San Francisco Ballet’s 2010 Season Announcement April 8, 2009
Pierre-Francois Vilanoba and Sofiane Sylve in Forsythe's in the middle, somewhat elevated. © Erik Tomasson
Highlights of next year’s programming at SF Ballet include the U.S. premiere of John Neumeier’s A Little Mermaid, world premieres by Christopher Wheeldon, resident choreographer Yuri Possohkov, and Renato Zanella, a reprise of Tomasson’s Swan Lake, and finally, Balanchine’s Serenade. A brief summary of each program follows:
- Program 1: Tomasson’s Swan Lake
- Program 2: Robbins’ Opus 19/The Dreamer, a world premiere by Christopher Wheeldon, and the return of Paul Taylor’s Company B
- Program 3: an All-Balanchine Program, with Balanchine’s Serenade, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, and Theme and Variations
- Program 4: Yuri Possokhov’s Diving into the Lilacs, the return of William Forsythe’s in the middle, somewhat elevated, and the SF Ballet premiere of Michel Fokine’s Petrouchka.
- Program 5: United States premiere of Hamburg Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer John Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid, a full-length ballet set to the commissioned music of Lera Auerbach.
- Program 6: Tomasson’s “Haffner” Symphony, a world premiere by choreographer Renato Zanella, and the return of Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons.
- Program 7: Wheeldon’s Rush, a world premiere by Possokhov, and the encore presentation of Robbins’ The Concert (or, the Perils of Everybody).
- Program 8: Tomasson’s Romeo and Juliet
What are your must-sees next year?? I applaud Helgi Tomasson for making such forward-thinking decisions – he really is vying for the world’s best artistic director award. My favorite is Neumeier’s Little Mermaid, although there are a LOT more repeats from this year than I expected. It would be nice to see something new. Can I put in a request for Morris’ Sylvia before the girls it was created on leave the company (one out of three already left), Robbin’s Goldberg Variations, and Balanchine’s Chaconne? Any more requests?
The official press release, here.
Hi Jolene,
Jeez, I am getting sick of seeing another Swan lake, even dancing it is no longer a pleasure, but we dancers can always fake it. I am excited about Theme & Variations, it is extremely difficult to execute all the steps beautifully, it is also stamina challenging. “Theme and Variations” is one of my favourites besides Symphony in C and Square Dance.
The Little Mermaid ballet sounds like a new adventure for us all, I can’t wait to have a little fun. Recently, Robbin’s The Concert was refreshing, it looked like the audience loved it as much as we did. I would love to see Ratmansky’s Canival of the Animals (very funny), and perhaps Paquita (Makarova’s short version) again. But well, Mr. Director is the one who makes decision, not us.
I am surprised that you like Mr. Morris’s Sylvia. I love love to dance, and see any of Mr. Morris’s creations but full length narrative Ballets. Sylvia is boring, and even the shocking moment of an almost naked Venus’s lover couldn’t even save it. Have you seen Mark Morris’s Romeo & Juliet (introducing new discovery score by Prokofiev)? Mr. Morris had his Romeo and Juliet stark naked on stage, and Romeo even got up on bed facing the audience with full frontal. The production is awful, to my opinion, it is. I am very open minded when it comes to nudity, only if nudity is tastefully done and it adds meanings to the play/or dance. However, if nudity is added for meaningless shocking moments, it is no longer an Art in my book.
For the first time in 7 years, my Mother will not renew her 8 program Subscription with SFB. She said SFB had waste lots of its talented dancers on dull programs. Forgive my Mother, NYCB and ABT have spoiled her too much with their vast repertoire..and I for once agree with her this time.
These ballets still remain in my wish list, again it’s just me “wishing …and thinking” perhaps some day
La Sylphide
La Bayadere
Manon
Eugene Onegin
…and perhaps SFB will invite more new talented choreographers such as Mats Ek, Jiri Kylian… or bring back some of Roland Petit’s, Ashton’s, Kenneth MacMillan’s
Hi JAD, I second Manon too! Actually all of your choices sound like a lot of great ones to see.
So unfortunately, I don’t know what it’s like to dance any of Mark Morris’ ballets, including Sylvia. I’m sure it’s very different dancing it, and watching it. I’m sorry that you found it boring! You’re right in that it isn’t the most exciting ballet out there filled with an edge-of-your-seat thrill, but overall, I found it to be an intellectually engaging full length ballet that was filled with whimsical details in ultimately a complete, satisfying experience. I’m constantly delighted at the fresh ideas that Mark Morris throws into his choreography in response to the music, and as a classically trained musician, I love that Morris constantly shows me new and interesting things in the music. And, in a smart way! I also like his bold moves at taking ballet outside of its normal realm of “pretty” into new territory, including the second act with the bald creatures/captors that reside in Sylvia’s captors’ lair. Their choreography is so inspired and follows the music to a tee, yet it’s interpreted in such a unique way. I’m sure it’s much different dancing it, but I found it to be right up my alley. I understand what you mean in that there’s no exciting and big ballet elements like the Kingdom of the Shades for example, but I found it fun in a completely different way. I guess we can’t all like the same ballets, and that’s ok with me!
And not to mention the gorgeous Delibes music!
I would love to see Square Dance one day.
I am very happy that there will be three full-length ballets. I welcome the Swan Lake repeat. But I do agree with you Delibes fans. PLEASE BRING BACK THE FABULOUS SYLVIA IN 2011 !!
Hi Juna, I do love full-length ballets too. I’m looking forward to seeing Sarah Van Patten in Swan Lake, and Maria Kochetkova’s rendition as well, which I didn’t get a chance to catch this year.
Yes, another vote for Sylvia! I also want to put in a vote for Balanchine’s La Valse. I’ve been reading all these fab reviews of NYCB’s La Valse, and it looks fascinating.