Notes

Apollo & Russian Seasons & Theme and Variations March 23 – 27, 2011

Greta Hodgkinson in Theme and Variations. Photo by Andrew Oxenham. Orchestra Violins Bassoons • Benjamin Bowman Stephen Mosher, Principal Concertmaster Jerry Robinson Stephen Sitarski, Elizabeth Gowen, Guest Concertmaster Contra Bassoon Lynn Kuo, Horns Assistant Concertmaster Gary Pattison, Principal Dominique Laplante, Celia Franca, C.C., Founder Vincent Barbee Principal Second Violin Derek Conrod James Aylesworth George Crum, Music Director Emeritus • Scott Wevers • Jennie Baccante , C.C. Kevin Garland Csaba Koczó Trumpets Artistic Director Executive Director • Sheldon Grabke Richard Sandals, Principal • Xiao Grabke Mark Dharmaratnam David Briskin Rex Harrington, O.C. • Nancy Kershaw Rob Weymouth Music Director and Artist-in-Residence Sonia Klimasko-Leheniuk Principal Conductor Yakov Lerner Trombones David Archer, Principal Magdalena Popa Lindsay Fischer Jayne Maddison • Ron Mah Robert Ferguson Principal Artistic Coach Artistic Director, David Pell, YOU dance / Ballet Master Aya Miyagawa Wendy Rogers Bass Trombone Peter Ottmann Mandy-Jayne Filip Tomov Tuba Senior Ballet Master Richardson Joanna Zabrowarna Sasha Johnson Senior Ballet Mistress Paul Zevenhuizen Harp Aleksandar Antonijevic, Guillaume Côté*, Violas Lucie Parent, Principal Angela Rudden, Principal Greta Hodgkinson, Jiˇrí Jelinek, Theresa Rudolph Koczó, Timpany Zdenek Konvalina, Heather Ogden, Assistant Principal Michael Perry, Principal Sonia Rodriguez, Piotr Stanczyk, Xiao Nan Yu, Valerie Kuinka Percussion Bridgett Zehr Johann Lotter Robert Comber, Principal Beverley Spotton Kristofer Maddigan Kevin D. Bowles, Lorna Geddes, • Larry Toman Mark Mazur Tomas Schramek, Hazaros Surmeyan Cellos Orchestra Personnel Keiichi Hirano, Tanya Howard, Stephanie Hutchison, Maurizio Baccante, Manager and Music Etienne Lavigne, Patrick Lavoie, Principal Administrator Stacey Shiori Minagawa+, Tina Pereira, Olga Laktionova Jean Verch Jonathan Renna, Rebekah Rimsay, Jillian Vanstone Andrew McIntosh Marianne Pack Assistant Orchestra Jordana Daumec, Elena Lobsanova, McGee Maddox, Elaine Thompson Personnel Manager Alejandra Perez-Gomez, Jenna Savella, Robert Stephen, Paul Widner Raymond Tizzard Brett van Sickle Basses Librarian Lucie Parent Danyla Bezerra, Ryan Booth, Adji Cissoko, Chen Cui, Hans J.F. Preuss, Principal Krista Dowson, Nadine Drouin, Naoya Ebe, Giorgio Galli, • Paul Langley Extra Players Selene Guerrero-Trujillo, Grace Hanley, Juri Hiraoka, Robert Speer Anne Armstrong, Violin Kathryn Hosier, Lise-Marie Jourdain, James Leja, Cary Takagaki Alexandra MacDonald, Elizabeth Marrable, Chelsy Meiss, Pamela Hinman, Violin Ji Min Hong, Shino Mori, Tiffany Mosher, Andreea Olteanu, Flutes Mark Johnston, Violin Marissa Parzei, Brendan Saye, Christopher Stalzer, Leslie J. Allt, Principal Renée London, Violin Joseph Steinauer, Dylan Tedaldi, Nan Wang, Aarik Wells, Maria Pelletier Hiroko Kagawa, Violin Sarah Elena Wolff Shelley Brown, Piccolo Phoebe Tsang, Violin Sonia Vizante, Violin RBC Apprentice Programme / YOU dance: James Applewhite, Oboes Eugenia Brezzi, Skylar Campbell, Esabelle Chen, Melissa Wilmot, Violin Shaila D'Onofrio, Jackson Dwyer, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Mark Rogers, Principal Rebekah Wolkstein, Violin Alexandra Inculet, Natalie Ogonek, Asiel Rivero Karen Rotenberg Josh Greenlaw, Viola Lesley Young, Nicholaos Papadakis, Lorna Geddes Joysanne Sidimus English Horn Viola Pointe Shoe Manager / Guest Repetiteur Orly Bitov, Cello Assistant Ballet Mistress Clarinets Max Christie, Principal Jill Vitols, Cello Tom Hazlitt, Bass Ernest Abugov Shelby-Jai Flick • Emily Marlow Gary Kidd, Bass Clarinet Colleen Cook, Clarinet Jeff Morris Assistant Stage Manager/ Christine Passmore, Horn Stage Managers Stage Manager, YOU dance • On Leave of Absence

