P A C I F I C
N O R T H W E S T
B A L L E T
said George Balanchine to Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, not long after Pacific Northwest Ballet was created. Acknowledging the exemplary work of Francia and Kent Stowell and their predecessors, he was recognizing PNB’s place in the list of companies that performed his works and carried the torch of his aesthetic. To honor the 50th anniversary of Balanchine’s Jewels, we present this landmark work with exquisite new costume and scenic designs by Jerome Kaplan (Roméo et Juliette, Cendrillon, Don Quixote, Giselle). The dashing lines, clean palette, and subtle elegance of Jerome’s designs offer unmistakable innovation. Over the past twelve years, we’ve presented original works by twenty women. Three are represented in our November program. Her Door to the Sky, Jessica Lang’s ode to Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings, returns alongside the gritty landscape of Twyla Tharp’s Afternoon Ball. Closing this triptych is a highlight of the season, Plot Point by Crystal Pite—part film noir and part Hitchcock, set to the edgy score from the movie Psycho. The focus remains on women with each cast of Swan Lake, as our ballerinas take on the demanding dual role of Odette/Odile. Kent’s production, with Francia’s staging, is a masterful rendering of this treasured classic. Costumes, sets, orchestra, drama, dancers, and fiery fouetté turns make it a PNB repertory staple. PNB dancer Ezra Thomson hits the mainstage in March when he premieres his first work on the Company. Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels returns, followed by one of William Forsythe’s most alluring pas de deux, Slingerland Duet. Another Forsythe work, One Flat thing, reproduced, is back—expect a few heated conversations around the water cooler as well. In April, we introduce PNB’s first work by Yuri Possokhov. RAkU tells a dark tale of love and betrayal set in a Japanese temple. Completing the line-up are two blockbuster hits, Alejandro Cerrudo’s Little mortal jump and Crystal Pite’s Emergence. This program is total dance candy. The final rep of the season brings Chris Wheeldon’s heady Tide Harmonic paired with his sublime After the Rain pas de deux. Ben Millepied's intoxicating Appassionata returns along with Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, to the inventive score by Sufjan Stevens. I look forward to seeing you at the ballet.
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Season 2017 2018
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All photos © Angela Sterling unless noted. (cover) Lesley Rausch. (opposite) Peter Boal. (this page) Company dancers. © Lindsay Thomas.
REP
50
1
ANNIV
Choreography: George Balanchine
GEORGE BALANCHINE’S MASTERFUL HOMAGE TO BALLET 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.
Sept 22–Oct 1, 2017 EMERALDS
Music: Gabriel Fauré
RUBIES
Music: Igor Stravinsky
DIAMONDS
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
+ FIRST
LOOK
Friday, September 22 at McCaw Hall
SEASON OPENING GALA YOU ARE INVITED to celebrate the opening of PNB's 2017–2018 season with a dazzling pre-performance cocktail party and elegant backstage dinner after the performance! For information, visit PNB.org/firstlook. (6:30 pm curtain. Performance tickets sold separately.)
REP
2
TEXTURED • DRAMATIC • RAW
Nov 3 –12, 2017 OUR STAGE IS TEXTURED BY THREE RENOWNED FEMALE CHOREOGRAPHERS with the return of Twyla Tharp's dramatic Afternoon Ball, her raw view of a lost generation, and Jessica Lang's sumptuously painted Her Door to the Sky. Two worlds alternate and escalate to collision in the award-winning Plot Point, a much-anticipated PNB premiere by Crystal Pite (Emergence).
(left) Elizabeth Murphy in Emeralds, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust. (above) Kaori Nakamura in Twyla Tharp's Afternoon Ball™.
AFTERNOON BALL™
Music: Vladimir Martynov Choreography: Twyla Tharp
HER DOOR TO THE SKY
Music: Benjamin Britten Choreography: Jessica Lang
PLOT POINT (PNB PREMIERE) Music: Bernard Herrmann/Owen Belton Choreography: Crystal Pite
REP
3
Made possible by the E. L. Wiegand Foundation
EVER SINCE KENT STOWELL’S STUNNING NEW PRODUCTION OF SWAN LAKE MARKED THE GRAND OPENING OF MCCAW HALL, audiences have been awestruck by its transcendent beauty and power. This most famous of classical ballets is a tour de force on all levels: Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, spectacular costume and scenic designs, plus a ballerina’s hallmark achievement—the dual role of Odette/Odile. For every age from 4 to 104, Swan Lake’s mist-filled rows of exquisite swans hovering protectively around their queen is an ethereal vision that lingers long after leaving the theater. (above) Laura Tisserand and Batkhurel Bold in Kent Stowell's Swan Lake.
