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Home , Carla Fracci, Greta Hodgkinson, John Cranko, Ray Barra, Rex Harrington, Stuttgart Ballet

Ballet Notes

Romeo and Juliet March 11-22, 2009

Aleksandar Antonijevic and Sonia Rodriguez Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann. 2008/09 Souvenir Book On Sale Now in the Lobby

Featuring beautiful new images by Canadian photographer Sian Richards

Tina Pereira Photo by Sian Richards. Orchestra

Violins Trumpets Fujiko Imajishi, Richard Sandals, Principal Concertmaster • Mark Dharmaratnam Lynn Kuo, Raymond Tizzard Assistant Concertmaster Dominique Laplante, Trombones Principal Second Violin David Archer, Principal James Aylesworth Robert Ferguson Celia Franca, C.C., Founder Jennie Baccante David Pell, Bass Trombone George Crum, Music Director Emeritus • Sheldon Grabke Xiao Grabke Tuba , C.C. Kevin Garland • Nancy Kershaw Sasha Johnson Artistic Director Executive Director Sonia Klimasko-Leheniuk Csaba Koczó Harp • Lucie Parent, Principal David Briskin , O.C. Yakov Lerner Music Director and Artist-in-Residence • Jayne Maddison Timpany Principal Conductor Ron Mah Michael Perry, Principal Aya Miyagawa Magdalena Popa Lindsay Fischer Wendy Rogers Percussion Principal Artistic Coach Artistic Director, • Filip Tomov Robert Comber, Principal YOU dance / Master Joanna Zabrowarna Mark Mazur Paul Zevenhuizen Keyboards Aleksandar Antonijevic, Guillaume Côté, Violas Janis Neilson Chan Hon Goh, , Angela Rudden, Principal Orchestra Personnel Nehemiah Kish, Zdenek Konvalina, Theresa Rudolph Koczó, Manager and Music Heather Ogden, Sonia Rodriguez, Assistant Pincipal Administrator Piotr Stanczyk, Xiao Nan Yu Valerie Kuinka Jean Verch Johann Lotter Victoria Bertram, Kevin D. Bowles, Beverley Spotton Assistant Orchestra Larry Toman Personnel Manager Lorna Geddes,Tomas Schramek, Raymond Tizzard Hazaros Surmeyan* Cellos Maurizio Baccante, Library Assistant Christopher Body, Keiichi Hirano, Tanya Howard+, Principal Lucie Parent Stephanie Hutchison, Richard Landry, Olga Laktionova Extra Players Etienne Lavigne, Patrick Lavoie, Andrew McIntosh Anne Armstrong, Violin Stacey Shiori Minagawa, Rebekah Rimsay+, Marianne Pack Sandra Baron, Violin Jillian Vanstone, Bridgett Zehr Elaine Thompson Floortje Gerritsen, Violin Paul Widner Elizabeth Johnston, Violin Alexandra Golden, Tina Pereira, Alejandra Perez-Gomez, Mia King, Violin + Basses Jonathan Renna, Lisa Robinson , Avinoam Silverman Hans J.F. Preuss, Principal Renée London, Violin Paul Langley Sonia Vizante, Violin Wei Chen, Jordana Daumec, Krista Dowson, Nadine Drouin, Robert Speer Rebekah Wolkstein, Naoya Ebe, Selene Guerrero-Trujillo, Juri Hiraoka, Klara Houdet, Violin Tamara Jones, Lise-Marie Jourdain, James Leja, Martin Lindinger, Cary Takagaki Elena Lobsanova, Noah Long, Alexandra MacDonald, Nicholaos Papadakis, Flutes Violin Elizabeth Marrable, Catherine Maitland, Antonella Martinelli, Leslie J. Allt, Principal Chelsy Meiss, Tiffany Mosher, Amber Munro, Andreea Olteanu, Jill Vitols, Cello Marissa Parzei, Jenna Savella, James Shee, Christopher Stalzer, Maria Pelletier Kevin O’Donell, Robert Stephen, Brett van Sickle, Nan Wang, Joseph Welbes, • Shelley Brown, Piccolo Flute/Piccolo Aarik Wells, Sarah Wolff Oboes Rob Cari, Tenor Mark Rogers, Principal Saxophone RBC Apprentice Programme / YOU dance: Ryan Booth, Janet Anderson, Horn Mark Dennis, Sara Garbowski, Nikki Holck, Claire Maurey, Karen Rotenberg Lesley Young, Michele Gagnon, Horn Shino Mori, Ian Parsons, Brendan Saye, Julia Sedwick, Brendan Cassins, Thomas Snee English Horn Trumpet Peter Ottmann Mandy-Jayne Clarinets James Gardiner, Trumpet Max Christie, Principal Senior Richard Moore, Richardson Emily Marlow Senior Ballet Mistress Percussion Gary Kidd, Bass Clarinet Lori Gemmell, Harp Lorna Geddes Tomas Schramek Bassoons Jennie Baccante, Pointe Shoe Manager/ Assistant Ballet Master Stephen Mosher, Principal Mandolin Assistant Ballet Mistress Jerry Robinson Maurizio Baccante, Elizabeth Gowen, Mandolin Joysanne Sidimus Ernest Abugov Contra Bassoon Valerie Kuinka, Mandolin Guest Repetiteur Jeff Morris Johann Lotter, Mandolin Stage Managers Horns Gary Pattison, Principal • On Leave of Absence Janelle Rainville Lani Martel Vincent Barbee Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager Derek Conrod YOU dance Scott Wevers