*Guest Artist-in-Residence +Maternity Leave

Page 2 national.ballet.ca The 2010/11 season is presented by

Wednesday, March 23 at 7:30 pm Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 pm Sunday, March 27 at 2:00 pm Friday, March 25 at 7:30 pm

Conductor: David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor: Apollo & Russian Seasons (all performances), Theme and Variations (Mar 27) David LaMarche, Guest Conductor: Theme and Variations (Mar 23, 24, 25, 26)

Apollo

Choreography: * Staged by: Ib Andersen Music: Igor Stravinsky, Apollon Musagète By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner. Lighting Design: Robert Thomson Répétiteur: Rex Harrington

Premiere: Diaghilev’s Russes, Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt, Paris, June 12, 1928 The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: February 18, 1999

Apollo is a gift from THE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA

Apollo Zdenek Konvalina (Mar 23, 26 eve) Aleksandar Antonijevic (Mar 24, 26 mat) Guillaume Côté (Mar 25, 27)

Terpsichore Sonia Rodriguez (Mar 23, 26 eve) Greta Hodgkinson (Mar 24, 26 mat) Xiao Nan Yu (Mar 25, 27)

Polyhymnia Elena Lobsanova (Mar 23, 26 eve) Rebekah Rimsay (Mar 24, 26 mat) Heather Ogden (Mar 25, 27)

Calliope Jillian Vanstone (Mar 23, 26 eve) Bridgett Zehr (Mar 24, 25, 26 mat, 27)

Leto, Mother of Apollo Stephanie Hutchison

Hand Maidens Chelsy Meiss or Kathryn Hosier Tanya Howard or Alexandra MacDonald

Intermission

Page 3 Russian Seasons

Choreography: Staged by: Tatiana Ratmanskaya Music: Leonid Desyatnikov, The Russian Seasons © Compozitor Publishing House, St. Petersburg, 2006 Soprano: Susana Poretsky Violin Soloist: Stephen Sitarski Costume Design: Galina Solovyeva Lighting Design: Mark Stanley Répétiteurs: Rex Harrington and Magdalena Popa Premiere: , New York City, June 8, 2006 The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: March 23, 2011 Russian Seasons is made possible in part by a grant from the New Creations Fund of The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation. The appearance of Susana Poretsky is made possible by a generous donation from the Frank Gerstein Foundation.

GRETA HODGKINSON, HEATHER OGDEN, XIAO NAN YU ELENA LOBSANOVA, JENNA SAVELLA, JILLIAN VANSTONE GUILLAUME CÔTÉ ALEKSANDAR ANTONIJEVIC, ZDENEK KONVALINA, MCGEE MADDOX, CHRISTOPHER STALZER, ROBERT STEPHEN (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) CHELSY MEISS, SONIA RODRIGUEZ, BRIDGETT ZEHR JORDANA DAUMEC, TANYA HOWARD, LISE-MARIE JOURDAIN PIOTR STANCZYK RYAN BOOTH, NAOYA EBE, JONATHAN RENNA, DYLAN TEDALDI, BRETT VAN SICKLE (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27)

I Greta Hodgkinson, Guillaume Côté Heather Ogden, Elena Lobsanova, Jillian Vanstone, Jenna Savella Christopher Stalzer, Robert Stephen, McGee Maddox, Aleksandar Antonijevic, Zdenek Konvalina (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Sonia Rodriguez, Piotr Stanczyk Chelsy Meiss, Lise-Marie Jourdain, Tanya Howard, Jordana Daumec Naoya Ebe, Dylan Tedaldi, Jonathan Renna, Ryan Booth, Brett van Sickle (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) II Xiao Nan Yu Heather Ogden, Elena Lobsanova, Jillian Vanstone, Jenna Savella (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Bridgett Zehr Chelsy Meiss, Lise-Marie Jourdain, Tanya Howard, Jordana Daumec (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) III Greta Hodgkinson, Guillaume Côté Elena Lobsanova, Jillian Vanstone, Jenna Savella Christopher Stalzer, Robert Stephen, Zdenek Konvalina (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Sonia Rodriguez, Piotr Stanczyk Lise-Marie Jourdain, Tanya Howard, Jordana Daumec Naoya Ebe, Dylan Tedaldi, Brett van Sickle (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) IV Xiao Nan Yu, Heather Ogden Guillaume Côté, Aleksandar Antonijevic (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Bridgett Zehr, Chelsy Meiss Piotr Stanczyk, Ryan Booth (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27)

Page 4 national.ballet.ca V Greta Hodgkinson Elena Lobsanova, Jillian Vanstone, Jenna Savella Robert Stephen, Zdenek Konvalina, Christopher Stalzer (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Sonia Rodriguez Lise-Marie Jourdain, Tanya Howard, Jordana Daumec Dylan Tedaldi, Brett van Sickle, Naoya Ebe (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) VI Xiao Nan Yu, Heather Ogden, Greta Hodgkinson, Guillaume Côté Jillian Vanstone, Christopher Stalzer, Robert Stephen, McGee Maddox, Aleksandar Antonijevic (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Bridgett Zehr, Chelsy Meiss, Sonia Rodriguez, Piotr Stanczyk Tanya Howard, Naoya Ebe, Dylan Tedaldi, Jonathan Renna, Ryan Booth (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) VII Heather Ogden McGee Maddox, Aleksandar Antonijevic, Zdenek Konvalina (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Chelsy Meiss Jonathan Renna, Ryan Booth, Brett van Sickle (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) VIII Elena Lobsanova, Jenna Savella Robert Stephen, Christopher Stalzer (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Lise-Marie Jourdain, Jordana Daumec Dylan Tedaldi, Naoya Ebe (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) IX Xiao Nan Yu, McGee Maddox Heather Ogden (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Bridgett Zehr, Jonathan Renna Chelsy Meiss (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) X Guillaume Côté (Mar 23, 26 eve) Piotr Stanczyk (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27) Zdenek Konvalina (Mar 25) XI Xiao Nan Yu, Heather Ogden, Elena Lobsanova, Jillian Vanstone, Jenna Savella, Christopher Stalzer, Robert Stephen, McGee Maddox, Aleksandar Antonijevic, Zdenek Konvalina (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve) Bridgett Zehr, Chelsy Meiss, Lise-Marie Jourdain, Tanya Howard, Jordana Daumec, Naoya Ebe, Dylan Tedaldi, Jonathan Renna, Ryan Booth, Brett van Sickle (Mar 24, 26 mat, 27)

XII Entire Cast

Intermission

Theme and Variations

Choreography: George Balanchine* Staged by: Lindsay Fischer Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The final movement of Suite No. 3 for Orchestra in G major, Op. 55 Set and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto Lighting Design: Robert Thomson Répétiteur: Mandy-Jayne Richardson

Premiere: Ballet Theatre (later known as ), New York City, November 26, 1947 The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: February 18, 1998

Page 5 Theme and Variations is a gift from THE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA.

HEATHER OGDEN and GUILLAUME CÔTÉ (Mar 23, 27) JILLIAN VANSTONE and DYLAN TEDALDI (Mar 24, 26 mat) ELENA LOBSANOVA and PIOTR STANCZYK (Mar 25, 26 eve) Tina Pereira, Jordana Daumec, Jenna Savella, Tiffany Mosher, Brett van Sickle, Keiichi Hirano, Etienne Lavigne, Patrick Lavoie (Mar 23, 25, 26 eve, 27) Chelsy Meiss, Jordana Daumec, Jenna Savella, Tiffany Mosher, Brett van Sickle, Jonathan Renna, Nan Wang, James Leja (Mar 24, 26 mat) Chelsy Meiss or Ji Min Heng, Sarah Elena Wolff, Nadine Drouin, Juri Hiraoka, Lise-Marie Jourdain, Selene Guerrero-Trujillo or Elizabeth Marrable, Alejandra Perez-Gomez or Alexandra MacDonald, Krista Dowson, Christopher Stalzer, James Leja or Kevin D. Bowles, Ryan Booth, Nan Wang or McGee Maddox, Giorgio Galli, Joseph Steinauer, Brendan Saye, Aarik Wells

* The performance of Apollo and Theme and Variations, Balanchine® Ballets, are presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and have been produced by arrangement with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Approximate timing Apollo – 30 minutes Intermission – 20 minutes Theme and Variations – 21 minutes Intermission – 20 minutes Russian Seasons – 39 minutes The performance will run approximately 2 hours 10 minutes. Notes on the Ballets

Apollo achieved international recognition and began George Balanchine regarded Apollo as his his lifelong partnership with the composer. artistic coming of age. He wrote, “In its discipline Apollo had its premiere on June 12, 1928 and restraint, in its sustained oneness of tone by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes at the Théâtre and feeling, the score was a revelation. It Sarah Bernhardt in Paris. It was premiered by seemed to tell me that I could dare not use Balanchine’s own company, New York City everything that I, too, could eliminate.” Ballet on November 15, 1951 at City Center of The ballet depicts Apollo, the young god of Music and Drama in New York. The National music, who is visited and instructed by three Ballet of Canada first performed Apollo as part Muses, who were also children of Zeus and of an “All Stravinsky” programme on February therefore his half-sisters: Calliope, Muse of 18, 1999. poetry, whose symbol is a tablet; Polyhymnia, Muse of mime, whose symbol is a mask that represents the power of gesture; and Russian Seasons Terpsichore, Muse of dance and song, whose In a remarkably brief time, the gifted Russian symbol is a lyre. choreographer Alexei Ratmansky has risen Igor Stravinsky, who possessed a strong to the top ranks of international dancemakers. interest in Greek mythology, conceived of and Formerly the Artistic Director of the Bolshoi composed the score as a ballet. It was with Ballet and now Artist-in-Residence with this work, his second ballet set to the music American Ballet Theatre, Mr. Ratmansky of Stravinsky, that Balanchine, at age 24, combines the solid classical technique of his

Page 6 Russian training with a modern palette to great period in classical dancing when Russian reinvigorate both traditions. ballet flourished with the aid of Tchaikovsky’s Artistic Director Karen Kain has music.” And while the work is a beautiful and commissioned Mr. Ratmansky to create a new exuberant tribute to the Petipa legacy, it is also Romeo and Juliet that will open the National pure Balanchine. Ballet’s 60th Anniversary Season on November Set to the final movement of Pyotr Ilyich 16th, 2011. “Alexei Ratmansky is a brilliant Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 3 for Orchestra in choreographer and I think it is important G major, the ballet consists of a set of 12 Toronto audiences get to know him. Working variations, through which the vocabulary of on Russian Seasons gave him a wonderful classical dance is explored and celebrated. opportunity to get to know our dancers as A corps of 12 women forms the basis of the he prepares to cast Romeo and Juliet, and ballet’s choreographic excursions, and their I am thrilled to add this exquisite piece to our dances are interwoven with the solo repertoire.” said Ms. Kain. performances of a principal couple. A grand Created for New York City Ballet in 2006, polonaise builds to the climactic finale for the Russian Seasons is an inventive and exciting entire cast of 26 dancers. Theme and Variations combination of dance and musical flavours. is one of the most technically demanding in the The ballet uses classical steps with elements Balanchine canon, especially for the male of folk and jazz mixed in. The New York Times dancers, whose variations are not only of an described it as “such a marvel of dance that astonishing intricacy, but are intended to be when the curtain fell, it was like awakening danced at great speed. from a vivid dream.” Set to a score of four Theme and Variations had its premiere concertos for strings and solo soprano by on November 26, 1947 by Ballet Theatre (later Russian composer Leonid Desyatnikov, the known as American Ballet Theatre). The first ballet features six couples in a series of thematic performance starred Alicia Alonso and Igor vignettes loosely centered around the Russian Youkesvitch and was hailed an immediate Orthodox liturgical calendar. success by critics and audiences alike. It was not until February 5, 1960 that Balanchine’s Theme and Variations own company, New York City Ballet, premiered George Balanchine wrote that Theme and this work. The National Ballet of Canada first Variations, one of the choreographer’s best- performed Theme and Variations on February known works, was intended, “to evoke that 18, 1998 at the Hummingbird Centre.

