12 replies to this topic

[sandik]

Ok, I looked back at the thread for the 12-13 season, and the company made their announcement at the end of February.  That's still a week away, so while we're waiting, anyone feel like speculating about what we might get to see next year?

I don't think this will show up in the next season, but I was struck by Boal's comment in his interview with Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn about his interest in La Bayadere  "I think doing La Bayadère would interest me. It really depends on the notation and how complete it is."  Aside from my general interest in the prospect of a Bayadere I could take the bus to see, rather than an airplane, I was thrilled with the reference to notation -- the Stepanov notation is such a valuable resource and I'm so glad to see it recognized!

[Jayne]

Seattle Times has a new story on the 2013/2014 season:  
http://blogs.seattle...prmid=head_main


highlights:

• World premiere ballet (currently untitled) by Twyla Tharp, who’s in residence at the company for several months this year, and which will be showcased in an all-Tharp program to open the season in September. That rep would also include the return of Tharp audience favorite “Nine Sinatra Songs” and a PNB Tharp premiere, “Brief Fling.”
  
• World premiere from Alejandro Cerrudo (currently resident choreographer at Chicago’s Hubbard Street Dance)
  
• Local premieres from Jiri Kylian (“Forgotten Land”) and Crystal Pite (“Emergence”).
  
• Repeat of “Giselle,” new to the company last year, will return with new costumes by Jerome Kaplan (“Romeo et Juliette”)
  
• Repeat of “Midsummer Night’s Dream,”
  
• Repeat of Ronald Hynd’s “Sleeping Beauty”
  
• Kent Stowell’s perennial “Nutcracker”

​I like most of it, but I think they are reviving Midsummer too soon.  I'd rather see something else.  I'd much rather see a triptych of Balanchine short stories:  Sonnambula, Slaughter and Prodigal Son (all in the PNB rep).  Alternatively, I'd love to see PNB bring in guest dancers from OBT and put on Vienna Waltzes (which requires 55 dancers, PNB has about 45 currently).  I think that would be a great Valentines program, and the OBT dancers are looking at reduced contract weeks, and this would be win/win for everyone.

I'm more interested in seeing more David Dawson and Kiyon Gaines than some of the others.  But that's just me.  

[Helene]

I like both of your ideas.  I'd also love to see "Jewels" again, the sooner the better.

If I remember correctly, the Cerrudo is tied to a grant.  Tharp will be in residence with the company again; hence the premiere.

National Ballet of Toronto Canada brought Crystal Pite's "Emergence" to Vancouver last season on its "Western" tour, along with Forsythe's "the second detail," Robbins' "Other Dances," and Kudelka's "The Man in Black."  The last work, created for BalletMet in 2010, was fun, and while the men were strong in the Forsythe, which was created for the company in 1991, the work that brought the company to life was "Emergence," also choreographed for NBoC (in 2009).  The corps is the focus.  At first, I was afraid it was going to become a dance version of a Hollywood movie where the earthlings fight the aliens in little ships that look like insects, but it morphed into something far more interesting about groups and social dynamics.  It has a spectacular hive image in it; it gives me chills just thinking about it.  It's not Dawson, but the Dawson didn't use the whole company, and "Emergence" will stretch the male and female corps equally and has lots of energy.

I hope the re-staging of "Giselle" retains the original material (and even puts back some of it in) and doesn't become a watered-down version.  Jerome Kaplan is a wonderful designer: he did the costumes for the Ratmansky "Don Q" we saw last year, as well as for "Romeo et Juliette."

[sandik]

I'm not holding my breath for parts of this schedule -- they're still in the middle of budget setting, and that process will likely make things shift around, but there are several exciting things here.  I'm very glad to see Giselle returning, and I think that Kaplan's designs will be quite distinctive.  I think that the new-to-us Kylian will go quite well here, and I'm very curious to see this work of Pite's.  We got to see her work on her own dancers and on Cedar Lake this year, but I'm not sure how many people from the PNB audience made their way to On the Boards or Meany Hall, so she will be a new experience for some of them.

I've got a bunch of YouTube links to Cerrudo's work, but haven't really watched in depth yet.

I actually saw Brief Fling, at ABT a bunch of years ago -- I think it could be a very handsome ballet for the company, and I remember the score being very danceable.

I'm always excited to see Sleeping Beauty and Midsummer, but I do wish we could have Jewels in its entirety.  Yes, they're doing Diamonds later this spring, but that shouldn't keep us from the full-meal-deal...  And Jayne, the Balanchine triple bill you suggest is really exciting!

