Helene Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 From the press release: PNB Shines Bright like a Diamond with Season-Opener September 22 – October 1, 2017 Marion Oliver McCaw Hall 321 Mercer Street, Seattle Center Seattle, WA 98109 Performances: September 22 at 6:30 pm September 23 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm September 28 – 30 at 7:30 pm October 1 at 1:00 pm SEATTLE, WA – Pacific Northwest Ballet raises the curtain for its 45th season with Jewels, George Balanchine’s masterful homage to three golden ages of music and dance. Jewels celebrates its 50th anniversary adorned with new costume and scenic designs created for PNB by Jerome Kaplan (Roméo et Juliette, Cendrillon, Giselle, Don Quixote.) Emeralds whispers of grace, courtesy, and French perfume; Rubies sizzles with American sass; and Diamonds conjures the glittering magnificence of old St. Petersburg.Jewels runs for seven performances only, September 22 through October 1 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at $30. For more information, contact the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, in person at 301 Mercer Street, or online at PNB.org. ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE Music: Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Peter Ilyich TchaikovskyChoreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust Staging: Elyse Borne Scenic and Costume Design: Jerome Kaplan Premiere: April 13, 1967; New York City Ballet PNB Premiere: June 1, 2006 (Rubies premiere: February 3, 1988) 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, Emeraldscan 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, 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. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Part 2: SPECIAL EVENTS FRIDAY PREVIEW Friday, September 15, 5:00 pm The Phelps Center, 301 Mercer St., Seattle PNB’s popular Friday Previews are hour-long studio rehearsals hosted by Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB artistic staff, featuring Company dancers rehearsing excerpts from upcoming ballets. Tickets are $15. (Note: These events usually sell out in advance.) Friday Previews are sponsored by U.S. Bank. BALLET 101: The Business of Ballet Tuesday, September 19, 7:00 pm Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join Artistic Director Peter Boal and senior artistic and administrative staff for a discussion of PNB’s 2017-2018 season, including the business of ballet acquisition, commissioning, touring, and working with scenery, costumes, and music rights. This is the first of a four-part series exploring a range of topics, from ballet terminology, steps, and partnering, to casting, contemporary works, and the business of ballet. Tickets are $25 per two-hour session, or $75 subscription (four sessions for the price of three.) For more information, visit PNB.org. PNB CONVERSATIONS & DRESS REHEARSAL Thursday, September 21 Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join PNB Audience Education Manager Doug Fullington in conversation with designer Jerome Kaplan during the hour preceding the dress rehearsal. The conversation begins at 6:00 pm, followed by the dress rehearsal at 7:00 pm. Tickets ($30) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. FIRST LOOK GALA Friday, September 22, 2017 Celebrate the opening night of PNB’s 45th season with a glamorous cocktail party, an elegant backstage dinner, and a dance party onstage after the performance! Featuring special honored guest, Jerome Kaplan, creator of new scenic and costume designs for Jewels. For tickets and more info, call 206.441.2429 or visit PNB.org/FirstLook. (Performance tickets sold separately.) BALLET TALK Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall Join Audience Education 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. MEET THE ARTIST Nesholm 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. (No Q&A on Friday, September 22.) LISTEN TO THE BALLET PNB partners with Classical KING FM 98.1 to bring listeners some of history’s most popular ballet scores, featuring the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra direct from McCaw Hall. Tune in for a live broadcast of Jewels on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 pm. Only on KING FM, 98.1 fm or online at KING.org/listen. YOUNG PATRONS CIRCLE NIGHT Friday, September 29 Join members of PNB’s Young Patrons Circle (YPC) in an exclusive lounge for complimentary wine and coffee before the show and at intermission. YPC is PNB’s social and educational group for ballet patrons ages 21 through 39. YPC members save up to 40% off their tickets. For more information, visit PNB.org/YPC. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Part 3: Program Sponsors Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s Jewels is made possible by Patty Edwards. The 2017 PNB production of Emeralds is supported by Lynne E. Graybeal & Scott Harron. Principal support for the 2017 PNB production of Rubies is provided by Bob Benson, with additional support from Marcella McCaffray. Presenting support for the 2017 PNB production of Diamonds is provided by Patty Edwards, with additional support from Lyndall Boal and an anonymous donor. The works of George Balanchine performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet are made possible in part by The Louise Nadeau Endowed Fund. Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2017-2018 season is proudly sponsored by ArtsFund and Microsoft. Special thanks also to 4Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and The Wallace Foundation. PNB media sponsorship provided by The Seattle Times and KOMO 4. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Since I can't will the long daylight of summer not to end, I can't wait to see this! Link to comment
