Program Three – Masters of Movement at Sarasota Opera

Program Three - Masters of Movement
December 19 – 20, 2025
Sarasota Opera House
Accompanied by the Sarasota Orchestra

Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, an audience favorite, revisits the Sarasota stage once again with its intricate moving and shifting of partners set to the tune of Mozart’s score. This ballet was originally created to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. Also inspired by Mozart’s music but instead set to Tchaikovsky’s score, Mozartiana joins as a Company Premiere. A marriage of Balanchine and Tchaikovsky’s shared appreciation for the composer, the elegance of the music is beautifully blended with Balanchine’s refined choreographic voice. Sir Frederick Ashton’s Jazz Calendar brings the Program to a light-hearted close with a witty and vibrant performance inspired by the nursery rhyme “Monday’s Child”. With a 1960s jazz flair, each section of the ballet personifies each day of the week through playful, character-driven choreography and unique visual elements.

Repertoire will include:

Divertimento No. 15
Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozartiana (Company Premiere)
Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky

Jazz Calendar
Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton
Music by Sir Richard Rodney Bennet

Featuring Live Music by the Sarasota Orchestra