Feb 2–11, 2018 Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: Kent Stowell Staging: Francia Russell
(after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov)
Scenic Design: Ming Cho Lee Costume Design: Paul Tazewell Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
REP
4
RIVETING • FAVORITE • ELECTRIC
Mar 16 –25, 2018 PETER BOAL'S ANNUAL SELECTION offers audiences a riveting duet, a favorite work, a little controversy, and a world premiere by PNB dancer Ezra Thomson. The limbs of a bonded pair sculpt open air in Slingerland Duet, and pure athleticism surges like reverb from Red Angels' electric violin. Audiences have another chance to debate William Forsythe's contrapuntal One Flat Thing, reproduced, as the dancers take cues from each other on, under, and around 20 tables.
(above) Lesley Rausch and Lucien Postlewaite in Red Angels.
WORLD PREMIERE
Choreography: Ezra Thomson
SLINGERLAND DUET
Music: Gavin Bryars Choreography: William Forsythe
RED ANGELS
Music: Richard Einhorn Choreography: Ulysses Dove
ONE FLAT THING, REPRODUCED
Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe
REP
5
PLAYFUL • PROFOUND • INTRIGUING
April 13 –22, 2018 A TRIO OF BLOCKBUSTERS includes the return of Crystal Pite's mesmerizing Emergence and Alejandro Cerrudo's cinematic Little mortal jump, a work by turns playful, potent, and poignant. The program's premiere is RAkU, PNB's first work by Yuri Possokhov. This tale of desire and loyalty captivates with profound character portrayals and intriguing Japanese design layered with digital projection.
LITTLE MORTAL JUMP
Music: Beirut, Andrew Bird/
Alexandre Desplat/Philip Glass/ Max Richter/Tom Waits/ Kathleen Brennan Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
RAKU (PNB PREMIERE)
Music: Shinji Eshima Libretto: Gary Wang
Choreography: Yuri Possokhov
EMERGENCE
Music: Owen Belton Choreography: Crystal Pite (above) Company dancers in Crystal Pite's Emergence. © Lindsay Thomas.
REP
6
DIVERSE • PASSIONATE • EXHILARATING
Love &
Ballet
June 1–10, 2018 FROM APPARENT TO ABSTRACT, LOVE REVEALS DIVERSE FACES IN THIS FOUR-PACK OF CONTEMPORARY HITS. Water is thematic in Christopher Wheeldon’s undulating Tide Harmonic as well as his divine After the Rain pas de deux. Appassionata, Benjamin Millepied’s tempestuous and tender work for three couples, makes a welcome return as does Justin Peck’s delightful Year of the Rabbit, an exhilarating rush to the music of Sufjan Stevens.
TIDE HARMONIC
Music: Joby Talbot Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
AFTER THE RAIN PAS DE DEUX
Music: Arvo Pärt Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
APPASSIONATA
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven Choreography: Benjamin Millepied
YEAR OF THE RABBIT
Music: Sufjan Stevens Choreography: Justin Peck (above) Elizabeth Murphy and Karel Cruz in Benjamin Millepied's Appassionata.
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FIRST
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Season Opening Gala
September 22, 2017
Choreography: George Balanchine
JOIN FIRST LOOK GUEST OF HONOR JEROME KAPLAN
—costume and scenic designer for Jewels—for a sparkling evening of dining, music, and dance. An exclusive cocktail party starts the night off. Then, after the performance, the fun continues backstage with an elegant black-tie dinner and lively entertainment. Please contact PNB Special Events at 206.441.2429, events@PNB.org, or visit PNB.org/firstlook for more information. (The curtain goes up at 6:30 pm. Performance tickets sold separately.) (left) © Lindsay Thomas. (above) Lesley Rausch and Jerome Tisserand in Diamonds, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust. © Lindsay Thomas.
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Family Matinee Series HOUR-LONG, NARRATED BALLETS AT MCCAW HALL
Concept and Choreography:
Music:
BRUCE WELLS
JULES MASSENET
PERFORMED BY PNB SCHOOL STUDENTS, Snow White is true to the treasured tale of a jealous Queen, her beautiful stepdaughter, and a legendary kiss from a handsome Prince. Wear your favorite costume and come early for special crafts and a mini dance class.
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March 18 & 24, 2018
206. 441.2 424
Former Professional Division student and current PNB Company dancer Elle Macy with PNB School students in Bruce Wells' Snow White.
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MUSIC
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
DESIGN
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IAN FALCONER
November 24 –December 28, 2017 PUT YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITION ON THE CALENDAR AND SAVE 20%! Take advantage of a subscriber-exclusive discount, plus free and easy exchanges, by ordering tickets for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® now. You and yours can look forward to beautiful snowfalls, Tchaikovsky’s cherished score, gorgeously imagined scenery and costumes, and brilliant performances by PNB’s incredible dancers—plus McCaw Hall glowing with holiday décor and surprises.
M a k e h o l i day m e m o r i e s by p l a n n i n g to day !
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Noelani Pantastico in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker®, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
N O R T H W E S T
B A L L E T
(l-r) Noelani Pantastico, Lesley Rausch, and Rachel Foster in Jewels, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust. © Angela Sterling.
2017 2018
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