[Helene]

There's a very short clip of an excerpt from "Emergence" on YouTube, but sadly it focuses on a solo:



Maria Kochetkova just tweeted a link to a work made is making for Netherlands Dans Theater, and I think it gives a better indication of the types of group images and formations Pite makes in her work:

[sandik]

Those are both quite beautiful -- this should be really fun!

[sandik]

Peter Boal officially announced the next season during this afternoon's performance.  There really aren't any big changes from the Seattle Times blog posting, but we've got some dates as well as content:

September 27 - October 6: all Tharp (Brief Fling, Nine Sinatra Songs, new work to Alan Toussaint)
Rep 2: November 8 - 17: Kylian (Petit Mort, Sech Tanze, Forgotten Land) and Crystal Pite’s Emergence
Nutcracker: December 5 - 28
January 31 - February 9: Sleeping Beauty
March 14 - 23: Take 5, Kiss, State of Darkness, new Alejandro Cerrudo
April 11 - 19: Midsummer Night's Dream
May 30 - June 8: Giselle (new sets/costumes by Jerome Kaplan)

As always -- this is subject to change!

[Jayne]

I'm looking forward to the seaso n, although I would prefer a different story ballet in April.  I don't hate MSND by any consideration, but I've seen it often and long for something new in the long-form story category.  This season will be full of ballets that showcase Kaori Nakamura.  As sad as I am to type it, don't be surprised if she retires after Giselle.

[Helene]

I'm sad tat thre's no "Jewels."

[sandik]

Helene, on 17 March 2013 - 12:08 AM, said:

I'm sad tat thre's no "Jewels."

I agree -- I would love to see that come back soon.  And Dances at a Gathering.

[Helene]

sandik, on 17 March 2013 - 12:04 PM, said:

I agree -- I would love to see that come back soon.  And Dances at a Gathering.

Oh, yes!

It's as if PNB has decided that mixed programs aren't going to sell no matter what's in them and that a mixture of neoclassical, classical, and contemporary doesn't please anyone, so the company might as well cede to modern/contemporary dance for them.

Jayne, on 16 March 2013 - 06:25 PM, said:

This season will be full of ballets that showcase Kaori Nakamura.  As sad as I am to type it, don't be surprised if she retires after Giselle.

I'm hoping that Boal was serious when he mentioned "La Bayadere" and that Doug Fullington can find enough notation for the company to stage it.  Nakamura was breathtaking in the notated white act Pas de Deux in lecture-demos -- I think she and Postlewaite may have done it in two different presentations -- and that would be a great way for her to retire from the rep, followed by Encores, plus it give us more time.

[sandik]

Helene, on 17 March 2013 - 12:13 PM, said:

It's as if PNB has decided that mixed programs aren't going to sell no matter what's in them and that a mixture of neoclassical, classical, and contemporary doesn't please anyone, so the company might as well cede to modern/contemporary dance for them.

It's difficult to follow along with the reasoning sometimes.  The program on now has a good combination of styles, and the comments I overheard in the lobby were very positive.  The all-premiere mixed rep last autumn was pretty much half and half contemporary and neo-classical, but since Boal says he doesn't really give choreographers any guidelines it sounds like that was a happy accident.  And the season closer is two Balanchines and a new Wheeldon.  But next year's mixed reps lean very clearly to modern and contemporary work (I know what I mean when I make that distinction, but I have a feeling that might be a good topic for another thread...)  I know there are a million elements that go into programming, but I wonder sometimes what the main factors are when I see that particular collection of works.

[Helene]

The press release for the 2013-14 season was just published:

SEATTLE, WA -- Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced the confirmed line-up for Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season.  Highlights include a program devoted to the works of PNB's first artist-in-residence, Twyla Tharp, including a new work featuring an original score by New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint; the return of popular works by Jiri Kylian, Susan Stroman, Molissa Fenley, and Susan Marshall; a world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, Resident Choreographer at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; a PNB premiere by Crystal Pite; and audience favorites The Sleeping Beauty and A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The season closes with PNB's acclaimed staging of Giselle featuring new sets and costumes by Jerome Kaplan (Romeo et Juliette, Don Quixote)

PNB opens its box office for ticket sales on Monday, July 15. As is its tradition, PNB is offering a special two-week money-saving deal: Pay no service fees on tickets purchased from July 15 thru 31. (Or, don't wait, and save even more by purchasing a season subscription now!)  Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased through the PNB Box Office, either by phone (206.441.2424), online (pnb.org) or in person at 301 Mercer Street. Discounted subscription rates are available for senior citizens and students with ID. All programming and dates are subject to change.  For more information, visit pnb.org.

2012-2013 SEASON LINE-UP:

Twyla Tharp Lecture-Demonstration
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Call the PNB Box Office for details.)
A special presentation featuring PNB's artist-in-residence, Twyla Tharp.


Rep 1 -- A.I.R. THARP
September 27 -- October 6, 2013

Brief Fling (PNB Premiere)
Music: Michel Colombier and Percy Grainger
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Original Costume Design: Isaac Mizrahi
Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton            

World Premiere
Music: Allen Toussaint
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Costume Design: Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls

Nine Sinatra Songs
Music: Songs sung by Frank Sinatra
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Original Scenic Design: Santo Loquasto
Original Costume Design: Oscar de la Renta
Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton


Rep 2 -- KYLIAN + PITE
November 8 -- 17, 2013

Petite Mort
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Choreography: Jiri Kylian
Scenic Design: Jiri Kylian
Costume Design: Joke Visser
Lighting Design: Joop Caboort                          

Sechs Tanze (Six Dances)
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Choreography: Jiri Kylian
Scenic and Costume Design: Jiri Kylian
Lighting Design: Joop Caboort

Forgotten Land (PNB Premiere)
Music: Benjamin Britten
Choreography: Jiri Kylian
Lighting Design: Joop Caboort
Lighting Re-Design: Kees Tjebbes

Emergence (PNB Premiere)
Music: Owen Belton
Choreography: Crystal Pite
Original Costume Design: Linda Chow
Original Scenic Design: Jay Gower Taylor
Lighting Design: Alan Brodie                              


Stowell & Sendak NUTCRACKER
November 30 - December 29, 2013
(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Call the PNB Box Office for details.)

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Kent Stowell
Scenic & Costume Design: Maurice Sendak
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli


Rep 3 -- THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
January 31 - February 9, 2014

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Ronald Hynd (after Marius Petipa)
Scenic and Costume Design: Peter Docherty
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli


Rep 4 -- DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
March 14 -- 23, 2014

TAKE FIVE...More or Less
Music: Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond
Choreography: Susan Stroman
Costume Design: William Ivey Long
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Kiss
Music: Arvo Part
Choreography: Susan Marshall
Original Lighting Design: Mitchell Bogard
Lighting Design: Peter Bracilano
Original Harnesses and Rigging Design: John Redman

State of Darkness
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: Molissa Fenley
Staging: Peter Boal
Lighting Design: David Moodey

World Premiere
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Costume Design: Mark Zappone
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

The world premiere of Alejandro Cerrudo's new work was created with the support of a Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance, awarded by The Joyce Theatre with major funding from the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation.


PINOCCHIO
March 16 -- 22, 2014
(Part of PNB's Family Matinees subscription package. Call the PNB Box Office for details.)

Music: Nicola Piovani and Amilcare Ponchielli
Choreography: Bruce Wells
Scenic Design: Edith Whitsett
Costume Design: Pacific Northwest Ballet Costume Shop
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

This narrated, hour-long performance is danced by students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and is the perfect opportunity to introduce young children to the magic of live performance.


Rep 5 -- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
April 11 -- 19, 2014


[indent=1]Music: Felix Mendelssohn
Choreography: George Balanchine [copyright] The George Balanchine Trust                            
Staging: Francia Russell
Scenic and Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli


REP 6 -- GISELLE
May 30 -- June 8, 2014

Libretto: Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Theophile Gautier
Music: Adolphe Adam, with additional music by Friedrich Burgmuller, Ludwig Minkus, and Cesare Pugni
Choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa
Staging: Peter Boal
Choreography Reconstruction: Doug Fullington
Historical Advisor: Marian Smith
Scenic and Costume Design: Jerome Kaplan
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli


SEASON ENCORE PERFORMANCE
Sunday, June 8, 2014
(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Tickets to this event go on sale in 2014.)

NEXT STEP
Friday, June 13, 2014
(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Tickets to this event go on sale in 2014.)

33rd Annual PNB School Performance
Saturday, June 14, 2014
(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Tickets to this event go on sale in 2014.)


PNB ON TOUR
(Tickets not available through the PNB Box Office.)

July 28 - 30, 2013
Vail International Dance Festival (July 25 - 31, 2013)
Vail, CO

February 23 -- 24, 2014
Works & Process -- Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY