The Australian Ballet: Concord

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A journey to the centre of modern ballet

From Russia, England and Spain, Concord gathers three of the most exciting choreographers working in ballet today: Alexei Ratmansky, Wayne McGregor, and Nacho Duato.

Working across dance, visual arts, and film, Wayne McGregor is known for his daring musical commissions and electrifying choreographic voice. Driven by ideas of exploration and discovery, his new work for The Australian Ballet - Dyad 1929 - will see McGregor forge movement, music and design into a perfect whole.

St Petersburg's Alexei Ratmansky was just 35 when he was appointed Director of the Bolshoi Ballet, credited with bringing the famed company to the forefront of ballet once again. The Australian Ballet has been lucky enough to snare him for one of his first solo commissions. Ratmansky will bring his deft comedic touch to a new production of Scuola di ballo (The school of ballet), where the high drama of the ballet studio threatens to eclipse the dancing, and talent is no match for nepotism.

Completing the bill is Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato's Por vos muero, a ballet Dance Australia called "totally absorbing, ravishingly beautiful" and "deeply affecting".

Concord is a coup: two world premiere works from arguably the world's most in-demand choreographers, plus the welcome return to the Australian stage of a much-loved ballet.

"Rich, enigmatic and endlessly fascinating choreography ... A cast so good you won't know where to look" Herald Sun

"Beautifully executed, stylistically diverse"
The Australian

Credits

Dyad 1929

Choreography Wayne McGregor

Music Steve Reich's Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet

Stage concept Wayne McGregor and Lucy Carter

Costume design Moritz Junge

Lighting design Lucy Carter

Scuola di ballo

Choreography Alexei Ratmansky

Music Luigi Boccherini arranged by Jean Francaix

Costume and set design Hugh Colman

Lighting design Rachel Burke

Por vos muero

Choreography Nacho Duato

Music Spanish old music - XV and XVI centuries - (Cancons de la Catalunya millenaria-El mestre, popular of Catalonia by La Capella Reial de Catalunya, directed by Jordi Savall; Canciones y Danzas de Espana and Espana, Antologia de la Musica Espanola)

Set design Nacho Duato

Costume design Nacho Duato (in co-operation with Ismael Aznar)

Lighting design Nicolas Fischtel

Text Garcilaso de la Vega

Staging Kim McCarthy

SUPPORTED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET ENDOWMENT
Supported by The Dame Peggy van Praahg Fund for choreography
and The Maina Gielgud Fund

Melbourne: performed with Orchestra Victoria

Sydney: performed with The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra

This performance runs for approximately 125 minutes with two intervals

Por vos muero

Nacho Duato was inspired by the Spanish music of the 15th and 16th centuries and by some of the most beautiful verses of the Spanish poet Garcilaso de la Vega. Together, the music and poetry connect the contemporary dance of Por vos muero to Duato's historic reference.

In the 15th and 16th centuries dance formed an important part of the cultural expression of people, from all social hierarchies, and therefore produced an honest reflection of the culture of that time. Por vos muero pays tribute to the importance the role of dance played in every sort of social event during those ancient times.

Dyad 1929

To celebrate the centenary of the magnificent Ballets Russes, I have embarked upon generating a diptych: two contrasting yet complementary ideas produced on two sides of the world - Dyad 1909 (London) and Dyad 1929 (Melbourne).

The maverick impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev, had a creative vision that served to challenge the social norms of the day. His work seduced the rest of the world with productions that not only redefined ballet but set a fresh agenda for the process of art. The Ballets Russes was very much a product of its time. From a scientific, social, political and technological perspective, the period of 1909 - 1929 was rich with discovery and experimentation; the world was changing and fast.

For this Dyad diptych, I have been inspired by a fascinating example of the period's rapid evolution, illustrated brilliantly in their pre-occupation of Antarctica. In January 1909, the Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton embarked upon his seminal Antarctic expedition, the Nimrod. He was the first to successfully reach the magnetic South Pole. By 1929, aviator Richard Evelyn Byrd - the pioneering American polar explorer - was the first to actually fly over the South Pole in a Ford Trimotor. In a mere 20 years the technological revolution had given man the enduring power of flight and with it a renewed energy for expedition. Literally now able to 'dis-cover' more of the globe, it was a new dawn in possibility. Although Dyad 1929 is not a narrative 'about' Antarctica the dance, design and music contain its traces of the Ballets Russes spirit, made visible for our time.

Dyad 1929 is dedicated to the memory of Merce Cunningham (1919-2009), a choreographer whose curiosity, sense of adventure and seamless collaboration knew no bounds.

Wayne McGregor.

Scuola di ballo

Scuola di ballo is based on Goldoni's five-act comedy of the same name. Leonide Massine turned the work into a ballet for the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo in 1933.

Ballet master Rigadon takes a class in his studio. Throughout the lesson, it is clear which dancer is the non-talented one: Felicita. Lucrizia brings his daughter Rosina into the class, who happens to be one of the most gifted dancers there. Impresario Fabrizio visits Rigadon in search of a star ballerina. Rigadon points out Felicita and insists that Felicita is so gifted that she doesn't need an audition. The ballet master tricks the impresario into signing Felicita into a contract.