Selected Biographies

Karen Kain, Silver Medal at the Moscow throughout her career. She is C.C., LL.D., D. Litt., O.Ont. International Ballet Competition a Companion of the Order of Artistic Director in 1973. This led to a highly Canada, the first Canadian Acknowledged as one of the successful career on stages recipient of the Cartier Lifetime leading classical ballerinas of throughout the world, dancing Achievement Award and was her time, Karen Kain is also a wide range of classical named an Officer of the Order one of Canada’s foremost arts and modern roles with such of Arts and Letters by the advocates, bringing the same companies as Roland Petit’s government of France. In 1997, passion and dedication she Ballet de Marseilles, The Bolshoi she was honoured with a exemplified as a dancer to her Ballet, , London Governor General’s National Arts roles as a spokesperson for Festival Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet Centre Award and received Canadian culture and as the and the Eliot Feld Company. Ms. a Governor General’s Award Artistic Director of The National Kain retired from dance in 1997 for Lifetime Artistic Achievement Ballet of Canada. A native of after a nationwide farewell tour in 2002. From 2004 to 2008, Hamilton, Ontario, Ms. Kain and, shortly afterwards, assumed Ms. Kain was Chair of the studied at Canada’s National the position of Artist-in-Residence Canada Council for the Arts. In Ballet School, graduating in with the National Ballet. In 1999, 2007, she received the Barbara 1969 when she joined The her role was expanded to that Hamilton Memorial Award for National Ballet of Canada. After of Artistic Associate and in June demonstrating excellence quickly rising to the rank of of 2005, she was appointed and professionalism in the Principal Dancer, she came Artistic Director of the company. performing arts. In 2008, the to the attention of international Ms. Kain has received numerous Karen Kain School of the Arts audiences when she won the accolades and awards officially opened. The school

Page 7 was named after Ms. Kain for As a member of The George Papp in the early 1970s. He has her significant contributions Balanchine Trust, Mr. Andersen collaborated with choreographer to the arts over her career. is part of a select group of James Kudelka on various individuals permitted to stage works including Alliances for George Balanchine ballets by the great master. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens Choreographer, Apollo, The Trust is an independent de Montréal, The Heart of the Theme and Variations organization formed to oversee Matter for and The George Balanchine was born in the licensing and production Comfort Zone and The End for St. Petersburg, in 1904. of Balanchine works. . For The He joined the National Ballet of Canada, they as a member of the corps de Robert Thomson created Pastorale, The Actress, ballet at the age of 17. In 1924, Lighting Designer, Apollo, Spring Awakening, The Mr. Balanchine was invited Theme and Varations Nutcracker, , The by Serge Diaghilev to join his Robert Thomson is one of Firebird and An Italian Straw . Mr. Balanchine Canada’s most versatile and Hat. Mr. Loquasto also was subsequently hired as active lighting designers. He has designed A Touch of the Poet, Ballet Master in 1925, a position received numerous awards over Three Days of Rain, Shining City he held until the company was his 30-year career including a and ’s The Times dissolved in 1929. In 1933, Sterling Award and four Dora They Are A-Changin’, all of Mr. Balanchine formed his own Mavor Moore Awards. For The which appeared on Broadway. company Les Ballets and shortly National Ballet of Canada, Mr. In 2005, he was voted into the thereafter met the American Thomson served as Resident Theater Hall of Fame. Mr. dance connoisseur Lincoln Lighting Designer for 12 seasons. Loquasto has won numerous Kirstein, which led him to His lighting designs include awards for his designs including move to the United States. In Don Quixote, Blue Snake, The Tony Awards in 1977, 1989 and collaboration