All Tchaikovsky
Ballet highlights from the world's favourite ballet composer
When asked to name their favourite ballet composer, most people wouldn't hesitate to say, "Tchaikovsky". In reality, Tchaikovsky collaborated with choreographer Marius Petipa to write only three dedicated ballet scores - Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. However, the beauty and depth of Tchaikovsky's music has inspired numerous works of ballet by choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries. In this production, the Hong Kong Ballet will showcase five spectacular works - Grand Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty by Marius Petipa, Theme and Variations and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux by George Balanchine, Pas de Quatre from Swan Lake Act I by Hong Kong Ballet Artistic Director John Meehan, and The Way Alone, a newly commissioned work by Resident Choreographer of The Australian Ballet Stephen Baynes. These performances explore a variety of Tchaichovsky's compositions and pay tribute to the lyricism and richness of his music with the beauty and expressiveness of dance.
Perfect for a company riding high on critical acclaim for Artistic Director John Meehan, this latest mixed-bill displays the technical strength and artistic versatility of the Hong Kong Ballet. Moreover, this production builds on the Company's broad repertoire, which includes not only classics, like Swan Lake, but also important 20th century works and newly commissioned ballets.
…the programme (Momentum) shows the troupe well on the way to artistic director John Meehan's goal of making them (Hong Kong Ballet) a world class company.
South China Morning Post
Grand Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty
Dancers: Faye Leung, Nobuo Fujino
Photo: Siu Wang-Ngai
First seen on 3 January 1890, Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty ends with Petipa's spectacular Grand Pas de Deux. Prince Florimund's kiss has broken the witch's spell and awoken Princess Aurora from a hundred year sleep. This lyrical dance celebrates the couple's love and concludes with breathtaking solos by both dancers.
- Choreography
- Marius Petipa
- Costume
- Peter Cazalet
- Lighting
- Billy Chan
Pas de Quatre from Swan Lake Act I
Swan Lake
Dancers: Zhang Yao, Kyoko Tomimura, Wei Wei, Chantel Elizabeth Roulston
Photo: Jimmy Chan
John Meehan has choreographed what has traditionally been seen as the Act I pas de trois. Created in August 2007, Meehan's Swan Lake Act I pas de quatre revisits Tchaikovsky's memorable score and infuses it with fresh ideas.
- Choreography
- John Meehan
- Set and Costume
- Peter Farmer
- Additional Costume
- Harvey Santos
- Lighting
- Billy Chan
Theme and Variations
Theme and Variations
Dancers: Jin Yao, Huang Zhen
Photo: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Taking the final movement of Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 3 for Orchestra, Balanchine created this show-stopping ballet in 1947. Theme and Variations evokes the history of the Russian Imperial Ballet. Intriguingly, Balanchine had to devise steps at speeds not danced to hitherto, creating new, exhilarating challenges for all the dancers.
- Choreography
- George Balanchine
- Set and Costume
- Bill Haycock
- Lighting
- Billy Chan
Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux
Dancers: Crystal Costa, Han Po
Photo: Conrad Dy-Liacco
In 1960 Balanchine again turned to Tchaikovsky. The music for this pas de deux was originally intended for the pas de deux in Act III of Swan Lake, but later discarded by Petipa. From this music, Balanchine created "a display piece, based on the music and the maximum gifts of virtuoso performers".
- Choreography
- George Balanchine
- Costume Execution
- Joanne Chong
- Lighting
- Billy Chan
The Way Alone (world première)
Hong Kong Ballet commissioned Stephen Baynes, Resident Choreographer of The Australia Ballet, to create this world première performance. Choosing an eclectic mix from Tchaikovsky's oeuvre, Stephen Baynes takes as his theme the forging of a new future with reference to the past. This allows him to relate classical ballet to contemporary dance, while treating each dancer as an individual character.
Stephen Baynes has created works for a number of international dance companies including New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Sydney Dance Company. The Way Alone is his first work for The Hong Kong Ballet.
- Choreography
- Stephen Baynes
- Costume
- Bacchus Lee
- Lighting
- Billy Chan
- Music selected from
- The Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
The Seasons "May"
"Lullaby" from Tchaikovsky's Romances arranged for cello and orchestra
Piano Concerto No 1. 2nd movement "Andantino"
Virtuoso ballerina Merrill Ashley will come to Hong Kong as Répétiteur for the Balanchine ballets
Discounts:
- 55% off -
- Full-time University students, Full-time students of School of Continuing and Professional Studies of CUHK
- 50% off -
- Full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities (Limited tickets for students available on a first-come-first-served basis)
- 20% off -
- Each purchase of 20 or more full-price tickets (Maximum 40 tickets for each purchase), Friends of Hong Kong Ballet
- 10% off -
- Each purchase of 10-19 full-price tickets, Staff of Universities, Alumni of HKU SPACE, CU Alumni Credit Card holders, SCS Alumni Credit Card holders
Patrons could enjoy only one of the above discounts for each purchase
- Audiences are advised to arrive punctually.
- Late-comers will not be admitted until a suitable break or the intermission
- The presenter reserves the right to change programme and artist