Ballet Drama Firebird by Ballet San Jose June 13, 2008

Time: 2008/6/13
Venue: Poly Theatre
Price: 80/180/280/380/480/580/680
MSN: [email protected]
Tel: 86-10-64177845

Booking now:
http://www.piao.com.cn/en%5Fpiao/ticket_1842.html

For other tickets:
http://www.piao.com.cn/en%5Fpiao/allticket.asp

Performed by Ballet San Jose, USA

TheFirebird is a 1910 ballet by Igor Stravinsky and choreographed byMichel Fokine. The ballet is based on Russian folk tales of the magicalglowing bird of the same name that is both a blessing and a curse toits captor.

The music was premiered as a ballet by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Parison 25 June 1910 conducted by Gabriel Pierne. It was the first of theirproductions with music specially composed for them. Originally themusic was to have been written by Russian composer Anatol Liadov(1855-1914); but when he was slow in starting work, Diaghilevtransferred the commission to the 28-year old Stravinsky. The ballethas historic significance not only as Stravinsky's 'breakthrough piece'("Mark him well", said Diaghilev to Tamara Karsavina, who was dancingthe title role: "He is a man on the eve of celebrity..."), but also asthe beginning of the collaboration between Diaghilev and Stravinskythat would also produce Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Theballet was staged by George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet in1949 with Maria Tallchief as the Firebird with scenery and costumes byMarc Chagall, and was performed in repertory until 1965. The ballet wasrestaged by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins in 1970 for the NewYork City Ballet with new scenery and Karinska costumes for the 1972Stravinsky Festival that introduced Gelsey Kirkland as the Firebird.

Story
Stravinsky'sballet centers on the journey of its hero, Prince Ivan. Ivan enters themagical realm of Kashchei the Immortal; all of the magical objects andcreatures of Kashchei are herein represented by a chromatic descendingmotif, usually in the strings. While wandering in the garden, he seesand chases the Firebird. The Firebird, once caught by Ivan, begs forits life and ultimately agrees to assist Ivan in exchange for eventualfreedom.

Next,Prince Ivan sees thirteen princesses, with one of whom he falls inlove. The next day, Ivan chooses to confront Kashchei to ask to marryone of the princesses; the two talk and eventually begin quarreling.When Kashchei sends his magical creatures after Ivan, the Firebird,true to its pledge, intervenes, bewitching the creatures and makingthem dance an elaborate, energetic dance (the "Infernal Dance"). Thecreatures and Kashchei then fall asleep; however, Kashchei awakens andis killed by the Firebird. With Kashchei gone and his magic broken, themagical creatures and the palace all disappear, and all of the "real"beings (including the princesses) awaken and, with one final fleetingappearance from the Firebird, celebrate their victory.

About Ballet San Jose
Ballet San Jose in San Jose, California, USA,was originally founded in 1986 as the "San Jose Cleveland Ballet," aco-venture with the ten-year old Cleveland Ballet which offered to thedancers added performing exposure, and each city a ballet company for amoderate, shared investment. In 2000, the Cleveland Ballet ceasedoperations, and over half the dancers, the headquarters, and artisticdirector/choreographer Dennis Nahat moved to San Joseto continue operations there. The company was originally known asBallet San Jose Silicon Valley, but in July 2006 shortened its name tosimply Ballet San Jose.

Asof 2005, there is a resident company of 33 dancers from 12 countries infour continents, with a repertoire of over 120 traditional and modernclassical ballets. Performances at the San Jose Centerfor the Performing Arts are accompanied by the Symphony Silicon Valley.The Ballet is now a 'fully-owned' resident company serving all of Silicon Valley.

Thecompany's mission is to provide the San Francisco Bay Area withtheatrically produced ballet and professional dance education in amanner that honors the vision of the artists, meets the highesttechnical and artistic standards, contributes to the fulfillment of thecultural needs of the community, and is accessible to as wide anaudience as possible.

Official Website: http://www.piao.com.cn