*Guest Artist-in-Residence +On maternity leave The 2008/09 season is presented by:

Wednesday March 11 at 7:30 pm Thursday March 19 at 7:30 pm Thursday March 12 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm Friday March 20 at 7:30 pm Friday March 13 at 7:30 pm Saturday March 21 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm Saturday March 14 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm Sunday March 22 at 2:00 pm Sunday March 15 at 2:00 pm Romeo and Juliet A ballet in three acts after

Choreography: Originally Staged by: Reid Anderson Reproduced from Benesh Notation by: Jane Bourne (1993) Copyright: Dieter Graefe Music: Set and Costume Design: Susan Benson Assistant to Ms. Benson: Marjory Fielding Lighting Design: Robert Thomson Fight Coach: John Stead

Conductors: David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor (March 11, 12 eve, 13, 14 eve, 15, 20, 21 eve, 22) Judith Yan, Assistant Conductor (March 12 mat, 14 mat, 19, 21 mat)

Premiere: Ballet, December 2, 1962 – Stuttgart, Germany The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: April 14, 1964 – Place des Arts, Montréal, Canada

This production entered the repertoire of The National Ballet of Canada on February 8, 1995 and was totally underwritten by Walter Carsen, O.C.

The House of Capulet

Lord Capulet Tomas Schramek (March 11, 12 mat, 13, 14 eve, 15, 20, 21 eve, 22) Etienne Lavigne (March 12 eve, 14 mat, 19, 21 mat)

Lady Capulet Stephanie Hutchison (March 11, 14 eve, 19, 21 mat) Joanna Ivey* (March 12 mat, 20, 22) Alejandra Perez-Gomez (March 12 eve, 13, 14 mat, 15, 21 eve)

Juliet Greta Hodgkinson (March 11, 14 eve) Xiao Nan Yu (March 12 mat, 20, 22) Sonia Rodriguez (March 12 eve, 14 mat) Chan Hon Goh (March 13, 15, 21 eve) Heather Ogden (March 19, 21 mat)

Page 4 national.ballet.ca Tybalt Etienne Lavigne (March 11, 12 mat, 13, 14 eve, 15, 20, 21 eve, 22) Jonathan Renna (March 12 eve, 14 mat) Kevin D. Bowles (March 19, 21 mat)

Count Paris Brett van Sickle (March 11, 13, 15, 21 eve) Aarik Wells (March 12 mat, 20, 22) Nan Wang (March 12 eve, 14 mat) Patrick Lavoie (March 14 eve, 19, 21 mat)

Juliet’s Nurse Victoria Bertram (March 11, 12 mat, 13, 14 eve, 15, 20, 21 eve, 22) Lorna Geddes (March 12 eve, 14 mat, 19, 21 mat)

The House of Montague

Lord Montague Joseph Welbes (March 11, 12 eve, 14, 19, 21) Avinoam Silverman (March 12 mat, 13, 15, 20, 22)

Lady Montague Alexandra Golden (March 11, 14 eve, 19, 21 mat) Lise-Marie Jourdain (March 12 mat, 20, 22) Sophie Letendre* (March 12 eve, 13, 14 mat, 15, 21 eve)

Romeo Jason Reilly* (March 11, 14 eve) Patrick Lavoie (March 12 mat) Zdenek Konvalina+ (March 12 eve, 14 mat) Aleksandar Antonijevic (March 13, 15, 21 eve) Guillaume Côté (March 19, 21 mat) Nehemiah Kish (March 20, 22)

Mercutio Piotr Stanczyk (March 11, 12 eve, 14, 19, 21 mat) Keiichi Hirano (March 12 mat, 13, 15, 21 eve) Richard Landry (March 20, 22)

Benvolio Keiichi Hirano (March 11, 14 eve, 20, 22) James Leja (March 12 mat, 13, 15, 21 eve) Richard Landry (March 12 eve, 14 mat, 19, 21 mat)

Duke of Verona Hazaros Surmeyan

Page 5 Rosalind Lise-Marie Jourdain (March 11, 14 eve, 19, 21 mat) Alexandra Golden (March 12, 14 mat, 20, 22) Krista Dowson (March 13, 15, 21 eve)

Gypsies Alejandra Perez-Gomez or Krista Dowson or Stephanie Hutchison, Tiffany Mosher or Jordana Daumec or Lise-Marie Jourdain, Stacey Shiori Minagawa or Andreea Olteanu or Tina Pereira

Carnival Dance Nan Wang or Brett van Sickle or Aarik Wells with Tina Pereira or Marissa Parzei, Klara Houdet or Andreea Olteanu or Jordana Daumec, Christopher Stalzer or Robert Stephen, Wei Chen or Martin Lindinger

Friar Laurence Kevin D. Bowles (March 11, 12 mat, 13, 14 eve, 15, 20, 21 eve, 22) Tomas Schramek (March 12 eve, 14 mat, 19, 21 mat)

Bridesmaids Jillian Vanstone or Marissa Parzei or Tina Pereira, Marissa Parzei or Stacey Shiori Minagawa or Klara Houdet, Andreea Olteanu or Jillian Vanstone or Jordana Daumec, Selene Guerrero-Trujillo, Chelsy Meiss or Tiffany Mosher, Jenna Savella or Alejandra Perez-Gomez, Alexandra Golden or Alexandra MacDonald, Juri Hiraoka or Krista Dowson

Nobles and Citizens of Verona Artists of the Ballet

* Guest Artist + Debut

All casting is subject to change.

Page 6 national.ballet.ca Juliets Romeos

Greta Hodgkinson Jason Reilly

Xiao Nan Yu Patrick Lavoie Nehemiah Kish

Sonia Rodriguez Zdenek Konvalina

Chan Hon Goh Aleksandar Antonijevic

Photos by Sian Richards and die arge lola, kai loges + andreas langen. Heather Ogden Guillaume Côté Page 7 Synopsis

Two households, both alike in dignity, Scene 4: The Capulet’s Ballroom In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, Juliet shyly arrives at the ball and is From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, introduced to Count Paris, to whom she is Where civil blood make civil hands unclean... betrothed. While Juliet is dancing with Paris, she and Romeo see one another for the first Act I time and fall in love. They steal a few Scene 1: A Street in Verona, Italy moments together away from the guests until The scene is set in the early Renaissance, Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, recognizes Romeo and about 1400. Romeo, son of Lord Montague, challenges him to a duel. Lord Capulet stops is infatuated with Rosalind and flirts with her in the disturbance. the courtyard. The city begins to awaken and the townspeople open the market for trade. Scene 5: Juliet’s Balcony But all is not peaceful. The city’s two most Later the same night Romeo hides in the powerful families, the Capulets and the Capulet’s garden and overhears Juliet Montagues, are feuding bitterly. Playful professing her love for him. Romeo reveals teasing soon turns into a brawl as members himself to Juliet and the young lovers swear of the opposing families draw swords and their eternal devotion. begin to fight. Romeo joins his friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, and the three become Act II involved in the brawl. The riot is quelled by the Scene 1: A Street in Verona arrival of the Duke of Verona, who decrees Verona is celebrating a festive holiday. Juliet’s the death penalty if either family disturbs the Nurse finds her way through the crowd in peace again. search of Romeo to give him a note from her mistress. Juliet has agreed to meet Romeo Scene 2: The Capulet’s Garden secretly in Friar Laurence’s cell where they Juliet, the young daughter of Lord Capulet, can be married. plays with her Nurse. Her mother joins them, bringing Juliet the dress she is to wear that Scene 2: Friar Laurence’s Cell evening to her first ball. Excited, Juliet dances Friar Laurence marries the young lovers, about with her dress, but stops suddenly hoping that this will end the feud between when she realizes that her carefree childhood their two families. is coming to an end. Scene 3: A Street in Verona Scene 3: The Foyer of the Capulet’s Palace The festivities are interrupted by Tybalt, who Elegant guests arrive at the ball. Although not is intent upon resuming his quarrel with invited, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio boldly Romeo. Romeo, however, is aware that make their way into the foyer, cloaked and Juliet’s relatives are now his own, so he masked as revellers. avoids a duel with Tybalt. Mercutio, appalled at his friend’s apparent lack of spirit, accepts

Page 8 national.ballet.ca Tybalt’s challenge on Romeo’s behalf. In Scene 3: Juliet’s Bedroom attempting to stop the fight, Romeo Filled with fear and doubts, Juliet forces inadvertently causes Mercutio’s death. herself to drink the potion and falls Shocked out of his peaceful resolution, unconscious on the bed. In the morning Romeo kills Tybalt, avenging his friend. Lady Juliet’s bridesmaids arrive to present her with Capulet witnesses the death, and grieves flowers. Lady Capulet and the Nurse are passionately over her dead nephew. unable to wake Juliet and presume she is dead. Act III Scene 1: Juliet’s Bedroom Scene 4: The Capulet Vault Romeo, banished from Verona for killing Juliet is laid to rest in the Capulet Vault. Tybalt, has remained for his wedding night Romeo has heard of Juliet’s death, but has with Juliet. At dawn, he is forced to leave. not received Friar Laurence’s explanatory Juliet’s parents enter with Paris and inform letter. He hurries to her tomb and finds Paris her that she is to marry Paris the next day. In there. In desperation Romeo kills Paris. desperation Juliet hurries away to seek advice from Friar Laurence. Believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo takes his own life. Juliet, recovering from the potion, is Scene 2: Friar Laurence’s Cell horrified to find Romeo dead beside her. Reluctantly, Friar Laurence gives Juliet a vial Unable to live without him, she joins him in containing a sleeping potion that will induce a death. death-like coma. He will send a message to Romeo, telling him what has happened, and ...never was a story of more woe he will return to rescue her from the family Than this of Juliet and her Romeo vault.

Artists of the Ballet.

Page 9 Sonia Rodriguez as Juliet and Aleksandar Antonijevic as Romeo.

Page 10 national.ballet.ca Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare’s Play Shakespeare made a number of John Cranko’s ballet, Romeo and Juliet, is alterations to the stories. His play’s action one of the happiest marriages of literature and takes place during a few days rather than a dance. Behind every movement, gesture, few weeks. He also invented the character of duet and interlude, the poetry of William Mercutio and the sword-fight between Tybalt Shakespeare is whispered throughout the and Romeo. Shakespeare’s Juliet is also ballet. much younger than those found in previous This timeless tale of star-crossed love, versions of the story. His Juliet is nearly 14, however, did not originate with Shakespeare. on the brink of womanhood but still a child The story has its roots in folklore and a and experiencing first love. One should keep version of it dates back as early as the 3rd in mind that in Shakespeare’s day, marriage century AD, in the tale of Ephesiaca by at 14 was not uncommon. Shakespeare thus Xenophon of Ephesus. In this story, Anthia is made Romeo and Juliet his own, and of all separated from her husband and is rescued known versions, his has become the most from robbers by Perilaus. To avoid marrying well known and universally acknowledged as Perilaus, she obtains from a physician a a great work of literature. sleeping potion that she believes to be a mortal poison. But Anthia awakens in the John Cranko’s Ballet tomb and is carried off by tomb-robbers to John Cranko, the creator of such masterful further adventures. Some believe the story of story as and The Taming of the Romeo and Juliet to be based on real people Shrew, staged his production of Romeo and and events. In the 13th century there were Juliet for The National Ballet of Canada in the families named Montecchi and Capelletti that spring of 1964. belonged to different political factions and the Cranko was working in England with the Montecchi did live in Verona. Sadler’s Wells Ballet when Russia’s Bolshoi In the 17th century, commercial Ballet made its first visit to London in 1956. playwrights like Shakespeare were expected Cranko witnessed both the technical skills to churn out plays for the multitude of theatre- and great artistry of the Russian dancers, as goers in Elizabethan London in great well as their renowned production of Romeo quantities. To accommodate the high and Juliet at Covent Garden. It was this demand for his work, originality was production that inspired Cranko to create his secondary to production, and it was common own version of the ballet. for many playwrights to re-work existing Cranko first staged William Shakespeare’s plays, borrowing from and improving on their play as a ballet in 1958 for the stories. Shakespeare’s production of the play of La Scala, . The premiere of this was first performed in the 1590s under the production took place on July 26, 1958, at title of The Tragical Historye of Romeus and the open-air amphitheatre Teatro Verde on Juliet. the island of San Giorgio in Venice, Italy. The

Page 11 sets for the production were by Nicola designer. For his Juliet, Cranko cast the Benois, son of the designer young Marcia Haydée, who was soon to be Alexandre Benois. There Cranko cast a very hailed as one of the world’s leading dramatic young, unknown ballerina, the 21-year-old ballerinas. , in the role of Juliet. In 1964, Cranko travelled to Toronto to On December 2, 1962, Cranko staged a mount Romeo and Juliet on The National new version of the ballet for his own Ballet of Canada. He was an old friend and company, the . This colleague of the company’s founding Artistic production featured sets and costumes by a Director, Celia Franca. The Canadian young German designer, Jürgen Rose, premiere of the National Ballet’s production of marking the beginning of many future Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet took place at collaborations between choreographer and Montréal’s Place des Arts on April 14, 1964,

Keiichi Hirano as Mercutio with Artists of the Ballet.