Fabrizio returns and requests to see Felicita dance. He quickly realises she's not talented at all, and that he has been duped. When dancer Rosina arrives for her lesson, the enraged Fabrizio realises her talent and insists she replace Felicita. Rigadon refuses to replace his student, and break the contract. Fabrizio summons a notary and forces the dancing master to return the commission he was paid. Meanwhile, Rigadon's students decide to leave and inform their ballet master that they have found better engagements elsewhere.

Please note, casting is subject to change at short notice.

Friday 21 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
1st Cast

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Leanne Stojmenov
Carlino: Daniel Gaudiello
Rigadon: Ben Davis
Ridolfo: Matthew Donnelly
Fabrizio: Damien Welch
Lucrezia: Christine Howard
Felicita: Jane Casson
Josephine: Lana Jones
Anselmi: Andrew Killian

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Saturday 22 August 1.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
TBA

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Danielle Rowe
Carlino: Ty King-Wall
Rigadon: Jacob Sofer
Ridolfo: Kevin Jackson
Fabrizio: Brett Simon
Lucrezia: Megan Connelly
Felicita: Laura Tong
Josephine: Amber Scott
Anselmi: Adam Bull

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Saturday 22 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
TBA

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Leanne Stojmenov
Carlino: Daniel Gaudiello
Rigadon: Ben Davis
Ridolfo: Matthew Donnelly
Fabrizio: Damien Welch
Lucrezia: Christine Howard
Felicita: Jane Casson
Josephine: Lana Jones
Anselmi: Andrew Killian

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Monday 24 August 6.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
2nd Cast

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Danielle Rowe
Carlino: Ty King-Wall
Rigadon: Jacob Sofer
Ridolfo: Kevin Jackson
Fabrizio: Brett Simon
Lucrezia: Megan Connelly
Felicita: Laura Tong
Josephine: Amber Scott
Anselmi: Adam Bull

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Tuesday 25 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Wednesday 26 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
1st Cast

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Danielle Rowe
Carlino: Ty King-Wall
Rigadon: Jacob Sofer
Ridolfo: Kevin Jackson
Fabrizio: Brett Simon
Lucrezia: Megan Connelly
Felicita: Laura Tong
Josephine: Amber Scott
Anselmi: Adam Bull

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Thursday 27 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
2nd Cast

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Leanne Stojmenov
Carlino: Daniel Gaudiello
Rigadon: Ben Davis
Ridolfo: Matthew Donnelly
Fabrizio: Damien Welch
Lucrezia: Christine Howard
Felicita: Jane Casson
Josephine: Lana Jones
Anselmi: Andrew Killian

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Friday 28 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Saturday 29 August 1.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
1st and 3rd Mixed

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Leanne Stojmenov
Carlino: Daniel Gaudiello
Rigadon: Ben Davis
Ridolfo: Matthew Donnelly
Fabrizio: Damien Welch
Lucrezia: Christine Howard
Felicita: Jane Casson
Josephine: Lana Jones
Anselmi: Andrew Killian

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Saturday 29 August 7.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Monday 31 August 6.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
1st and 3rd Mixed

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Leanne Stojmenov
Carlino: Ty King-Wall
Rigadon: Jacob Sofer
Ridolfo: Kevin Jackson
Fabrizio: Brett Simon
Lucrezia: Megan Connelly
Felicita: Laura Tong
Josephine: Amber Scott
Anselmi: Adam Bull

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Tuesday 1 September 6.30pm

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon

Por Vos Muero
2nd Cast

Scuola di Ballo
Rosina: Leanne Stojmenov
Carlino: Ty King-Wall
Rigadon: Ben Davis
Ridolfo: Matthew Donnelly
Fabrizio: Damien Welch
Lucrezia: Christine Howard
Felicita: Jane Casson
Josephine: Lana Jones
Anselmi: Andrew Killian

Dyad 1929
Adam Bull
Tzu-Chao Chou
Daniel Gaudiello
Rudy Hawkes
Robyn Hendricks
Lana Jones
Andrew Killian
Danielle Rowe
Leanne Stojmenov
Stephanie Williams
Vivienne Wong
Remi Wörtmeyer

Day	Date	Time	Special Details

Concord ran from 21 August - 1 September 2009 in Melbourne and the season is now closed.

	Premium		A Reserve		B Reserve		C Reserve		D Reserve
Adult	120	106	108	95	69	68	59	58	31	26
Pensioner	103	90	92	81	54	53	41	40	31	26
Seniors *	108	95	97	85	62	61	53	52	31	26
Youth *	88	75	57	48	38	37	38	37	31	26
Children **	74	63	46	40	32	31	32	31	31	26

Subscriber discount price for additional single tickets shown in blue.

Concession conditions apply.

* Midweek matinees & 6.30pm only

** All performances excluding opening nights

the Arts Centre, State Theatre
100 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004

Bookings through Ticketmaster 1300 136 166
www.ticketmaster.com.au

Venue box office open 9am - 9pm Monday to Saturday

Click here for further venue information.