City Ballet of San Diego, under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, continues its role as the major presenter in Southern California of works by one of the greatest choreographers in dance history, the legendary George Balanchine, and now has added ballets by Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins with “Balanchine and Beyond” March 10-12, 2017 at Spreckels Theatre.
These historic ballets by New York City Ballet icons Founding Artistic Director George Balanchine, Co-Artistic Director Jerome Robbins (with George Balanchine, until his death) and current Artistic Director Peter Martins will be performed to live music performed by The City Ballet Orchestra with John Nettles conducting: George Balanchine’s “La Source” (choreographed in 1965) with music by Leo Delibes and “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux” (choreographed in 1960) with music by Peter Tchaikovsky, Jerome Robbins’ “Afternoon of a Faun” (choreographed in 1953) with music by Claude Debussy and Peter Martins’ “Hallelujah Junction” (choreographed in 2001) with music by John Adams.
The critically acclaimed City Ballet of San Diego, under the direction of Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, both former Boston Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet dancers, is known for its commitment to presenting ballets by the legendary George Balanchine. As a company, City Ballet has a strong connection with George Balanchine. Artistic Director Steven Wistrich was coached by “Mr. B” in the 1970s, and the company is one of a few around the country granted permission by The George Balanchine Trust to present the master’s works. This season the company presents a milestone production with not only ballets by George Balanchine but adding ballets by New York City Ballet icons Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins. This is the first time ballets by Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins have been performed by a local ballet company in San Diego. Former New York City Ballet principal dancers Eve Lawson, Rebecca Hirsch and Nilas Martins (son of New York City Ballet Artistic Director Peter Martins) came to San Diego to stage these ballets for the City Ballet company members to ensure the works are performed the way they are performed by the New York City Ballet.
“We are so honored and proud that City Ballet has been granted permission from The George Balanchine Trust, the Jerome Robbins Trust and New York City Ballet to perform these wonderful ballets by these great artists of New York City Ballet. Instead of traveling to New York City to see such a production, audiences can see it right here in San Diego by a local company. This is a huge accomplishment and should not be missed,” states Artistic Director Steven Wistrich.
THE PROGRAM
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, with two 15-minute intermissions
La Source
Music by Leo Delibes * Choreography by George Balanchine * Staged by Eve Lawson
George Balanchine’s high regard for Leo Delibes led him to choreograph a pas de deux from ‘Sylvia’ in 1960 which he then expanded into a divertissement in 1965. The lovely, eye-catching and imaginative, classical version of “La Source” uses music from two of Leo Delibes ballets, ‘Naila’ and ‘Sylvia’, and includes parts of the earlier pas de deux and divertissement.
Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Music by Peter Tchaikovsky * Choreography by George Balanchine * Staged by Eve Lawson
When Tchaikovsky composed his ballet ‘Swan Lake’ some of the music did not fit in with the plans of Marius Petipa, his choreographer, and was discarded. When George Balanchine learned that this music had been discovered in the Bolshoi Theater’s archives, he was very interested in hearing it. In 1960, Balanchine created this famous pas de deux for the New York City Ballet using this previously unknown music. It is a classical, virtuoso display piece for two principal dancers that challenge their technique and artistry and never fails to electrify the audience.
Afternoon of a Faun
San Diego Premiere
Music by Claude Debussy * Choreography by Jerome Robbins * Staged by Rebecca Hirsch
With music by Claude Debussy, the great American choreographer Jerome Robbins created this iconic pas de deux for the New York City Ballet in 1953. As Co-Artistic Director with George Balanchine, Mr. Robbins created many ballets for New York City Ballet. But he is also known for choreographing many Broadway musicals, most notably the Broadway version and Academy Award winner movie of West Side Story. With Afternoon of a Faun, Mr. Robbins has created a contemporary, mesmerizing pas de deux that is danced by great ballet companies all over the world. The scene is a room with a mirror, very much like a modern ballet studio, with one wall a mirror that the dancers can watch themselves. The mirror wall is an imaginary wall toward the audience, so that the dancers stare out as they are really looking at their own reflections.
Hallelujah Junction
Company Premiere
Music by John Adams * Choreography by Peter Martins * Staged by Nilas Martins
Peter Martins, Artistic Director of the New York City Ballet, has set his high energy ballet to a score by John Adams. The music was written for two pianos and named after a small truck stop near the California-Nevada border. The propulsive vitality of the work centers on delayed repetition between the two pianos, creating an effect of echoing sonorities. The main rhythms are based on the rhythms of the word ‘hal – le- lu – jah.” The ballet was originally created for the Royal Danish Ballet and currently is danced by New York City Ballet. The ballet is like a living locomotive of energy and innovation. This ballet is the first Peter Martins’ ballet for City Ballet of San Diego.
Programming, musical selections, and artists are subject to change without notice.
PERFORMANCES
Friday, March 10 at 8:00pm
Saturday, March 11 at 8:00pm
Sunday, March 12 at 2:00pm
VENUE
Spreckels Theatre
121 Broadway, Downtown San Diego
TICKETS
Tickets are $29-$82. Students, Seniors and Military can purchase discounted tickets of $5 off regular price.
PRE-CONCERT LECTURES
Prior to each performance is a free pre-concert lecture for ticket holders with Artistic Director Steven Wistrich.
Tickets and information: (858) 272-8663 www.cityballet.org
