johnson, Keith Mearns, Michael Patterson, Adam Rogers, André Vytoptov Pianist: MARTHA KOENEMAN Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. FANCY FREE Bartender Alexei Charov Sailors James Ady Philip Colucci Jonathan Stiles Passers-by Tara Keating Amy Aldridge EmilyWaters IN THE NIGHT ARANTXA OCHOA RIOLAMA LORENZO JULIE DIANA and and and MAXIMILIEN BAUD JAMES IHDE JAMES ADY THE CONCERT (OR, THE PERILS OF EVERYBODY) RIOLAMA LORENZO MAXIMILIEN BAUD HAWLEY ROWE THOMAS BALTRUSHUNAS, ALEXEI CHAROV, PHILIP COLUCCI, YOSBEL DELGADO, VALERIE AMISS, TARA KEATING, EMILY WATERS and Ashley Flood, Elysia Lichtine, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance, Gabriella Yudenich Ian Hussey, James Ihde, Jermel Johnson, Keith Mearns, Michael Patterson, Adam Rogers, André Vytoptov Pianist: MARTHA KOENEMAN Sunday, October 15, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. FANCY FREE Bartender Alexei Charov Sailors James Ihde Francis Veyette Maximilien Baud Passers-by Barette Vance Riolama Lorenzo Emily Waters IN THE NIGHT ARANTXA OCHOA AMY ALDRIDGE RIOLAMA LORENZO and and and MAXIMILIEN BAUD ZACHARY HENCH FRANCIS VEYETTE THE CONCERT (OR, THE PERILS OF EVERYBODY) ARANTXA OCHOA JONATHAN STILES ALYSON PRAY THOMAS BALTRUSHUNAS, ALEXEI CHAROV,YOSBEL DELGADO,MATTHEW NEENAN, REBECCA AZENBERG, LAURA BOWMAN, ABIGAIL MENTZER and Victoria Gates, Elysia Lichtine, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance Ian Hussey, James Ihde, Jermel Johnson, Keith Mearns, Michael Patterson, Adam Rogers, André Vytoptov Pianist: MARTHA KOENEMAN Link to comment
Petra Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 I saw the Sat night performance of Romance and Revelry. It was a wonderful evening. Besides Fancy Free, which I'd seen once before, this was the first time I'd seen Robbins' standalone ballet choreography. This is definitely the type of choreography that suits the PA Ballet dancers. They are great at 'character' ballets and roles. Aranxtcha Ochoa was the standout for me this evening, because usually I admire her without liking her. She has great technique and facility so she always gets cast in lead roles even though IMO she doesn't have the personality to carry them off. She was well-cast in this program - the first duet in "In the Night" and the girl with the hat (is this the ingenue role?) in The Concert, where you have to be OTT, and I enjoyed her performances. Fancy Free was lots of fun. In general, the audience laughed very appreciatively throughout Fancy Free and The Concert, even though the applause was rather subdued at the end of each ballet. I adored "In the Night" - the backdrop of a starry night, the beautiful costumes (except for the middle pair - brown with a military motif ) - a romantic sucker like me had to love it. Of course, it's much more than that, and I'll get to what I think about Robbins's choreography in a minute. The Concert was a blast - the corps de ballet section (is that the Minute Waltz?) was side-splitting funny. Jena-Pierre Frohlich set Fancy Free and The Concert. Christine Redpath set In the Night. Martha Kroeneman was the very energetic pianist, for In the Night and for The Concert. I'm awed by the way Robbins (throughout the program) combined the sublime with the ridiculous, the classical with the vernacular. It's something we've become used to in contemporary film and literature, but ballet is usually either/or. At a certain point along the spectrum, ballet usually loses its classical identity and becomes modern or contemporary. With these 3 ballets, that didn't happen for even a split second - no matter how slapstick or contextualized the ballet became. Anyone else go? Link to comment
socalgal Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 No, I did not go but I saw both Fancy Free and The Concert the last time PABallet danced them. They do a great job with Fancy Free and I just plain love The Concert every time I see it. (My DD was in the Mistake Waltz! The blonde.....) Link to comment
Natalia Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 I attended the October 13th Pa. Ballet gala and thoroughly enjoyed it. As the leggy vamp infatuated with Chopin's music, Riolama Lorenzo led a spirited performance of Robbins' 'The Concert.' The ballet offered many highlights, not least of which was the 'Mistake Waltz' danced with brilliant comic timing by the corps ladies. The pianist with the wide-brimmed hat -- Martha Koeneman -- really 'got into' her role more than any of the NYCB or Paris Opera pianists that I recall having seen in years past. I must confess that I've never been a great fan of this ballet but somehow enjoyed it more than ever before when performed by the Pa Ballet. [Maybe it was the glass of champagne from the pre-performance cocktail hour?] Alexei Borovik's farewell professional performance as 'Apollo' (solo and pas de deux with Terpsichore, Martha Chamberlain) was expansive and deeply moving. The audience cheered him to the rafters and threw roses for several minutes, during curtain calls. The other Balanchine on the gala program, 'Tarantella,' was infused with gusto and musicality from Amy Aldridge and Alexander Iziliaev. Iziliaev, in particular, knows how to milk an audience for all it's worth (in the best sense of the word); he would give Dancing with the Stars' Mario Lopez a run for his money in the energy department! The two Petipa excerpts did not fare quite as well as the rest of the program. The adagio of the 'Sleeping Beauty' pas de deux was rendered in overly-cautious manner by Julie Diana and James Ady. On the other hand, caution was thrown to the wind by Arantxa Ochoa and Zachary Hench in the 'Don Quixote' pas de deux -- they went for broke and, alas, 'broke' a bit too often during the performance. However, Ochoa's final set of fouettes was truly spiffy. Link to comment
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