Page 12 national.ballet.ca with guest artists from the Stuttgart Ballet, November. For a special performance on Marcia Haydée and , in the title November 14, 1976 many former National roles and with Celia Franca as Lady Capulet. Ballet dancers came out of retirement to Commenting on that opening night in appear in the performance: Lilian Jarvis Montréal, Sydney Johnson wrote in the danced the role of Juliet, Hazaros Surmeyan Montréal Star: “As far as I am concerned, last danced Romeo, Yves Cousineau played night was the greatest night in the 13-year Tybalt and Celia Franca appeared as Lady history of The National Ballet of Canada.” Capulet. The company then took Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet was re-designed to home to Toronto to mark the National Ballet’s spectacular effect by Susan Benson in 1995 debut at the O’Keefe Centre (now the Sony and it is this production that the company Centre for the Performing Arts). It was the first dances today. large-scale 20th-century ballet as well as the most lavish to enter the company’s repertoire Sergei Prokofiev’s Music and was deliberately chosen to suit the large “I have taken special pains to achieve a simplicity stage of the O’Keefe Centre. The first Toronto which will, I hope, reach the hearts of all listeners. performance, on April 21, 1964, starred If people find no melody or no emotion in this Galina Samsova and Earl Kraul in the leading work of mine, I shall feel very sorry; but I am sure roles. So successful was this production that that they will sooner or later.” it was filmed for television by Norman — Sergei Prokofiev on Romeo and Juliet Campbell in 1965 starring 19-year-old as Juliet and Earl Kraul as Today Sergei Prokofiev’s score for Romeo Romeo. The production won the Prix René and Juliet is considered to be the Barthelemy at the International Television quintessential rendering of William Festival in Monte Carlo in 1966. Shakespeare’s timeless tale and one of the Throughout the late 1960s and early most popular of all ballet compositions. 1970s, the National Ballet garnered However, Prokofiev’s original composition of international praise for its performances of Romeo and Juliet was heavily criticized and it Romeo and Juliet, touring the production to was many years before it was finally accepted Expo ‘70 in Osaka, Japan, to Washington, and performed by a ballet company. D.C., Mexico City and throughout Canada. In 1934, the Russian-born Prokofiev was However in 1973, a fire in the National Ballet’s commissioned by The Kirov Theatre in wardrobe department destroyed all of the Leningrad to write a score, possibly based on sets and costumes for Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, to be the ballet, which had become a signature choreographed by Rostislav Zacharov. The piece for the company, left the repertoire. Communist regime demanded that the end of In 1976, as part of the National Ballet’s Shakespeare’s play be changed and that the 25th anniversary celebrations, Romeo and ballet be given a happy ending, to which Juliet was revived. It was first performed at Prokofiev took offence. The score was written the Olympic Arts Festival in Montréal in July of specifically as narrative dance-drama and 1976, and later performed in Toronto that was meticulously matched to the scenario by

Page 13 Alejandra Perez-Gomez as Lady Capulet and Xiao Nan Yu as Juliet.

Prokofiev and the Kirov’s stage director, The first performance of Romeo and Juliet Sergey Radlov. It was to be a lavish, to Prokofiev’s music took place in Brno, spectacular production and Prokofiev’s first Czechoslovakia, on December 30, 1938, with full-length ballet. choreography by the little-known Vania Psota. Though Prokofiev’s score was completed Two years later, The Kirov Ballet, following on September 8, 1935, problems soon led to numerous discussions with Prokofiev and the Kirov Theatre backing out of the project. alterations in the score, premiered Romeo The ballet was then to be staged by and Juliet to choreography by Leonid Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. However, the Lavrovsky. The score was considered radical Bolshoi found the music unsuitable for dance by many Russian musicians, who feared the and rejected it. The dancers, used to the worst upon the ballet’s premiere. The time tuneful dance rhythms of Tchaikovsky, had was nonetheless right, and the ballet proved a difficulty with Prokofiev’s unconventional resounding success and was later staged in rhythms and orchestration. Moscow by the in 1946.

Page 14 national.ballet.ca Few composers have created full-length Suddenly, Prokofiev has turned a young, ballet scores, particularly in the 20th century. playful girl into a woman in love. Later, in the As such, Prokofiev follows in the tradition of balcony scene, their love is furthered in a such well-known ballet composers as lyrical adagio and bonded in a marriage scene Tchaikovsky. “Prokofiev carried on where that combines both the calm of their reason Tchaikovsky left off. He developed and and their foreboding tragedy. It culminates in elaborated the principles of symphonism in the bedroom scene, which also becomes ballet music,” wrote choreographer their farewell. Lavrovsky. The score for Romeo and Juliet is both dramatic and symphonic, not unlike — Sharon Vanderlinde Tchaikovsky’s scores for and The Sleeping Beauty. But, whereas Tchaikovsky gave musical selections dance names — pas Aleksandar Antonijevic as Romeo and de deux, pas de cinq, Russian dance — and Sonia Rodriguez as Juliet. interspersed his work with entertaining dance divertissements, Prokofiev linked his composition of 53 sections with the dramatic rather than the dance elements, naming his musical selections after the characters and situations they depicted. So Romeo and Juliet’s plot and music are closely intertwined; its dances are not simply entertainment but an integral part of the drama. As in Adolphe Adam’s score for , musical leitmotifs, portraits of the characters, are also prevalent in Romeo and Juliet, though in a less structured fashion and with greater variance and levels of depth. These leitmotifs include seven distinct themes for Juliet that outline various aspects of her developing personality and that incorporate slow tempi, strings and woodwinds. From the moment Prokofiev introduces her, Juliet is a girl brimming with youthful play but overshadowed by a foreboding doom. Prokofiev carefully creates atmosphere in his composition, from the lively, robust street scenes of Verona, to the lush, romantic love duets. The music for the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet is a madrigal, a love poem with a cantabile theme for violins and violas.

Page 15 Piotr Stanczyk as Mercutio.

