Roots: Opéra National de Paris
Paris, Opéra Bastille — Main Auditorium
About the Event
Entitled Roots, this programme explores those of George Balanchine who, in Theme and Variations, created in 1947 in New York, adopted Tchaikovsky’s music to pay homage to the Russian academic tradition that nurtured him.
Christopher Wheeldon, for his part, draws on the heritage of ancient Greece for his ballet Corybantic Games, making its repertoire debut at the Opera. The title refers as much to the frenzy that characterised the conducting style of Leonard Bernstein – whose music informs the piece – as it does to the Corybantes, the priests of the goddess Cybele with their martial dances.
Finally, Rhapsodies enters the repertoire to George Gershwin’s score. In his piece, Cape Town‐born choreographer Mthuthuzeli November evokes both urban energy and his African origins.
Thème et Variations
George Balanchine
Choreography
Piotr Ilyitch Tchaïkovski
Music (1840‑1893)
Vello Pähn
Conductor
Perry Silvey
Lighting design
Corybantic Games (Entry to the repertoire)
Christopher Wheeldon
Choreography
Leonard Bernstein
Music (1918‑1990)
Vello Pähn
Conductor
Jean‐Marc Puissant
Set design
Erdem Moralıoğlu
Costume design
Peter Mumford
Lighting design
Rhapsodies (Entry to the repertoire)
Mthuthuzeli November
Choreography
George Gershwin Music (1898‑1937)
Vello Pähn
Conductor
Magda Willi
Set design
Bregje van Balen
Costume design
Martin Gebhardt
Lighting design
Address
Opéra Bastille, Place de la Bastille, Paris, France — Google Maps