with Mr. Kirstein, Taming of the Shrew, Romeo 1990 and the Drama Desk Mr. Balanchine formed School and Juliet, Manon, La Sylphide Award in 1989 and 1990. of American Ballet and American and . He also designed Among his extensive list of Ballet, which was the resident James Kudelka’s world nominations are Academy at the Metropolitan premieres of Swan Lake, The Award nominations for designs Opera. Mr. Balanchine worked Miraculous Mandarin and Spring in Woody Allen’s Bullets Over with the revitalized Ballet Russe Awakening plus the revivals Broadway, Radio Days and de Monte Carlo in the 1940s of Washington Square and Zelig. and finally served as Artistic Désir. His many designs for the Director of New York City Ballet, Stratford Shakespeare Festival Alexei Ratmansky now housed in the Lincoln include The Homecoming, Choreographer, Centre in New York City. Mr. Dangerous Liaisons, Zastrozzi, Russian Seasons Balanchine held this position Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, until his death in 1983. Cleopatra, Into the Woods Alexei Ratmansky is a and King Lear. For the Shaw choreographer and former Ib Andersen Festival, he served as Head of . He is Artist-in- Staging, Apollo Lighting Design and designed Residence and the Artistic Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, for 24 seasons with credits Advisor at American Ballet Ib Andersen was accepted into including Cavalcade, St. Joan Theatre and the former Artistic the School of the Royal Danish and Cyrano de Bergerac. Director of the . Ballet at age seven. He joined Mr. Thomson designed the Mr. Ratmansky was a Principal the at age Canadian Opera Company’s Dancer with the Kiev Ballet, 16 and became a Principal globally acclaimed production Canada’s Dancer at 20 – the youngest of Bluebeard’s Castle and and Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. principal in that company’s Erwartung directed by Robert Ratmansky has created ballets history. In 1980 at George Lepage, with recent mountings for the , Balanchine’s invitation he for Seattle Opera and Opéra Kirov Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, joined New York City Ballet, de Québec. His more recent , New York which led to a successful projects include Fernando City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet partnership wherein Balanchine Krapp Wrote Me This Letter and the , created roles for him in and The Cosmonaut’s Last where his Dreams of Japan, Ballade, Mozartiana and Message… for Canadian Stage; choreographed for American Davidsbündlertänze. In 1987, Krapp’s Last Tape/Hughie for Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Mr. Andersen choreographed Chicago’s Goodman Theatre; , earned the his first work, and in 1990 he Comedy of Errors and Buried Golden Mask Award from the retired from NYCB and began Child for the National Arts Theatre Union of Russia in to stage Balanchine ballets Centre; August: Osage County 1998. His 2003 work, The around the world. In 2000, Mr. for Citadel Theatre; King Lear Bright Stream, created for the Andersen was named Artisic starring Christopher Plummer Bolshoi Ballet, led to his Director of . Mr. for Lincoln Center Theater; Désir appointment as Artistic Director Andersen has choreographed and The Taming of the Shrew of the company the following over a dozen original ballets for American Ballet Theatre at year. In 2005, he choreographed and reinterpreted the classic the Metropolitan Opera House. a full-length production of The works for Ballet Arizona. Mr. Bolt and re-staged Andersen’s skills as a stager of Santo Loquasto (2007) and Balanchine works were recently Set and Costume (2008). In 2010, he created praised by The New York Times Designer, Theme and an acclaimed new Nutcracker and his most recent ballet Variations for American Ballet Theatre. Diversions was presented at the Santo Loquasto began designing The Critics’ Circle in London prestigious Ballet Across America costumes for legendary New named the Bolshoi Ballet “Best Festival at the Kennedy Center. York theatre producer Joseph Foreign Company” under Mr.