Page 16 national.ballet.ca Selected Biographies

Karen Kain, company. Ms. Kain has Antigone, Bonne Bouche C.C., LL.D., D.Litt., O.Ont., received numerous and . Artistic Director accolades and awards In 1957, Mr. Cranko Acknowledged as one of the throughout her career. She choreographed his first full leading classical ballerinas of is a Companion of the Order length ballet, The Prince of her time, Karen Kain is also of Canada, the first Canadian the Pagodas. Shortly one of Canada’s foremost recipient of the Cartier thereafter, he created La arts advocates, bringing Lifetime Achievement Award Belle Hélène for the Paris the same passion and and was named an Officer Opera Ballet and Romeo and dedication she exemplified of the Order of Arts and Juliet for La Scala. In 1960, as a dancer to her roles as a Letters by the government he went to Stuttgart to spokesperson for Canadian of France. In 2002, she was restage Prince of the culture and as the Artistic honoured with a Governor Pagodas and was asked to Director of The National General’s Award for Lifetime assume the directorship of Ballet of Canada. A native of Artistic Achievement and Stuttgart Ballet in 1961. Hamilton, Ontario, Ms. Kain from 2004 to 2008 was Chair There he created the full- studied at Canada’s National of the Canada Council for the length ballets Onegin, Ballet School, graduating in Arts. In 2007, she received Carmen and The Taming of 1969 when she joined The the Barbara Hamilton the Shrew, while continuing National Ballet of Canada. Memorial Award for to create short works and re- After quickly rising to the demonstrating excellence stage classics. Mr. Cranko rank of Principal Dancer, she and professionalism in the died tragically on an airplane came to the attention of performing arts. bringing his company home international audiences when from New York in 1973. she won the Silver Medal at John Cranko the Moscow International Choreographer Reid Anderson Ballet Competition in Born in South Africa, John Original Staging 1973. This led to a highly Cranko moved to London in Born in New Westminster, successful career on stages 1946 to join Sadler’s Wells British Columbia, Reid throughout the world. Ms. Ballet. Within four years, he Anderson, received a full Kain retired from dance in was named Resident scholarship to study at The 1997 and shortly afterwards Choreographer and during in assumed the position of this time, he created some of London. One year later he Artist-in-Residence with the his finest early ballets. joined Germany’s Stuttgart National Ballet. In 1999, her Through the 1950s, Mr. Ballet at the invitation of role was expanded to that of Cranko created works for director John Cranko. Artistic Associate and in June both the Covent Garden and Throughout his 17-year of 2005, she was appointed Sadler’s Wells branches of dance career with Stuttgart, Artistic Director of the , notably Mr. Anderson performed in a

Page 17 wide range of classical and Ballet for All. In 1974, Ms. Diaghilev in 1929 put an end contemporary works, Bourne joined the Stuttgart to the Ballets Russes and danced with many of the Ballet and worked with Prokofiev returned to the world’s leading ballerinas choreographers Kenneth Soviet Union in 1932. There, and worked with some of the MacMillan, , he composed many works foremost choreographers of , William Forsythe, including Romeo and Juliet the 20th century. After , Jiˇrí Kylián and for The Kirov Ballet and retiring from the stage, Mr. . Ms. Bourne has Cinderella for The Bolshoi Anderson was Artistic assisted Reid Anderson with Ballet. Prokofiev never saw Director of Ballet British productions for various his last ballet composition, Columbia from 1987 to companies including the The Stone Flower, 1989. In 1989, he was Royal Swedish and Royal performed. He died on appointed Artistic Director of Danish Ballets, Paris Opera March 5, 1953, while making The National Ballet of Ballet, La Scala, Australian revisions to the score. The Canada. In 1996, Mr. Ballet, Teatro Municipal in Bolshoi Ballet premiered The Anderson returned to the Chile, Komische Oper in Stone Flower in February of Stuttgart Ballet as Artistic Berlin and Birmingham Royal 1954. Director, and continued to Ballet. In 1984, she first encourage the development worked with The National Susan Benson, R.C.A. of new ballets and young Ballet of Canada as Assistant Set and Costume talent. He has also staged to Reid Anderson on the Designer the works of John Cranko production of Onegin. She Susan Benson began her around the world since 1984. returned in 1992 to assist career in the costume In 2006, Mr. Anderson was with the company premiere departments of BBC awarded the German Dance of . television and the Royal Prize in appreciation of his Shakespeare Company in significant contribution to the Sergei Prokofiev England. Since immigrating development of classical Composer to Canada, she has designed dance in Germany. Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev for a variety of performing was born in 1891 in the arts companies including the Jane Bourne Ukraine. By age 10 he had Vancouver Playhouse, the Choreologist begun composing. Like his National Arts Centre, Born and educated in contemporary, Igor Canadian Opera Company, Lincoln, England, Jane Stravinsky, Prokofiev proved San Francisco Opera and Bourne studied dance a key figure in the New York City Opera. A notation at the Benesh legitimization of ballet music costume designer for the Institute of Choreology. in the 20th century. Prokofiev Stratford Festival since 1974, Following her graduation, found a creative environment Ms. Benson made her debut she spent some time with in the Ballets Russes where with The National Ballet of The Royal Ballet’s he composed multiple ballet Canada in 1984 with L’Ile educational touring group, scores. The death of Serge Inconnue. She went on to

Page 18 national.ballet.ca design the company’s Marjorie Fielding textiles for over 25 years. Ms. production of John Cranko’s Wardrobe Supervisor and Fielding founded chrome The Taming of the Shrew in Assistant to Ms. Benson yellow inc., a company 1992 and Romeo and Juliet Marjorie Fielding has been specializing in dyeing and in 1995. Ms. Benson has the Wardrobe Supervisor of painting for theatre, film and received multiple awards The National Ballet of figure skating. Ms. Fielding including seven Dora Mavor Canada since 1995. Prior to has worked for most of the Moore Awards, a Jessie this position, she acted as major performing arts Richardson Theatre Award, Design Assistant on the organizations in Toronto. She an Al Jones Memorial Guthrie National Ballet’s productions began painting for theatre Award and an Academy of of John Cranko’s The with the Toronto production Cable Ace Award. She was Taming of the Shrew and of Cats in the 1980s and has elected to the Royal Romeo and Juliet. Marjorie since painted costumes for Canadian Academy and her Fielding is known productions by Live work has represented internationally for her Entertainment and Mirvish English Canadian theatre at costume painting and dyeing Productions such as The the Prague Quadrennial. and she has been working in Lion King, Mamma Mia! and

Keiichi Hirano as Benvolio, Piotr Stanczyk as Mercutio and Guillaume Côté as Romeo.

Page 19 Stephanie Hutchison as Lady Capulet and Heather Ogden as Juliet.

Hairspray. Ms. Fielding has including Don Quixote, of Canadian Fight Directors. been involved in many Paquita, The Taming of the He has over 400 professional Canadian Opera Company Shrew, , production credits as a Fight productions including The Symphonic Variations, Director, including 18 seasons Golden Ass (1999) and The Apollo, Romeo and Juliet and as Resident Fight Director Ring Cycle (2006). Manon. He has also worked with the Stratford with choreographer James Shakespeare Festival of Robert Thomson Kudelka designing the Canada. He has worked Lighting Designer lighting for the world across Canada and the US Robert Thomson has premieres of Swan Lake, The with numerous companies designed for theatre, opera Miraculous Mandarin and including the Shaw Festival, and dance and has won four Spring Awakening as well as Soulpepper Theatre, Dora Mavor Moore Awards the revivals of Washington CanStage, The National and had six nominations for Square and Désir. Ballet of Canada, Mirvish the coveted prize. For The Productions, Manitoba National Ballet of Canada, John Stead Theatre Centre, the National Mr. Thomson served as Fight Coach Arts Centre, the Guthrie Resident Lighting Designer Mr. Stead is a master Theatre in Minneapolis, for 12 seasons. He created instructor with the Academy Chicago Shakespeare lighting designs for many of of Dramatic Combat and a Theatre, the Los Angeles the company’s productions senior member of The Society Ahmanson Theatre and the

Page 20 national.ballet.ca Lincoln Centre on Broadway. years, leading performances he was appointed Director He has stunt performed on at the of Orchestral Studies at the numerous productions and House, New York’s City University of Toronto Faculty stunt coordinated the action Center and in major opera of Music and Conductor of sequences for more than houses throughout the world. the University of Toronto 100 film and television Since 2006, Mr. Briskin Symphony Orchestra. productions. As a Director, has been a regular guest Mr. Stead has worked on conductor with New York Judith Yan several television series City Ballet. He recently Assistant Conductor including The Adventures Of appeared with San Francisco A native of Toronto, Judith Sinbad, Earth: Final Conflict, Ballet for their New Works Yan joined The National Ballet Tracker, Mutant X and The Festival, celebrating the of Canada as Assistant Dresden Files. He has also company’s 75th anniversary Conductor in 2007. As directed the feature films and will join the company Staff Conductor of the San Good Morning Tomorrow, again this season. In Francisco Opera, Ms. Yan Troubled Waters and Cyborg addition, Mr. Briskin will be served as assistant to Soldier. Mr. Stead has taught joining to Donald Runnicles and as at the universities of Toronto, conduct Stanton Welch’s Cover/Rehearsal Conductor Waterloo and Saskatchewan new full-length ballet Marie in on 12 productions. For the as well as at Wilfred Laurier New Orleans. Mr. Briskin has company, she conducted University. He is a past also conducted for The three productions, one of recipient of the Derek F. of Chicago and which was included in the Mitchell Artistic Director’s Les Grands Ballets San Francisco Chronicle’s Award. Canadiens de Montréal, Top Ten Performances of among others. For 12 years 2005. Prior to her position David Briskin he served as Conductor of at the SFO, Ms. Yan was Music Director and The Juilliard School’s Dance Conductor-in-Residence Principal Conductor Division. Equally at home on at the Canadian Opera A conductor renowned for the concert stage and in the Company. Appointed by the versatility of his repertoire opera house, Mr. Briskin the late Richard Bradshaw, and the depth of his musical has conducted symphony she worked on numerous interpretations, David Briskin orchestras and opera productions, recordings and joined The National Ballet of productions throughout concerts. Ms. Yan made her Canada as Music Director Europe, Asia and North German conducting debut and Principal Conductor in America and served for six with Mozart’s Idomeneo 2006. Prior to his years as the Music Director in 2005, and her Italian appointment with The of the Masterwork Chorus conducting debut with National Ballet of Canada, and Orchestra, conducting Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro Mr. Briskin served as annual performances of in 2007. She recently Conductor with American Handels’s Messiah at returned to Italy to conduct Ballet Theatre for seven Carnegie Hall. In July 2008, La Bohème.