Helene Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share Posted August 26, 2017 A video with very short snippets of Elizabeth Murphy/William Lin Yee and Lindsi Dec in "Emeralds," Leta Biasucci/Jonathan Porretta, Laura Tisserand, and Jonathan Porretta in "Rubies," and Carla Korbes/Bathkhurel Bold in "Diamonds": Link to comment
sandik Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 Love that final flip over at the end of the Diamonds section! Link to comment
Helene Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 I missed this from last week: a photo from Jacques d'Amboise's coaching session, here with Leslie Rausch, during the last run of "Jewels": Link to comment
sandik Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Go ahead, remind me that I missed this session. Sigh. Link to comment
Helene Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share Posted August 30, 2017 #TiaraTuesday: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155173503713952&id=21358443951 Link to comment
SandyMcKean Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 (edited) PNB just posted on Facebook a wonderful 20+ minute video (Lindsey Thomas, of course) compling a number of clips taken in 2014 when 4 of the original Jewels cast members (Violette Verdy, Mimi Paul, Edward Villella and Jacques d’Amboise) came to Seattle to coach PNB dancers. (I presume this video has been published before, but I don't remember it all together like this.) This is a must see IMHO. Here is the direct YouTube link: Edited September 11, 2017 by SandyMcKean extra thought Link to comment
sandik Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Thanks for the You Tube link -- I'd watched it through Facebook, but that's hard to link with unless you're a subscriber. I loved seeing all the performers from the 2014 cast, not to mention the coaching excerpts. Link to comment
pherank Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Thanks for the link - that was fun. I would definitely want to be able to watch the entire documentary though - I hope that is coming soon. Link to comment
vipa Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Truely delightful and left me wishing for more. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 Casting is up for first weekend: https://www.pnb.org/season/17-18/jewels/ (Look under the "Performance" section) Lucien Postlewaite makes his return on Opening Night in "Emeralds," partnering Noelani Pantastico in her debut in the Verdy role. Here's the downloadable spreadsheet: Jewels Casting Week 1 12_Sep_17.xlsx Link to comment
sandik Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Well, no big surprises, but lots of debuts, which are always interesting. Glad to see Macy and Pasch getting a go at the tall girl in Rubies, and Dec and Cruz get an Emeralds together. Looking forward to the program -- going off to listen to the score again... Link to comment
Helene Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Designer Jerome Kaplan did an email interview with the "Queen Anne and Magnolia News," and there are photos of Madison Taylor in the "Emeralds" corps costumes and a longer shot of Madison Rayn in the "Diamonds" corps costumes: http://queenannenews.com/Content/On-the-Town/Out-About/Article/PNB-s-Jewels-to-shine-anew-for-years-to-come/3/3/39434 Link to comment
its the mom Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 On September 12, 2017 at 1:08 PM, Helene said: Casting is up for first weekend: https://www.pnb.org/season/17-18/jewels/ (Look under the "Performance" section) Lucien Postlewaite makes his return on Opening Night in "Emeralds," partnering Noelani Pantastico in her debut in the Verdy role. Here's the downloadable spreadsheet: Jewels Casting Week 1 12_Sep_17.xlsx Looking forward to hearing about Lucien and his return to PNB. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 More details on how the costumes were designed and made -- to Larae Hascall's shop -- and a lovely photo of the "Emeralds" bodice from an article by Moira Macdonald in "Seattle PI Times": http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/dance/pacific-northwest-ballets-jewels-gets-sparkling-new-costumes/ Link to comment
Helene Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 Casting for Week 2 should be coming shortly, but, in the meantime, Jonathan Porretta is out of Week 1 of Rubies; James Moore will dance both the matinee and evening performances, with Leta Biasucci and Angelica Generosa respectively. https://www.pnb.org/season/17-18/jewels/ Here's a link to the revised Week 1 spreadsheet: Jewels Casting Week 1 19_Sep_17.xlsx Here's a video with Jerome Kaplan with some footage of the costumes and images of his drawings. He also speaks about the differences between costume design and fashion, although "Twirl" spans both: Link to comment
