Helene Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Peter Boal just tweeted: Violette, Mimi, Suzanne, Jacques and Edward all coaching PNB dancers for September revival of #jewels @PNBallet @McCawHall and: #Firstlook @PNBallet opening night benefit w/Guest of Honor @EdwardVillella just sold out. Invites haven't even dropped yet. #jewels #gopnb First Look info Link to comment
pherank Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Sounds great - I hope the coaching sessions are being filmed for posterity. I'm very glad to hear that 'Edward' is being given work. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 It does sound fantastic and tempting, too. I may just have to make a trip to see it. Link to comment
Dale Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 How wonderful to have the original Jewels dancers coach today's dancers in this! (Villella did this in Miami, too) I'd love to see these performances. Link to comment
sandik Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 We had Verdy and Paul here a few years ago, to work on Jewels, and there was a public session with some brief interviews -- here's hoping we get that again! Link to comment
sandik Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 And look what showed up in the email, just after I posted the wish above: Jewels Coaching Series (Studio Presentations) Diamonds, featuring Jacques d’Amboise Wednesday, August 20, 5:30 pm Emeralds, featuring Violette Verdy and Mimi Paul Thursday, September 11, 5:30 pm Rubies, featuring Edward Villella Monday, September 22, 5:30 pm Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has invited the original interpreters of George Balanchine’s Jewels to coach PNB dancers for the Company’s revival of the 1967 masterpiece. Join these esteemed artists in the studio for a series of coaching sessions on the iconic roles Balanchine made for them. Villella is also the guest for the dress rehearsal lecture/interview on September 25. Link to comment
pherank Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Anyone who can, should go. Not so suprisingly, no Farrell though. But I imagine she was invited too. Link to comment
emilienne Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 The studio presentations are now on their website as well, with tickets set at 25 USD. Given that I can probably only go to one of these presentations, which one would you recommend? (I hear brains exploding at the dilemma already.) Link to comment
sandik Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Well, Verdy and Paul have been here before, although I don't think they'll be working with any of the same cast they had previously, but nonetheless, I think they might be the furthest along just because they're familiar with the company. As far as a choice goes, though -- if it were me, I'd either choose the section I love the best, so that I'd love it even more, or the one I knew the least well, so I could learn more. Your mileage may vary... Link to comment
Helene Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 On the other hand, it's a public presentation, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Verdy back with Korbes. Just a guess. Here's a link to sandik's thoughts on the 2009 performance she saw, including information about Mimi Paul's coaching section: http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/28751-jewels-129-27/?p=241666 Also, kfw quoted part of a blog post by Peter Boal on Verdy's coaching; unfortunately, the domain was abandoned, and we only have the quote left: http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/28751-jewels-129-27/?p=242982 Doug Fullington posted about the stagers who came in 2006, when PNB first produced "Jewels:" http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/22427-jewels-podcast-casting-and-reviews/?p=182833 I posted a description of the Q&A in which Jonathan Porretta discussed how he learned the Villella role in "Rubies" and Peter Boal talked about Elyse Borne's work on the staging (scroll to "A few notes from the Q&A:"): http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/22427-jewels-podcast-casting-and-reviews/page-2?hl=jewels For the last PNB "Jewels" we only have a (now dead) link to the cast lists, but from the programs I have and the reviews on the 2009 Jewels thread, first, it was such a jolt to see how many dancers are no longer with the company -- Nadeau and Vinson in the Verdy role, Wevers in the Ludlow role, and Lallone and Stanton in the Paul and Moncion roles in "Emeralds;" Lowenberg, Vinson, Spell, Eames, and Thomas in the Pas de Trois -- along with about-to-be or by-then new mothers Kitchens and Foster -- Thomas, Eames, and Weese in the McBride role, Wevers amd Postlewaite in the Villella role, Lallone as Tall Girl, and Kerollis, Pacitti, Spell, Bartee, and Sar as the male corps in "Rubies;" Vinson, Milov, and Nakamura in "Diamonds", and corps members Brunson, Duge, Relic, Reshef, Stallman, Pankevitch, and