As a ballet, THE MERRY WIDOW is an adaptation of Franz Lehar's popular romantic operetta Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), which premiered in 1905. In the process of adapting the score for ballet, John Lanchbery and Alan Abott retained the style of Franz Lehar's orchestrations and included several of the well-known tunes from the operetta. Their score premiered in 1975 when The Australian Ballet, under the Musical Direction of John Lanchbery, produced the World Premiere production with choreography by Ronald Hynd and Scenario and Staging by Sir Robert Helpmann. This grandiose and radiant ballet of THE MERRY WIDOW had its Houston Ballet Premiere on September 17, 1995 in the Brown Theater. The Houston Ballet also performed it in 1999 and 2007. Now, in 2013, the lavish production is serving as Mireille Hassenboehler's gorgeous swan song and letter of admiration to the audiences of the Houston Ballet.
From tonight, September 19-29, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Ronald Hynd's comic and enchanting The Merry Widow.Adapted from Franz Lehar's beloved operetta, the internationally-admired British choreographer Ronald Hynd adds a new layer of lavish spectacle and choreography to the original story of The Merry Widow to create an irresistibly charming and intoxicating tale of high jinks, finance, romance, and intrigue. The production features magnificent scenery and costumes by Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. The company will give seven performances at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.
From September 19-29, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Ronald Hynd's comic and enchanting The Merry Widow. Adapted from Franz Lehar's beloved operetta, the internationally-admired British choreographer Ronald Hynd adds a new layer of lavish spectacle and choreography to the original story of The Merry Widow to create an irresistibly charming and intoxicating tale of high jinks, finance, romance, and intrigue. The production features magnificent scenery and costumes by Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. The company will give seven performances at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets start at $19, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org or by calling 713 227 ARTS (2787).
From September 19-29, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Ronald Hynd's comic and enchanting The Merry Widow.Adapted from Franz Lehar's beloved operetta, the internationally-admired British choreographer Ronald Hynd adds a new layer of lavish spectacle and choreography to the original story of The Merry Widow to create an irresistibly charming and intoxicating tale of high jinks, finance, romance, and intrigue. The production features magnificent scenery and costumes by Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. The company will give seven performances at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets start at $19, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org or by calling 713 227 ARTS (2787).
Pacific Northwest Ballet opens its Box Office for 2013-2014 ticket sales on Monday, July 22. As is its tradition, PNB is offering aspecial money-saving deal to celebrate the company's 41st season: Pay no service fees on tickets purchased thru July 31. Tickets (as well as subscriptions) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office, either by phone (206.441.2424), online (pnb.org) or in person at 301 Mercer Street.
Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch has announced the company's 2013-2014 season. Eight new works enter Houston Ballet's repertoire, including world premieres by James Kudelka, Garrett Smith and Melissa Hough in September 2013; the North American premiere of David Bintley's Aladdin in February 2014; company premieres of Jiri Kylian's Sechs Tanze, Christopher Bruce's Intimate Pages and Stanton Welch's Of Blessed Memory as well as a world premiere A Young Person's Guide to Orchestra by Mr. Welch in March 2014.
Tonight, November 30, 2012, Houston Ballet presents its ninth annual Jubilee of Dance: A Tribute to Amy Fote, a special one-night only performance showcasing the talent and artistry of the company dancers in a program of high-energy excerpts from signature works and beloved classics. Houston Chronicle dance critic Molly Glentzer called the 2006 Jubilee of Dance "the event of the season," noting, "The audience gave it a rousing standing ovation." The Jubilee of Dance will be held at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.
From November 23 - December 30, 2012, Houston Ballet celebrates the 25th anniversary of Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 25 years ago.
From November 23 - December 30, 2012, Houston Ballet celebrates the 25th anniversary of Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 25 years ago. The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which "grows" to 40 feet, 200 pounds of "snow" falling during the snow scene, and the firing of cannon onstage.
On Friday, November 30, 2012, Houston Ballet presents its ninth annual Jubilee of Dance: A Tribute to Amy Fote, a special one-night only performance showcasing the talent and artistry of the company dancers in a program of high-energy excerpts from signature works and beloved classics. Houston Chronicle dance critic Molly Glentzer called the 2006 Jubilee of Dance "the event of the season," noting, "The audience gave it a rousing standing ovation." The Jubilee of Dance will be held at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.
From November 23 - December 30, 2012, Houston Ballet celebrates the 25th anniversary of Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 25 years ago.
PAOLA HARTLEY and ASTRIT ZEJNATI, principal dancers of Ballet Arizona, will appear as guest artists in the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet's production of The Nutcracker which will be performed on December 1 (Evening), and December 2 (Matinee), 2012 at the Riverview Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Ballet West has been awarded a Fellowship Initiative grant from the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of New York City Ballet, to support the development of new choreography in a studio setting. The choreographer will be Christopher Ruud.
SOFIA MENTEGUIAGA, soloist of the Tulsa Ballet, and ALFONSO MARTIN, principal dancer of the Tulsa Ballet, will appear as guest artists in the Fountain Dance Ministry's production of The Nutcracker on December 3 and 4, 2011 at the Jane Tasch Performing Arts Theatre in Pinckney, Michigan.
The Joffrey Ballet presents the Midwest premiere of Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow for its Winter program in the current 2010-2011 Stars season. Hynd originally choreographed the three-act story ballet for The Australian Ballet in 1975, set to an adaptation of Franz Lehár's 1905 romantic operetta The Merry Widow. This evening-length work, also a company premiere, will be performed for the final time at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway, February 27, 2011.
The Joffrey Ballet presents the Midwest premiere of Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow for its Winter program in the current 2010-2011 Stars season. Hynd originally choreographed the three-act story ballet for The Australian Ballet in 1975, set to an adaptation of Franz Lehár's 1905 romantic operetta The Merry Widow. This evening-length work, also a company premiere, will be performed at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway, February 16 - 27, 2011.
The Joffrey Ballet presents the Midwest premiere of Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow for its Winter program in the current 2010-2011 Stars season. Hynd originally choreographed the three-act story ballet for The Australian Ballet in 1975, set to an adaptation of Franz Lehár's 1905 romantic operetta The Merry Widow. This evening-length work, also a company premiere, will be performed at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway, February 16 - 27, 2011.
The Joffrey Ballet is pleased to announce that it will present the Midwest premiere of Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow, also a company premiere for The Joffrey, for its Winter program in the upcoming 2010-2011 Stars season.
The New Orleans Ballet Association is proud to announce that New Orleans' very own Mireille Hassenboehler will once again take the stage with Houston Ballet at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. Following last season's triumphant premiere of Marie, the company returns on October 24 at 8pm for a special command performance of works by four of the world's preeminent choreographers.
The New Orleans Ballet Association is proud to announce that New Orleans' very own Mireille Hassenboehler will once again take the stage with Houston Ballet at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. Following last season's triumphant premiere of Marie, the company returns on October 24 at 8pm for a special command performance of works by four of the world's preeminent choreographers.