Helene Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 Casting is up for second weekend: https://www.pnb.org/season/17-18/jewels/ Here is the link to the downloadable spreadsheet: Jewels Casting Weeks 1-2 21_Sep_17.xlsx There aren't any "*" indications of debuts, but there are new casts in second weekend: Emeralds Verdy couple: Leah Merchant (who danced with Steven Loch last time Emeralds was performed) and Joshua Grant (Thurs/Fri) Emeralds Paul couple: Emma Love Suddarth and Miles Pertl (Thurs/Fri) Emeralds Pas de Trois: Elle Macy, Madison Taylor, and Dylan Wald (Thurs/Fri) Rubies Tall Girl: Cecilia Iliesiu (Fri) Diamonds Couple: Sarah Ricard Orza and William Lin-Yee (Fri) Link to comment
seattle_dancer Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 I went to the dress rehearsal tonight and enjoyed Jewels more than any other time. The new production is so beautiful! The skirts in Emeralds and Diamonds have amazing movement quality. The colors/hues for Diamonds I found particularly fresh and current yet still based on tradition. I'm excited to see it up close this weekend! Link to comment
jsmu Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 On 9/21/2017 at 8:45 PM, Helene said: Rubies Tall Girl: Cecilia Iliesiu (Fri) Iliesiu was very good as the Tall Girl at Carolina Ballet--I imagine she will be even better now. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 I am so looking forward to seeing her in the role! Tonight, Saturday, September 23, at 7:30pm PDT/10:30pm EDT, KING FM radio will broadcast the audio for "Jewels": Link to comment
Helene Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 Some initial thoughts on opening night of "Jewels": I <3, <3, <3 ^1000th the costumes. I love that the bodices have a vertical ribbed "theme." The "Emeralds" (all) and "Diamonds" corp tutus have sweep and finesse, and the contrast between the brighter green tulle with the dark green in "Emeralds" bodices are a great visual match. My very favorite aspect is the skirts for the "Rubies" women: they move with the body, and avoid the flapping visual and audio delay of the originals. The "Diamonds" costumes have an unusual color palate: the ballerina's shorter, more conventional tutu, is bright white, while the tulle corps tutus have a lovely blush pink under layer, and the corps men's tunics have a silvery-irony cast to the gold, almost armor-like. From the first balcony, the tiaras and jeweled bodices were bands of sparkle, but I wouldn't have recognized the detailed work and darker jewels from the photos. The "Rubies" tunics for the men reminded me of "Grand Budapest Hotel," and the "Emeralds" men had a small skirt with nice drape. The "Emeralds" and "Rubies" tiaras couldn't be more contrasting, but each are equally stunning. The "Emeralds" principal tiaras are high and bold, and remind me of a Irish runes, medieval and Iseult-like, with some of the loft of the Siren's headdress in "Prodigal Son." I love their height and authority as a balance to the long skirts, and no one was impaled. The principal "Rubies" tiara, a band close to the head, was perfectly proportioned to the short "Rubies" dresses. "Diamonds" tiaras were the most classic, and again, had the magic balance to the costumes. Each set of headpieces was a match for the costume, instead of the standard attempt to find one common type across all ballets. Jerome Kaplan also tried to avoid having a common, one size approach to the sets, although there was at least one major common element from ballet to ballet. For "Emeralds," there were constellations of lights against the black background, with changes to the lights between movements. In "Rubies," he retained the dark floor and black background, but put a 3/4 narrowish white border on the floor on the sides and across upstage, with three stiff, widely spaced wing panels on the sides, and a narrow upper border of drops. I thought I had been transported to an abstraction of a Lincoln Center building. The border around the floor made it at once a boxing ring, a gymnastics mat, and a neighborhood with distinct boundaries. It was an easy, five-minute or so set change from "Emeralds" and "Rubies": the performance started at 6:30 and had a pause between the first two ballets instead of intermission: the gala dinner had to start at a reasonable hour. For "Diamonds" Kaplan added additional white wing panels, and the entire floor was white. The black backdrop was changed for a giant picture frame with a light background. I have that picture frame. Like most people, I've never lived in any place resembling Imperial Russia, and my picture frames reflect that. The lighting for "Emeralds" was evocative and was fully integrated with the set and costumes. From where I was sitting, in the far side section of the first balcony, "Rubies" lighting was fine in the center, while it was darker around the perimeter, where the corps spends a lot of time. From above in "Diamonds" there were pools of bright and dark strips between them, the sides were noticeably darker, and there were shadows everywhere, and not it a good way. Perhaps it looked better from the orchestra, but not from above. I'll have another looks from the front of that level this afternoon, but while I've seen some productions I've felt were underlit, particularly from above, this was the weakest lighting I can remember at PNB. The orchestra played beautifully -- live broadcast tonight on KING FM radio -- and kudos to Alan Dameron for his solo work in the Stravinsky. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 24, 2017 Author Share Posted September 24, 2017 Video clip of "Emeralds" -- end of penultimate movement, l-r: William Lin-Yee, Sarah Ricard Orza, Kyle Davis, Noelani Pantastico, Lucien Postlewaite Link to comment
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