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KANSAS CITY, MO (September 13, 2007) – The 50th season will kick off October 11 through 14, 2007, at the Lyric Theatre with three Kansas City Ballet premieres: George Balanchine’s reverential Mozartiana, the haunting Dark Elegies, choreographed by Antony Tudor and Paul Taylor’s evocative Company B, complete with the swinging sounds of The Andrews Sisters. The Kansas City Symphony Ballet Orchestra will accompany the Ballet for Mozartiana and Dark Elegies, which also will feature baritone Robert Gibby Brand as guest soloist.
Mozartiana, premiered in 1981 at the Tschaikovsky Festival, is considered to be the last great masterpiece of this choreographic genius who died in 1983. As described in Robert Maiorano’s account “Balanchine’s Mozartiana – A Masterpiece in the Making”, “Balanchine thought of Mozart as a god, loved the music of Tschaikovsky, and wanted to give his favorite dancer, Suzanne Farrell, a final ballet. Mozartiana was his homage to the three artists to whom he felt the closest, and most revered. Now, when the ballet is performed, the dancers and the audience feel its spirituality. Balanchine becomes palpable”.
Kansas City Ballet is privileged to be able to add this great work to its already considerable inventory of Balanchine ballets.
Dark Elegies has long been considered by balletomanes to be Antony Tudor’s masterpiece and is thought of as the greatest tragic ballet in the English repertoire. Set to Gustav Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, this work, is comprised of a set of dances reflecting grief on the death of children, the human anguish of bereavement and the ultimate acceptance that life still goes on. The ballet is set in a non-specific and timeless village. Tudor intentionally choreographed a very free-style ballet with little pointe work, enhancing the expression of grief in its many physical manifestations. Baritone Robert Gibby Brand will perform live on stage, accompanied by the Kansas City Ballet Orchestra.
Company B, choreographed by the American modern dance genius Paul Taylor, is a subtle and multi-layered piece, and not just a lovely trip down memory lane. It does pay tribute to The Andrews Sisters, especially to their innovative popularization of Yiddish, polkas, and Caribbean rhythms. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bei Mir Bist du Schön, and Rum and Coca-Cola are among the featured favorites. This work reflects all Americans, regardless of the time. It provides a vibrant distillation of 1940’s Americana, tempered by the tragedy of GI’s dying during World War II. However, by contrasting shadowy figures of war and loss behind the merriment of dancers in the foreground, Company B turns into an anti-nostalgia piece, highlighting the hypocrisy and often rose-colored view of history.
Special 50th anniversary season support has been provided by the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation.
Other 50th Anniversary Fall Season Partners are:
- DST Systems, Inc.
- Midwest Airlines, Official Airline of KCB and Presenting Sponsor of Company B
- Hotel Phillips, Host Hotel and Restaurant of Kansas City Ballet
- Arts Council of Metropolitan KC and the ArtsKC Fund
The media partners are The Kansas City Star, KUDL, and NBC Action News.
About Kansas City Ballet
Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 25-member professional ballet company under the direction of Artistic Director William Whitener and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company’s mission is to offer our community, region and dance profession, dance experiences of the highest quality. The Kansas City Ballet is home to Kansas City Ballet School for nearly 600 children and adults, offering professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those seeking a healthy lifestyle. Through our professional company, school and community outreach programs such as ROAD, Project X, and Dance INFORMances, we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences and students in the creativity, diversity and joy of dance.
Kansas City Ballet celebrates its golden anniversary with a yearlong celebration that includes six Kansas City premieres, three world premieres, the 35th anniversary of The Nutcracker, New York performances, a Kennedy Center debut, a commemorative book, and special events. One world premiere Hey-Hay, Going to Kansas City by Donald McKayle has been commissioned by the Ballet and will pay homage to the golden age of jazz in Kansas City. The second and third world premiere ballets will be created by Artistic Director William Whitener to the music of Darius Milhaud and Alexander Glazunov. The company will complete its 50th anniversary main stage season with the evening-length classical ballet, Romeo and Juliet choreographed by Ib Andersen to the music of Prokofiev. In addition, the season is filled with festive surprises for all of Kansas City to enjoy! For more information about Kansas City Ballet’s upcoming 50th anniversary season, please explore the website at www.kcballet.org or call 816.931.2232 ext. 375.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEASON SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
To make ballet affordable for everyone, the Series Subscription Package includes major savings and benefits for the Fall, Winter, and Spring Repertory Programs including: ticket discounts, savings on single ticket prices, priority seating, free ticket exchange and the chance to purchase discounted tickets for The Nutcracker before they go on sale to the general public. For ticket information for the 2007-2008 season, please call Kansas City Ballet ticket box office at 816.931.2232 x375 or visit our website at www.kcballet.org.
STUDENT AND SENIOR DISCOUNTS
Students and seniors may arrive at the Lyric box office one to two hours prior to Fall, Winter or Spring Repertory Programs, and get any available seat for just $10 with a valid I.D. A limited number are available, so arrive early.
BARRE: Kansas City Ballet’s Young Friends Group
Kansas City Ballet BARRE is a subscription group for young professionals, age 21-40, who support the arts. Kansas City Ballet BARRE members enjoy a Friday night season ticket that includes social gatherings and special events – all while supporting Kansas City Ballet and for only $65. For more information, please contact Karen at 816.931.2232 x304, email barre@kcballet.org, or visit the new website at www.kcbbarre.org.
Join BARRE for opening night on Friday, October 12th for a pre-show happy hour with drinks and appetizers provided by Hotel Phillips in 12 Baltimore Café & Bar
(106 West 12th Street, KCMO) before attending the 7:30 p.m. Fall Performance. Free valet parking at Hotel Phillips. Tickets for non-BARRE members are $30 for the happy hour and performance. Reservations are preferred.
Kansas City Ballet
50th Anniversary, “A Brilliant Past, A Dazzling Future”
Fall Performance 2007
October 11-14, 2007
Lyric Theatre
Mozartiana George Balanchine/Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Dark Elegies Antony Tudor/Gustav Mahler
Company B Paul Taylor/songs sung by The Andrews Sisters
Thursday, October 11 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 12 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 13 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 14 2:00 p.m.
Footnotes
Artistic Director William Whitener will give a pre-show talk beginning one hour prior to each performance.
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Please direct all media inquiries to: Ellen McDonald at 816.444.0052.
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