Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's TCHAIKOVSKY Set for The Music Center This June

Angelenos will discover the personal struggles behind the success of world-renown composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as The Music Center welcomes Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's Tchaikovsky on June 23-25, 2017 as part of the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center 2016-2017 season.

The ballet reflects the famed choreographer Boris Eifman's in-depth research of the great composer's personal and creative worlds and the environment that led to his torment. A new version of the ballet that originally debuted in 1993, this current production highlights the modern artistic and technological possibilities of ballet theatre.

Eifman's enigmatic contemporary choreography explores the composer's complicated sexuality, his inner break-up and personality dissociation, and his journey through the creative process. Set to a score of Tchaikovsky's most popular symphonies, the ballet showcases characters from his work that materialize as demons, fairies and the like. They push and pull Tchaikovsky from torment to the brink of ecstasy. The New York Times said, "The choreography is antiliteral, and Mr. Eifman has molded his dancers into performers of explosive expressiveness."

"Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's Tchaikovsky reveals the lesser known story behind the life and accomplishments of this venerable composer, using dance to communicate the emotional turmoil the musical genius experienced throughout his life as he struggled with an internal conflict that shaped his work," said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. "Both Angelenos who are new to dance and those who consider themselves aficionados will enjoy Eifman's extravagant portrayal of Tchaikovsky's life and the bold emotions evoked through this nontraditional interpretation of narrative ballet."

"With Tchaikovsky, The Music Center continues its initiative to introduce performing arts enthusiasts to the versatility and varying styles of dance," explained Michael Solomon, vice president of presentations and education, The Music Center. "We are proud to welcome Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg back to Los Angeles and to share the theatricality and brilliant technique it represents. Tchaikovsky is a wonderful example of how ballet can bridge both contemporary and classical styles, resulting in a performance that amazes the audience."

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this season, Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg is currently the only Russian contemporary ballet company touring outside of Russia. The company was founded by Boris Eifman in 1977 as the Leningrad New Ballet. From the very beginning, Eifman Ballet and the concept of "The New Ballet" was highly innovative and considered an experimental laboratory of one choreographer. Renowned among ballet lovers worldwide and noted for story ballets, Eifman Ballet engages audiences by encouraging them to both appreciate the beauty of the "dance fabric" of the performances and empathize with the action. Keeping in line with the mission to promote Russian contemporary choreographic art, Eifman Ballet has been actively engaged in touring all over the world. The Los Angeles Times has called Eifman's creations "theatrical, visionary works that delve into characters' lives in the most exciting, probing, titillating, and wondrous ways."

Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Boris Eifman
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Lighting Design: Alexander Sivaev, Boris Eifman
Set Design: Zinovy Margolin
Costume Design: Olga Shaishmelashvili, Vyacheslav Okunev

Tickets for Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's Tchaikovsky performances at The Music Center start at $34 and are available online at musiccenter.org/eifman; at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012; or by calling (213) 972-0711. For groups of 10 or more, call (213) 972-8555 or email mcgroupsales@musiccenter.org.

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center is one of the leading presenters of dance on the West Coast. The celebrated series offers significant works by prestigious ballet and contemporary dance artists from around the world. Entering its second decade, Dance at The Music Center is a powerful commissioning force, supporting new works and artists-in-residence projects by today's most influential companies and choreographers. Performances take place throughout The Music Center, including the historic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the distinctive Ahmanson Theatre and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and in locations around the Los Angeles area.

As L.A.'s performing arts destination, The Music Center is L.A.'s home to the world's greatest artistic programs and events. With four iconic theaters and four renowned resident companies - Center Theatre Group, the LA Master Chorale, the LA Opera and the LA Philharmonic - and recognized for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, The Music Center is a destination where audiences find inspiration in the very best of live performance, as well as nationally recognized arts education and participatory arts experiences. With The Music Center On Location, the non-profit performing arts organization brings events and activities to locations outside of its Downtown Los Angeles campus. The Music Center also programs and manages Grand Park, a 12-acre adjacent greenspace, with year-round free programming. For more information, visit musiccenter.org Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@MusicCenterLA).

Photo courtesy of Evgeny Matveev.