Rollofson in other corps roles. Nakamura did the McBride role in 2006 and 2007, and Pantastico did the McBride role in 2007. The dancers who are still in the company and not on maternity leave (with the role in parentheses) are: Emeralds: Carla Korbes (Verdy), Karel Cruz (Moncion), Sarah Orza/Jerome Tisserand (Paul/Moncion couple), (fingers crossed) Maria Chapman (Paul), and Pas de Trois dancers Seth Orza, Sarah Orza, and Benjamin Griffiths. Rubies: Laura Gilbreath, Lindsi Dec, and Carrie Imler (Tall Girl), Jonathan Porretta (Villella), Eric Hipolito Jr. and Kiyon Gaines in the male corps Diamonds: Carla Korbes, Laura Gilbreath, and Carrie Imler (Farrell) and Batkhurel Bold and Seth Orza (d'Amboise) Link to comment
Helene Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 Here's the press release:“Simple and complex, thought-provoking and crowd-pleasing, deeply traditional and utterly modern, [an] affirmation of Balanchine’s genius.” – New York TimesSEATTLE, WA- Pacific Northwest Ballet raises the velvet curtain on its 2014-2015 season with George Balanchine’s Jewels ™. Costumed in emerald green, ruby red and luminous white, the trio of gems in Jewels pays tribute to golden ages of music and dance.Evoking the birthplace of Romantic ballet, Emeralds’ graceful clouds of tulle whisper French courtesy, fashion, and fragrance. A sassy, jazzy collaboration with composer Igor Stravinsky, Rubies mirrors the carefree spontaneity of America, Balanchine’s beloved adopted country. The splendor of Diamonds recalls the great choreographer’s heritage, so that “if the entre Imperial Russian inheritance of ballet were lost, Diamonds would still tell us of its essence” (Mary Clarke and Clement Crisp). Jewels runs from September 26 through October 5 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets and more information are available through the PNB Box Office, 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center, 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org.ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE Music:Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Peter Ilyich TchaikovskyChoreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine TrustStaging: Elyse BorneCostume Design: KarinskaLighting Design: Mark StanleyPremiere: April 13, 1967; New York City BalletPNB Premiere: June 1, 2006 (Rubies premiere: February 3, 1988)Emeraldsis a romantic evocation of France, the birthplace of classical ballet. It is also Balanchine’s comment of the French school of dancing and its rich heritage. With a score by Gabriel Fauré and dancers dressed in Romantic-length tutus, Emeralds can also be a window on the nostalgia inherent in much late 19th-century art, with its idealized view of the Middle Ages, chivalry, and courtly love. Balanchine considered Emeralds “an evocation of France – the France of elegance, comfort, dress and perfume.”Rubiesis considered the American jewel, with its Jazz Age score by Igor Stravinsky, stylized flapper costumes by Karinska, and Balanchine’s choreography in his sophisticated mode. A saucy leading couple plays and competes as equals, and a second, siren-like ballerina takes on the men of the corps de ballet, requiring all four of them to partner her at once.Diamonds is Balanchine’s homage to his native St. Petersburg. Echoes of Petipa’s Swan Lake and Raymonda abound, and the centerpiece of the ballet is an intimate pas de deux, potent in its chivalrous reserve, for the ballerina and her cavalier. At its end, the entire cast joins the principal couple for a gloriously spirited polonaise. PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s Jewels™ was made possible by Bob & Cynthia Benson and Peter & Peggy Horvitz. Media support for Jewels is provided by The Seattle Times and KOMO 4. Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2014-2015 Season is proudly sponsored by ArtsFund and Microsoft Corporation. Link to comment
Helene Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 Part two of the press release: SPECIAL EVENTSJEWELS COACHING SERIES (Studio Presentations)Diamonds, featuring Jacques d’Amboise: Wednesday, August 20, 5:30 pmEmeralds, featuring Violette Verdy and Mimi Paul: Thursday, September 11, 5:30 pmRubies, featuring Edward Villella: Monday, September 22, 5:30 pm PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal has invited the original interpreters of George Balanchine’s Jewels to coach PNB dancers for the Company’s revival of the 1967 masterpiece. Join these esteemed artists in the studio for a series of coaching sessions on the iconic roles Balanchine made for them.FRIDAY PREVIEWSFriday, September 19, 6:00pmThe Phelps Center, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle Join us for an hour-long preview led by Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB artistic staff, featuring PNB dancers rehearsing excerpts from Jewels™.PNB’s popular Friday Previews offer an up-close view of the Company preparing to put dance on stage. Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. (These events usually sell out.) Friday Previews are sponsored by U.S. Bank.BALLET PREVIEW — FREE Tuesday, September 23, 12:00 noonCentral Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle Join PNB for a free lunch-hour preview lecture at the Central Seattle Public Library. Education ProgramsManager Doug Fullington will offer insights about Jewels, complete with video excerpts. FREE of charge. PNB LECTURE SERIES & DRESS REHEARSALThursday, September 25, 20146:00 pm Lecture, Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall 7:00 pm Dress Rehearsal, McCaw Hall Join Artistic Director Peter Boal and special guest Edward Villella during the hour preceding the dress rehearsal to discuss PNB’s production ofJewels. Attend the lecture only or stay for the dress rehearsal. Tickets ($12 lecture; $30 lecture and dress rehearsal) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office.FIRST LOOK, PNB’s Opening GalaFriday, September 26, 4:30 pmMcCaw Hall Join PNB for the opening performance of its 2014-15 season with George Balanchine’s Jewels™, featuring Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds. Walk the emerald carpet at an exclusive cocktail party before being whisked backstage for an elegant black tie dinner. After the opening performance of Jewels, the party continues with a Rubies-inspired onstage after-party with music, entertainment, dancing, drinks, and desserts. Pre-performance dinner starts at $350 per guest (includes onstage after-party and valet parking). First Look after-party tickets start at $45 (performance tickets sold separately). HSBC is the Title Sponsor of First Look. Additional sponsors include The Boeing Company, Lane Powell, PJ Hummel & Co., and Seattle Met. To purchase tickets, contact Special Events at 206.441.2429 or events@PNB.org.Pre-Performance Lectures Join Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington for a 30-minute introduction to each performance, including discussions of choreography, music, history, design and the process of bringing Jewels to the stage. One hour before performances. FREE for ticketholders.Post-Performance Q&A Skip the post-show traffic and enjoy a Q&A with PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal and Company dancers, immediately following each performance in the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall. FREE for ticketholders. Link to comment
pherank Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 A recent email from PNB states, "PNB dancers Laura Tisserand and Karel Cruz, along with Peter Boal, traveled to Washington DC where Laura and Karel were coached by Suzanne Farrell in Diamonds. Laura, who first met Ms. Farrell as a 14-year-old ballet student, reflects on the experience on the PNB Blog. Read it here!" Link to comment
Drew Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for posting. She quotes Farrell saying "you have to be fascinating before you have even done anything..." That is certainly what Farrell herself was like... Link to comment
SandyMcKean Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 ......Laura and Karel were coached by Suzanne Farrell in Diamonds I wonder what Suzanne, or anyone else in the room, thought about Laura and Karel's height?? I'm pretty sure that they are the tallest male and female dancer in the entire PNB company.....and that's in a company known for its "tallness"! (I know Laura is; The only one who might be taller than Karel is Joshua Grant). Link to comment
Helene Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 PNB published some photos of the Jacques d'Amboise coaching session to it's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PNBallet/posts/10152420931428952 Edited to add: Peter Boal mentioned that he's headed to Mount Rainier to go hiking and camping. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 I'm posting the press release in three parts. First, a celebration With the opening of Jewels, Pacific Northwest Ballet kicks off a year-long celebration marking the 25th Anniversary of PNB’s renowned orchestra. Four programs during the 2014-15 season will feature specially-selected orchestral preludes selected by music director/principal conductor Emil de Cou. “Pacific Northwest Ballet’s orchestra has long been superior…and in Emil de Cou it probably has America’s finest ballet conductor.” (The New York Times) PROGRAM NOTESOrchestra Prelude (to Jewels)Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Finale from “Tema con variazioni,” Orchestral Suite No. 3 in G, Op. 55Running Time: Five minutes Link to comment
Helene Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Part two: September 26 & 27, October 2, 3, & 4 at 7:30pmSeptember 27 at 2:00pmOctober 5 at 1:00pm“[An] affirmation of Balanchine’s genius.” – The New York TimesSEATTLE, WA - Pacific Northwest Ballet sweeps onstage and into a spectacular new season arrayed in emerald green, ruby red, and luminous white. A triple-treat for both eyes and ears, the trio of gems in George Balanchine’s Jewels™ pay tribute to golden ages of music and dance: Emeralds’ graceful clouds of tulle whisper French fashion and fragrance; Rubies’ jazzy, sassy merger with Stravinsky mirrors the carefree candor of America; and Diamonds’ glittering splendor recalls the great choreographer’s heritage, so that “if the entire Imperial Russian inheritance of ballet were lost, Diamonds would still tell us of its essence” (Mary Clarke and Clement Crisp). Jewels runs from September 26 through October 5 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets and more information are available through the Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office, 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center, 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org.George Balanchine’s Jewels™Music: Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Peter Ilyich TchaikovskyChoreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine TrustStaging: Elyse Borne Emeralds: Fauré (from Pelléas et Melisande, 1898, and Shylock, 1889)Rubies: Stravinsky (Capriccio for piano and orchestra, 1929)Diamonds: Tchaikovsky (Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29, 1975, first movement omitted) Running Time: Emeralds: 31 minutes; Rubies: 22 minutes; Diamonds: 31 minutesAt its New York City Ballet premiere in 1967, Jewels was touted as the first “plotless full-length ballet.” The story goes that Balanchine was inspired to create the ballet after a visit to the New York jeweler Claude Arpels of Van Cleef and Arpels. While each of its three ballets may not follow any definitive narrative, like real gems themselves, each can be viewed in multiple ways and from a variety of angles. The great American dance critic, Arlene Croce, described Jewels as “unsurpassed as a Balanchine primer, incorporating in a single evening every important article of faith to which this choreographer subscribed and a burst of heresy, too.” Balanchine himself, in his typical noncommittal way, stated, “Of course, I have always liked jewels; after all, I am an Oriental, from Georgia in the Caucasus. I like the color of gems, the beauty of stones, and it was wonderful to see how our costume workshop, under Karinska’s direction, came so close to the quality of real stones (which were, of course, too heavy for the dancers to wear!).”Emeralds is a romantic evocation of France, the birthplace of classical ballet. It is also Balanchine’s comment of the French school of dancing and its rich heritage. With a score by Gabriel Fauré and dancers dressed in Romantic-length tutus, Emeralds can also be a window on the nostalgia inherent in much late 19th-century art, with its idealized view of the Middle Ages, chivalry, and courtly love. Balanchine considered Emeralds “an evocation of France – the France of elegance, comfort, dress and perfume.”Rubies is considered the American jewel, with its Jazz Age score by Igor Stravinsky, stylized flapper costumes by Karinska, and Balanchine choreography in his sophisticated mode. A saucy leading couple plays and competes as equals, and a second, siren-like ballerina takes on the men of the corps de ballet, requiring all four of them to partner her at once.Diamonds is Balanchine’s homage to his native St. Petersburg. Echoes of Petipa’s Swan Lake and Raymonda abound, and the centerpiece of the ballet is an intimate pas de deux, potent in its chivalrous reserve, for the ballerina and her cavalier. At its end, the entire cast joins the principal couple for a gloriously spirited polonaise.TICKET INFORMATION & DISCOUNT OFFERSTickets ($28-$179 advance) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office: Phone - 206.441.2424 (Mon.-Fri. 9am–6pm; Sat. 10am–5pm) In Person - 301 Mercer Street, Seattle (Mon.-Fri. 10am–6pm; Sat. 10am–5pm) Online - PNB.org (24/7) Tickets are also available (subject to availability) 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall, located at 321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center.Pacific Northwest Ballet’s performances of George Balanchine’s Jewels™ are made possible by Bob & Cynthia Benson and Peter & Peggy Horvitz, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, Neiman Marcus, and HSBC. Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2014-2015 Season is proudly sponsored by ArtsFund and Microsoft Corporation. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Part 3: SPECIAL EVENTSJEWELS LECTURE SERIESThe Phelps Center, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle Diamonds, featuring Jacques d’Amboise: Wednesday, August 20, 5:30 pm (past) Emeralds, featuring Violette Verdy and Mimi Paul: Thursday, September 11, 5:30 pm Rubies, featuring Edward Villella: Monday, September 22, 5:30 pm Join Pacific Northwest Ballet for a studio rehearsal and conversation with ballet legends and originators of roles in George Balanchine’s Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds including Jacques d’Amboise, Violette Verdy and Mimi Paul, and Edward Villella. Tickets are $25 for each event and can be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, online at PNB.org or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street. Space is limited. FRIDAY PREVIEWSFriday, September 19, 6:00pmThe Phelps Center, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle Join us for an hour-long preview led by Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB artistic staff, featuring PNB dancers rehearsing excerpts from Jewels. PNB’s popular Friday Previews offer an up-close view of the Company preparing to put dance on stage. Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. (These events usually sell out.) Friday Previews are sponsored by U.S. Bank. BALLET PREVIEW — FREETuesday, September 23, 12:00 noonCentral Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle Join PNB for a free lunch-hour preview lecture at the Central Seattle Public Library. Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington will offer insights about Jewels, complete with video excerpts. FREE of charge. PNB LECTURE SERIES & DRESS REHEARSALThursday, September 25, 20146:00 pm Lecture, Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall7:00 pm Dress Rehearsal, McCaw Hall Join Artistic Director Peter Boal and special guest Edward Villella during the hour preceding the dress rehearsal to discuss PNB’s production of Jewels. Attend the lecture only or stay for the dress rehearsal. Tickets ($12 lecture; $30 lecture and dress rehearsal) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. FIRST LOOK, PNB’s Opening Gala After-PartyFriday, September 26McCaw Hall Celebrate PNB’s 2014 season opening, and salute the 25th Anniversary of the PNB Orchestra, with a glamorous onstage after-party. Join PNB backstage as we celebrate with a sumptuous dessert buffet, hosted bar, and DJ entertainment. First Look after-party tickets start at $45. (Performance tickets sold separately. The First Look pre-show gala is sold out.) HSBC is the Title Sponsor of First Look. Additional sponsors include The Boeing Company, Lane Powell, PJ Hummel & Co., and Seattle Met. To purchase tickets, contact Special Events at 206.441.2429 or events@pnb.org. Pre-Performance LecturesNesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington for a 30-minute introduction to each performance, including discussions of choreography, music, history, design and the process of bringing ballet to the stage. One hour before performances. FREE for ticketholders. Post-Performance Q&ANesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Skip the post-show traffic and enjoy a Q&A with Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB dancers. Immediately following each performance. FREE for ticketholders. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 Here's the trailer: More old faces -- Nadeau, Milov, Stanton, Lallone, Thomas -- than current ones among the featured dancers in the footage, but, hopefully Maria Chapman will be back in time for the Walking PDD. Link to comment
sandik Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Thanks for the video, although it's kind of disconcerting to see clips from Emeralds and Rubies while listening to the score from Diamonds... However, right before the end of this video is that moment from Diamonds that d'Amboise was apparently working on in his recent coaching session, where the ballerina (Korbes here) runs downstage to her partner and looks like she's 'diving' forward -- as I understand it from talking with colleagues, d'A was very specific about the sense of reaching forward here. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 d'Amboise was also specific about the timing: that the ballerina reached up and forward towards something, and then was flipped over. The 2009 trailer used mostly different footage and the same casts, but set each section to music from that ballet. (There are some nice close-ups of Wevers.) The 2014 video is like the Dance in America vids, where the credits for all ballets in the video were set to one score. Link to comment
sandik Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Nice to see Milov as well. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 PNB posted a Throw Back Thursday video to Facebook yesterday from 2013, the 40th anniversary season, in which Carla Korbes talks about "Diamonds." In the video, she's first seen with Stanko Milov and then with Karel Cruz. From the coaching session with Jacques d'Amboise, she was partnered with Batkhurel Bold, and Cruz and Laura Tisserand went to DC for coaching with Suzanne Farrell, and the video references the stand-alone "Diamonds." https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152470860708952&permPage=1 Link to comment
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