Jayne Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I just received an email newsletter from OBT announcing their next season. Here is the weblink: http://www.obt.org/13-14/ a world premier by Interim AD Anne Mueller and former AD Christopher Stowell Revival of Bolero (Nicolo Fonte) Revival of The Lost Dance (Matjash Mrozewski) Revival of Midsummer Night's Dream (Christopher Stowell) Le Corsaire ppd Almost Mozart (James Kudelka) Liturgy (Christopher Wheeldon) Adin (Christopher Stowell / Rachmaninoff) In the Works - similar to PNB's educational series Return of Balanchine's Nutcracker Sounds like an exciting program! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I'm pleased to see that they're doing Stowell's Midsummer -- I haven't seen it yet. The Kudelka Mozart work is well worth a visit -- it's really interesting. I'm wondering, though, with the slimmed down roster, how they'll manage the Balanchine Nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 I wonder if they will hire free lancers for 2 month contracts to cover Nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Well, that would be one way to finesse it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 New Article from Portland Monthly, a Q&A with the new AD and current board vice-chair: http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/arts-and-entertainment/culturephile-portland-arts/articles/q-and-a-meet-obt-s-new-artistic-director-june-2013 This will confirm speculation that OBT won't be able to do some of the big story ballets (at least right away): Talk about moving forward within the budget constraints. How will it affect things like the company’s ability to do big story ballets?There’s no doubt about it that next year going to be lean. We’ve cut to the bone, which I think is a good advantage for me coming in because we’re going to be able to grow organically. But at the same time, we’ll never lose sight of the fact that part of our obligation is to delight and entertain the audience, so we’re going to be telling stories. We’re not going to be able to put on Sleeping Beauty next year, but it is in our future and we’re going to get there. More information on staffing changes (lucky SFB!) What about the size of the company? Will you be shrinking it?At the end of this year there were four dancers who elected to leave, and two are retiring. I believe that had a lot to do with uncertainty—they had to decide in January or February whether to stay on, and sadly they’re leaving. The decision was made to not replace them for now. The company has shrunk in size; we’re down from 25 or 26 to 20. Lucas Threefoot is going to Ballet de Monte Carlo. He’ll be very successful, but he’s a hometown boy, so he might come back. Grace Shibley and Julia Rowe are going to the San Francisco Ballet. And Javier [ubell] is going to Staat Ballet Munchen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I'm sorry to see those dancers leave, in part because I've enjoyed their work, and in part because they've been integral to the identity of the company and it sounds like the new artistic director is trying to keep a certain continuity going. Some of the best work I've seen from OBT has been in small cast, mixed rep programs. I love Sleeping Beauty, but I don't think it's a real hardship to spend the year doing mostly mixed rep. Why does he imply that you can only tell a story in a three-act ballet, for goodness' sake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalia Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Too bad about ALMOST MOZART, which was very odd/not well received at the Kennedy Center. I would dearly love to see those talented dancers -- especially Alison Roper -- in more felicitous ballets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 I liked Almost Mozart a great deal when it was premiered -- Kudelka did some very exciting things with ballet technique in the work. Contemporary choreographers often use the amplitude and power of ballet dancers without really engaging their inherited vocabulary -- I felt Kudelka understood that world and was trying to expand it, rather than just tagging along. Yes, it is far from a conventional work, which might have made it a questionable choice for a showcase like Ballet Across America, but it was a very good addition to their repertory. Alison Roper is indeed a beautiful dancer -- it's been a pleasure to watch her development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 Given the sudden hire, I would not be surprised if there are sudden changes to the rep for the 2013 / 2014 season. So Natalia's sentiments may come to pass. I am looking forward to the opportunity to see more of Mr. Fonte's work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 I saw an update on the 2013/2014 schedule - looks like part of my prediction is coming true: http://dance.broadwayworld.com/article/Oregon-Ballet-Theatre-Announces-2013-14-Season-20130814 October: Nacho Duato's work "Por Vos Muero" to be paired with MidSummer Night's Dream April: Helen Pickett of Atlanta Ballet will stage "Petal" with Nacho Duato's "Cor Perdut" Artur Sulvanov will come out of retirement to dance Nicolo Fonte's "Bolero" Kudelka's "Almost Mozart" stays in the program (alas, Natalia!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 And this will be Alison Roper's last season with the company -- alas for us all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts