Murphy's Modern Classic To Open 2008

The Age

Wednesday September 5, 2007

Jo Roberts

TRAGEDY, tribute and an all-new triple bill were on the menu at the Melbourne Supper Club yesterday, as the Australian Ballet launched its 2008 season.

Artistic director David McAllister revealed five Melbourne productions featuring a sure-fire hit as season opener - Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake - a tribute to choreographer Jerome Robbins, and a triple-bill of world-premiere scores and dances with Interplay.

The season will open in March with Murphy's internationally celebrated 2002 version of one of ballet's most tragic love stories, in its second restaging since 2004 due to public demand, McAllister said.

He said the company's last Australian performance of Swan Lake was two years ago in Brisbane. "We had people flying from Sydney and Melbourne to see it, so it's due for a return season."

Jerome Robbins - a Celebration marks the 10th anniversary of the death of the dancer-choreographer who began his career on Broadway with hits such as West Side Story before making landmark ballets with New York City Ballet. The Australian Ballet will perform three works created for the NYC Ballet - The Cage, Afternoon of a Faun and The Concert - plus A Suite of Dances, created by Robbins at the age of 75 for Mikhail Baryshnikov.

"The program is really highlighting the incredible breadth of his talents," McAllister said. "In my recollection, we've never done a full evening of his work."

Then comes the traditional tutu night with Ballet Imperial, which continues the company's love affair with George Balanchine, in his tribute to Marius Petipa and the Russian ballet tradition. It also features Petipa and Petipa-inspired vignettes.

"It's always fun to have a big tutu ballet," said McAllister. "And I like the idea of having a mixed program that is very classical."

The company then veers sharply into uncharted waters with Interplay, a triple bill of collaborations between three Australian composers and three choreographers. AB resident choreographer Stephen Baynes has already begun working with Helpmann award-winning composer Richard Mills on their piece, while New York-born choreographer Nicolo Fonte will team with Ross Edwards and Toronto-based choreographer Matjash Mrozewski to create a new work with composer Gerard Brophy.

"It's so new we have no idea what it's going to be, except it's going to be exciting," McAllister said. "It's the first time our ballet has staged three completely new works in the one evening."

The season will conclude with Sir Kenneth MacMillan's lavish tale of obsession and betrayal, Manon, last performed by the company for the 2001 Melbourne International Arts Festival, with French ballet superstar Sylvie Guillem in the title role.

"It'll be nice to bring it back for a season and have our principal dancers in the leading roles," McAllister said.

MELBOURNE 2008 SEASON

- Swan Lake

March 14-26

- Jerome Robbins: a Celebration

June 5-16

- Ballet Imperial

June 20-July 1

- Interplay

August 28- September 8

- Manon

September 12-23

LINK

? www.australianballet.com.au

© 2007 The Age

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