Ballet Imperial is accompanied by a selection of other gems from the Russian repertoire that inspired Balanchine's piece, many of them choreographed by Marius Petipa. All are exciting, extravagant and technically challenging pieces that showcase the dancer's exceptional qualities and talent.
Ballet Imperial follows on from the success of the Melbourne 2007 Paquita programme and promises to be an evening of pure dance.
BALLET IMPERIAL
George Balanchine is revered as the trailblazer of the neoclassical movement, where dance was stripped down to absolute purity of line. However the Russian-born choreographer trained at the famous Imperial Ballet School in St Petersburg and was grounded in the traditions of classical ballet as laid down by the master, Marius Petipa. The technically demanding Ballet Imperial, set to Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2, in G major, Op. 44, has all the regal splendour of Russian classicism but with a more contemporary, athletic edge. Like many of Balanchine's works this ballet has a strong relationship between music and movement.
Ballet Imperial has long been included in the repertoire of ballet companies throughout the world and had several reincarnations at the hand of Balanchine, mainly in terms of decor and costume. This version by The Australian Ballet will feature new costumes by Melbourne designer Hugh Colman.
Ballet Imperial was first performed by The Australian Ballet on 26 October 1967 and last seen in 1980. This was the first Balanchine work in the company's repertoire.
As the father of classical ballet, Petipa's influence on the art form is still felt strongly today. French born, he joined the Maryinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 1847. Rapidly he became ballet master and soon his epic choreographic genius was revealed. Almost every popular classical ballet in the international repertoire today has been touched by Petipa in some way.
The principles of form, technique and structure laid down by Petipa during his heyday shaped the work of generations of choreographers to come. So many of his signatures – the elevation of the white act to iconic status, the recognition and amalgamation of outstanding music, the clean, elegant, precise attitude of high classical dance – still define ballet for many audiences today.
Performance dates are from 20 June to 1 July (12 performances) with Orchestra Victoria. -- www.australianballet.com.au