Page 8 Ratmansky’s direction in 2005 compositions include the Washington Chorus and and 2007 and he received their Rosenthal’s Children (an opera at the Liguria Festival, and National Dance Award for The in two acts; Vladimir Sorokin, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis Bright Stream. He received the libretto), Poor Liza (a chamber at the Golda Meir Performing 2005 opera in one act; Leonid Center in Tel Aviv. for his choreography of Anna Desyatnikov, libretto, after the Karenina for the Royal Danish novella by Nikolai Karamzin); Galina Solovyeva Ballet and the 2007 Golden Gift (a cantata based on the Costume Designer, Russian Mask Award for Best verses of Gavrila Derzhavin), Seasons Choreographer for Jeu de A Leaden Echo (a piece for Galina Solovyeva was born in Cartes, created for the Bolshoi. voice and instruments based St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1975 His ballets for New York City on the verses of Gerard Manley she graduated as a costume Ballet include Russian Seasons Hopkins) and The Rite of Winter and set designer from the and Concerto DSCH and On 1949 (a symphony for choir, Leningrad State Institute of the Dnieper, and Seven Sonatas soloists and orchestra). Since Theatre, Music and Cinema. for American Ballet Theatre. 1996 Mr. Desyatnikov has worked From 1975 to 1992, she was closely with Gidon Kremer, resident costume designer at Tatiana Ratmanskaya both as a composer (Wie der the (formerly Staging, Russian Seasons Alte Leiermann, the chamber Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre), Tatiana Ratmanskaya was born orchestra version of Sketches St. Petersburg and in 1992 in the Ukraine and trained at for Sunset, Russian Seasons and immigrated to the US. Working the Kiev Ballet School. As a as an arranger of compositions with the Mariinsky, Bolshoi and dancer she performed with the by Astor Piazzolla. He has also Mihailovsky Theaters in Russia, Ukranian National Ballet, composed the music for such Ballet Internationale (Indianapolis), Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet films as Sunset, Lost in Siberia, New York City Ballet, Het and Royal Danish Ballet. She Moscow Nights, Hammer and National Ballet (Amsterdam) was a guest artist with the Sickle, ’s Mania, His and many other international Imperial Russian Ballet and Wife’s Diary, The Prisoner of the companies, she has designed Copenhagen International Ballet Mountains and Moscow (Grand costumes for more than 100 Festival and performed in galas Prize, 4th Biennial Film Music ballets, operas and theatrical in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Festival, Bonn, 2002). productions. Some of the Tokyo, Berlin, Bratislava, Prague productions include Othello, and Vilnius. Ms. Ratmanskaya Susana Poretsky Eugene Onegin, Swan Lake, created many roles in works Soprano, Russian Seasons The Sleeping Beauty, Le by her husband, the celebrated Susana Poretksy joins The Corsaire, The Bolt, The choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, National Ballet of Canada for Nutcracker, Firebird. The including Whipped Cream, Leonid Desyatnikov’s Russian productions of Romeo and 98 Steps, Jurliberlu, Sarabande, Seasons after she premiered Juliet, Semyon Kotko and Swan Water, Turandot’s Dream, the piece with the New York Lake have toured to the US. Bolero, Anna Karenina and Old City Ballet and sang subsequent In addition to ballet and opera, Woman Falling Out. She has performances with Het Nationale she worked with the Oregon staged Mr. Ratmansky’s works Ballet in Amsterdam and Shakespeare Festival from 1996 for companies around the world San Francisco Ballet. Previous to 2001 designing costumes for including Bright Stream for performances include Suzuki Uncle Vanya, Force of Nature, the Latvian National Opera in Madama Butterfly (Los Rosmersholm and Enter the and American Ballet Theatre, Angeles Opera); Margret Guardsman. Mrs. Solovyeva Bolero for the in Wozzeck, Anna in Maria was honoured with a Barrymore Choreographic Workshop, Anna Stuarda, Fenena in Nabucco Award nomination in 2000, Karenina for Lithuanian National (San Diego Opera); Pauline received the Nika Award in Opera, in Pique Dame (Los Angeles 2001 and The Golden Soffit and Mariinsky Ballet and Opera, Washington National (St. Petersburg) Award in 2001 Russian Seasons for Het Opera); Adalgisa in Norma, and 2008. Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam Charlotte in Werther (Royal and The National Ballet of Swedish Opera); the title role Mark Stanley Canada. of Carmen (La Monnaie, Fort Lighting Designer, Russian Worth Opera); Marina Mnishek Seasons Leonid Desyatnikov in Boris Godunov (Nationaltheater Mark Stanley is currently the Composer, Russian Mannheim); Fenena in Nabucco Resident Lighting Designer for Seasons (Arena di Verona); Adalgisa in the New York City Ballet where Leonid Desyatnikov was born Norma (New Israeli Opera); and since 1986, he has designed in 1955 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He Maddalena in Rigoletto, Dryade over 180 premieres for their is a graduate of the Leningrad in Ariadne auf Naxos (Metropolitan repertory including works for Conservatory and a member Opera). Ms. Poretksy has sung Peter Martins, Christopher of the Composers Union. He Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony Wheeldon, Susan Stroman, has been a freelance composer with the Israeli Philharmonic Kevin O’Day, Christopher since 1984. Mr. Desyatnikov Orchestra and also with the D’Amboise, Alexei Ratmansky, has penned four operas, several New York Philharmonic debut William Forsythe, Ulysses Dove, cantatas and numerous vocal under the baton of Kurt Masur and others. In addition, he has and instrumental compositions. as well as L’Orchestre de Paris. designed for Susan Marshall, The composer defines his Other performances include David Gordon, Doug Varone, style as “the emancipation of Mozart’s Requiem at the Tim Rushton, Nicolo Fonte, consonance, the transformation Teatro San Carlo in Napoli, Lynn Taylor Corbett, and of the banal, minimalism with Mozart’s Mass in C minor and numerous ballet companies a human face”; his favourite Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 across Europe and the US. genre is the “tragically naughty at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Mr. Stanley previously served bagatelle.” His principal Genova, Verdi’s Requiem with as Resident Designer for the

