When we return after intermission we find ourselves transported to Konfituerenburg or the Land of the Sweets. Balanchine said, “When the curtain rises we are inside a huge box of candy!” He drew on his childhood memories of Eliseyevsky’s, a grand sweet shop that Balanchine said was as opulent as a palace and filled with… Read More
While setting The Nutcracker George Balanchine recalled his experiences as a young man at the Mariinsky Theatre, where he danced four roles in the ballet. So how fitting it is that the ballet’s opening picture is that of children: Marie and her brother Fritz. It is approximately 150 years ago and the children are waiting… Read More
Our story begins in 1816, with E.T.A. Hoffman’s tale, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.“ Hoffman lived in the Kingdom of Prussia and wrote stories that merged fantasy and reality, and which often included inanimate things come to life. His story about the Nutcracker included some gruesome details, so when Alexandre Dumas wrote his version… Read More
OBT 25, the production celebrating Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 25th anniversary, included a section titled “Love X3”. This portion of the program featured works by Trey McIntyre and Christopher Stowell and was rounded-out with the passionate bedroom pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet as choreographed by OBT’s Founding Artistic Director, James Canfield. Mr. Canfield is… Read More
In Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production of OBT 25, a section of the program was titled “Love X3” and highlighted choreographers who have most influenced the company. The performance of the Seguidilla pas de deux from Carmen, celebrates the era and choreographic influence of former Artistic Director Christopher Stowell. Mr. Stowell, the son of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s… Read More