Page 21 Jason Reilly Reilly has danced numerous Kowalski in A Streetcar Guest Artist major roles in full-length Named Desire, all Jason Reilly was born in ballets by significant choreographed by John Toronto and trained at choreographers. His roles in Neumeier. In addition, Mr. Canada’s National Ballet John Cranko’s productions Reilly has danced Prince School. He graduated in include Prince Siegfried in Desiré and Carabosse in The 1997 and became a member Swan Lake, the title roles in Sleeping Beauty, of the Stuttgart Ballet’s Onegin and Romeo and choreographed by Marcia Corps de Ballet. He was Juliet and Petruchio in The Haydée after Marius Petipa promoted to Demi-Soloist in Taming of the Shrew. He and the role of Albrecht in 2001, to Soloist in 2002 and also performed the title role in Reid Anderson’s and to Principal Dancer in 2003. Othello, Armand in The Lady Valentina Savina’s production With the Stuttgart Ballet, Mr. of the Camellias and Stanley of Giselle. His wide-ranging

Nehemiah Kish as Romeo and Xiao Nan Yu as Juliet.

Page 22 national.ballet.ca Aleksandar Antonijevic as Romeo, Christopher Body as Paris and Sonia Rodriguez as Juliet.

repertoire also includes a vast Ernest Abugov Before beginning his long number of neoclassical and Stage Manager association with the National modern works of John Ernest (Ernie) Abugov has Ballet, he worked with Cranko, George Balanchine, served as Stage Manager Les Feux Follets, The Maurice Béjart, Jerome of The National Ballet of Charlottetown Festival, La Robbins, Glen Tetley, Itzik Canada since 1973, working Poudriere Theatre and The Galili, Jiˇrí Kylián, Hans van with every Artistic Director in Studio Lab Theatre. He Manen and William Forsythe. the company’s history from worked at Expo ’67 in Many roles have been created Celia Franca to Karen Kain. Montréal, stage managing for him by contemporary He has traveled with the over 4,000 puppet shows. choreographers, among them company all over the world Mr. Abugov also toured with Mauro Bigonzetti, Wayne touring to Israel, Asia, Harry Belafonte. In what little McGregor, Kevin O’Day, Europe, Mexico and spare time that he has, Mr. Marco Goecke and Christian throughout North America. Abugov guest-lectures to Spuck. In 2006, Mr. Reilly Mr. Abugov has worked with theatre students. received the German Dance many of the world’s most Prize “Future”, which is renowned choreographers Jeff Morris awarded each year by the who have created original Stage Manager German Association for works for the National Ballet Jeff Morris studied technical Dance Education and the including John Neumeier, theatre production and German Association for the William Forsythe and Glen administration at Ryerson Promotion of the Art of Tetley. Mr. Abugov was Theatre School. He has Dance. born in Montréal, Québec. worked as Production Stage

Page 23 Guillaume Côté as Romeo and Heather Ogden as Juliet.

Manager for Toronto Dance National Ballet of Canada Seasons, Cinderella and An Theatre and with the Fringe and has since stage- Italian Straw Hat. He is also Festival of Independent managed a wide range of an adjunct faculty member at Dance Artists, in addition the company’s classical and the School of Toronto Dance to a broad range of Toronto’s contemporary repertoire, Theatre, where he teaches independent dance artists. In including world premieres of Production Elements for 1995, Mr. Morris joined The James Kudelka’s The Four Dancers.

Page 24 national.ballet.ca The National Ballet of of the company. Mr. Crum much acclaim from Canada Orchestra held the position from the audiences and critics alike The National Ballet of company’s inception in 1951 and has recorded two CDs Canada is privileged to have to 1984, when he was of Michael Torke’s its own full orchestra with appointed Music Director compositions for The over 60 members. The Emeritus. The orchestra was Contract (The Pied Piper) orchestra has performed in led by Ermanno Florio from and An Italian Straw Hat. each of the National Ballet’s 1985 to 1990 and Ormsby 57 seasons and is led by Wilkins from 1990 to 2006. For more information, Music Director and Principal The National Ballet Orchestra visit national.ballet.ca Conductor David Briskin. has toured extensively with The company’s first Music the company through Director was George Crum Canada, the United States who, along with Founder and Europe. Over the years, Celia Franca, was a pioneer the orchestra has received

Chan Hon Goh as Juliet.

Page 25 Heather Ogden as Juliet and Guillaume Côté as Romeo. Photos by Joseph Ciancio, Sian Richards and Cylla von Tiedemann.

Page 26 national.ballet.ca