The Dutch National Ballet presents the ballet performance “Back to Ballet – Classic”, consisting of extracts from timeless ballets. The premiere performance was livestreamed on 28 November and will be followed by three repeat performances on 4, 9 and 12 December, each with a different cast.

The soloists will be accompanied by the Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Koen Kessels.

Programme contains:

Valse Fantasie

Valse Fantasie was originally presented as the second section of Glinkiana (1967), which George Balanchine choreographed to four different compositions by Mikhail Glinka. Since the music is reminiscent of the waltzes of Frederic Chopin, the ballet is also nicknamed “The Melancholy Waltz”.

Swan Lake (pas de deux from Act II)

Swan Lake (1895), by composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographer Marius Petipa, is one of the masterpieces of nineteenth-century Russian imperial ballet. The pas de deux that Odette dances in the second act with Prince Siegfried is considered a miracle of lyricism and poetry in the art of dance.

Classical Symphony

Choreographer and director of Dutch National Ballet Ted Brandsen created Classical Symphony for the male dancers in the company. For the occasion of the company’s annual Gala in 2014, he created Vivace, set to the music of the final part of Sergei Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony. He now expands his creation for the “Back to Ballet” programme, offering his own interpretation of the theme.

Le Corsaire (pas de deux)

The spectacular pas de deux from Le Corsaire was created in the late nineteenth century and could be interpreted as an ode to the virtuosity of classical ballet. Its technical and expressive requirements have rendered it a favourite among soloists.

Paquita

In her version of Marius Petipa’s Paquita, associate artistic director Rachel Beaujean shines a fresh light on the pure dance divertissement from the narrative nineteenth-century ballet. Beaujean gives this ballet classic a momentum and drive that suits our times.

To watch the performance, you must first register and then purchase a ticket for €12.50. For more information about the livestream and the performers, click here.

Source: operaballet.nl