29 Oct Pennsylvania Ballet Launches Fall Digital Season
Pennsylvania Ballet announced today the launch of its digital season, titled Director’s Choice, featuring four complete archival ballets and excerpts directed by Artistic Director Angel Corella. The online season will be available free of charge and is scheduled to launch in two installments on November 12 and November 19 at 7:30 p.m. EST. Each stream will feature conversations with the artists of Pennsylvania Ballet.
“In the face of COVID-19, we’re staying nimble and pushing boundaries by staging a reimagined season featuring contemporary ballets, performed by our versatile dancers and Principal Pianist Martha Koeneman,” said Corella. “We know that our patrons will truly absorb and enjoy these sought-after performances that have been well-received in the past. We’re eager for audiences from around the world who haven’t seen the artists of Pennsylvania Ballet perform live to experience our poetic artistry from the comfort of their home.”
The digital season will open with Nicolo Fonte’s Ghost Stories and Andrea Miller’s Evenings will be available to stream from November 12-18. Fonte’s Ghost Stories premiered in April 2017 set to a commissioned score by Ezio Bosso and Max Richter. Fonte’s powerful work showcases the creative dialogue between his daring vision and the dancers’ seemingly limitless grasp of physical expression. Miller’s Evenings premiered in November 2018 and is scored to elegiac music by composer Arvo Pärt. Miller’s sculptural choreography pushes classically trained dancers to adapt the more fluid Gaga movement.
The second week of programming will feature Helen Pickett’s Tilt and Matthew Neenan’s Deco that will be available to stream from November 19-25. Pickett’s bold and angular Tilt was staged in November 2017 and composed by Philip Glass. The performance showcases meticulous accuracy by Pennsylvania Ballet dancers coupled with Pickett’s ability to capture the human dilemma within her choreography.
Neenan’s artful Deco premiered in April 2019. The ballet was composed by Igor Stravinsky, one of the 20th century’s most famous composers, featuring an intimate cast of fearless performers. The ballet footage will be shared with the public for the first time with the cooperation of the labor unions for the Company’s artists and other behind-the-scenes personnel, as well as the rights holders for the choreography, music, sets, costumes and lighting design.
Viewers can stream Pennsylvania Ballet’s Director’s Choice by registering on the website. The Presenting Sponsors of Director’s Choice are Linda and David Glickstein. Additional support is provided by Allen R. and Judy Brick Freedman. Up to $25,000 will be matched by Linda and David Glickstein. Please donate by visiting DirectorsChoice.GiveSmart.com. Pennsylvania Ballet’s exclusive holiday programming is forthcoming. For more information about Pennsylvania Ballet, please visit Paballet.org.