Page 9 New York City Opera, lighting conducting from the University Festival, La Poudriere Theatre over 20 new productions for of Cincinnati College-Conservatory and The Studio Lab Theatre. He the resident and touring of Music and a Master’s Degree worked at Expo ’67 in Montréal, companies. He has designed from Queens College, City stage managing over 4,000 plays for The Kennedy Center, University of New York. puppet shows. Mr. Abugov also Huntington Theatre Company, toured with Harry Belafonte. Long Wharf, Ordway, David LaMarche In what little spare time that he Goodspeed, The Night Kitchen Guest Conductor has, Mr. Abugov guest-lectures Theater and on PBS for Live David LaMarche has been to theatre students. from Lincoln Center and Great working as a conductor in the Performances. Mr. Stanley heads dance world for more than Jeff Morris the lighting design programme 25 years. He served as Music Stage Manager at Boston University, is on the Director for the Dance Theatre Jeff Morris studied technical board of The Gilbert Hemlsey of Harlem from 1993 to theatre production and Lighting Programs, and is the 1998 and conducted many administration at Ryerson Theatre author of The Color of Light of the company’s premiere School. He has worked as Workbook. performances, both in the US Production Stage Manager and on tour in Europe, Africa for Toronto Dance Theatre David Briskin and South America. In addition and with the Fringe Festival Music Director and to conducting, he composed of Independent Dance Artists, Principal Conductor and arranged several scores for in addition to a broad range of One of the most highly respected the company’s repertoire. As a Toronto’s independent dance and versatile conductors at work guest, he has conducted for The artists. In 1995, Mr. Morris today, an insightful interpreter Joffrey Ballet, Dutch National joined The National Ballet of works from not just the ballet Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, of Canada and has since repertoire but the operatic, San Francisco Ballet, New York stage-managed a wide range symphonic and choral traditions City Ballet, , of the company’s classical as well, David Briskin enters his the Rome Opera Ballet and and contemporary repertoire, fifth season as Music Director the Paul Taylor Company. The including world premieres of and Principal Conductor with orchestras he has directed James Kudelka’s The Four The National Ballet of Canada. include the Houston Symphony, Seasons, Cinderella and An He brings a rich and varied Lyric Opera Orchestra of Italian Straw Hat. He is also musical experience to his Chicago, Pacific Symphony, an adjunct faculty member at position with the National Ballet, National Arts Centre Orchestra the School of Toronto Dance having served as Conductor of Canada, Tokyo Philharmonic, Theatre, where he teaches with American Ballet Theatre for Hong Kong Philharmonic, Production Elements for seven years, leading performances Moscow Radio Orchestra, Tivoli Dancers. at the Metropolitan Opera House, Festival Orchestra and the New York’s City Center and Orchestre Lamoreux of Paris. The National Ballet of in major opera houses around In April of 2007, he was a guest Canada Orchestra the world. As a guest conductor, on the faculty of Princeton The National Ballet of Canada Mr. Briskin appears regularly University, as Music Director for is privileged to have its own full with New York City Ballet performances with the Princeton orchestra with over 60 members. and San Francisco Ballet and Atelier programme. He is The orchestra has performed has also conducted for such currently in his 11th year on the in each of the National Ballet’s companies as Houston Ballet, conducting staff of American seasons and is led by Music The Joffrey Ballet and Les Grands Ballet Theatre and is Music Director and Principal Conductor Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Director of the Limón Dance David Briskin. The company’s He also served as conductor Company. Mr. LaMarche is a first Music Director was George for The Juilliard School’s Dance graduate of Boston University Crum who, along with Founder Division for 12 years. In addition, and resides in New York City. Celia Franca, was a pioneer of he has conducted symphony the company. Mr. Crum held orchestras and opera productions Ernest Abugov the position from the company’s throughout North America, Stage Manager inception in 1951 to 1984, Europe and Asia, appearing Ernest (Ernie) Abugov has served when he was appointed Music with, among others, the as Stage Manager of The Director Emeritus. The orchestra Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore, National Ballet of Canada since was led by Ermanno Florio Indianapolis and Shanghai 1973, working with every Artistic from 1985 to 1990. Ormsby symphony orchestras and such Director in the company’s Wilkins was Music Director and opera companies as Calgary, history from Celia Franca to Principal Conductor from 1990 Manitoba, Opera Carolina and Karen Kain. He has travelled to 2006. The National Ballet Lake George. He also served with the company all over the Orchestra has toured extensively for six years as the Music Director world, touring to Israel, Asia, with the company through of the Masterwork Chorus and Europe, Mexico and throughout Canada, the US and Europe. Orchestra, conducting annual North America. Mr. Abugov has Over the years, the orchestra performances of Handel’s Messiah worked with many of the world’s has received much acclaim at Carnegie Hall. In 2008, Mr. most renowned choreographers from audiences and critics alike Briskin was appointed Director who have created original works and has recorded two CDs of of Orchestral Studies at the for the National Ballet including Michael Torke’s compositions University of Toronto Faculty John Neumeier, William Forsythe for The Contract (The Pied of Music and Conductor of the and Glen Tetley. Mr. Abugov Piper) and An Italian Straw Hat. University of Toronto Symphony was born in Montréal, Québec. Orchestra. Mr. Briskin attended Before beginning his long For more information, visit the Indiana University School of association with the National national.ballet.ca Music and received a Bachelor Ballet, he worked with Les Feux of Music Degree in orchestral Follets, The Charlottetown

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