The National Ballet of Canada

Overview

The influence of George Balanchine’s musicality and pure dance aesthetic for classical ballet remains undeniable more than 90 years after he created Apollo, a high point of neoclassical style. Experience the noble beauty of this important ballet in our Balanchine Programme, followed by a dynamic short work from Balanchine’s later repertoire, Tarantella, performed to the exhilarating music of Louis Moreau Gottschalk. This presentation of Apollo and Tarantella is filmed especially for Spotlight Series, The National Ballet of Canada’s virtual 2020/21 season.

Apollo

Things to Know

• Originally titled Apollon Musagète, George Balanchine’s Apollo is a spare and poetic work he created for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes in 1928 at just 24 years old. Set to Igor Stravinsky’s elegant score, Apollo is one of the great works of 20th century ballet.
   
• The title role – the Greek God in his youth – is iconic and requires a unique balance of exuberance and control. Apollo dances with three female Muses: Calliope, Muse of poetry, Polyhymnia, Muse of mime, and Terpsichore, Muse of dance.

The Choreographer

Born in St. Petersburg, George Balanchine, co-founder and director of New York City Ballet, is one of the most renowned and prolific choreographers of the 20th century. He is credited with revolutionizing the look of classical ballet for a new era in works of unprecedented musicality and aesthetic brilliance.

The Composer

Russian composer Igor Stravinsky revolutionized 20th century music with his experimental sounds and rhythms. He was a particularly influential composer for ballet and created original music for numerous works by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes, including The Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

The Director

Alejandro Álvarez Cadilla is a Montréal-based, award-winning writer/director. His films and television productions include the William Fisk documentaries and the critically acclaimed original series Off Kilter for CBC Arts. A former principal and guest artist with some of the most acclaimed ballet companies in the world including Nacho Duato’s Compañía Nacional de Danza and William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt, Alejandro brings an unique approach in filming dance based on his two decades of experience as a dancer.

Tarantella

Things to Know

• George Balanchine created his Tarantella in 1964 for Edward Villella and Patricia McBride, two virtuosic dancers at New York City Ballet. Brief and energetic, the pas deux whirls along with nimble footwork, soaring jumps, spins and quick changes of direction.
   
• The tarantella is a dance that originated in southern Italy during the Middle Ages and is connected to a phenomenon called “tarantism,” a frenzied response to the bite of a tarantula spider. The tarantella has also been a traditional dance of courtship, where the dancers perform and respond to one another flirtatiously.

The Composer

Louis Moreau Gottschalk was a 19th century composer and pianist with an extensive oeuvre of piano works influenced by his native New Orleans. He is credited as the first American pianist to achieve international success and the first American composer to use Latin American and Creole folk themes and rhythms.

The Videographer

For over 25 years, Paul McNulty has worked as an editor, videographer and producer in television and documentary film as well as having partnered with numerous corporate clients, agencies and arts organizations in branding campaigns and productions. McNulty has worked with The National Ballet of Canada since 2013.

The Editor

Sean Leonard is the Senior Officer, Web and Digital Media at The National Ballet of Canada. He joined the company in 2015, creating exciting and engaging video content. Leonard studied Post-Production for Film and Television at the Toronto Film School and has worked on short films including Maternal (2018) and the upcoming short Big Wheels (2020).

Casting

Apollo

Apollo
Brendan Saye

Terpsichore
Svetlana Lunkina

Polyhymnia
Jeannine Haller

Calliope
Calley Skalnik

Tarantella

Jillian Vanstone and Skylar Campbell

Credits

Apollo

Choreography:
George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Staged by:
Lindsay Fischer and Christopher Stowell

Music:
Igor Stravinsky, Apollon Musagète
By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, INC., publisher and copyright owner.

Original Lighting Design:
Robert Thomson, adapted by Jeff Logue

World Premiere:
Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt, Paris, June 12, 1928

The National Ballet of Canada Premiere:
Toronto, February 18, 1999

Apollo, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust℠ and has been produced by arrangement with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Apollo is a gift from The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada.

Tarantella

Choreography:
George Balanchine ^© The George Balanchine Trust

Music:
Louis Moreau Gottschalk

Piano Soloists:
Zhenya Vitort, Edward Connell

Costume Design:
Karinska

Lighting Design:
Jeff Logue

World Premiere: New York City Center of Music and Drama, New York City Ballet, January 7, 1964
The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: Toronto, Ontario, March 29th 2017

Tarantella, a Balanchine^® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust℠ and has been produced by arrangement with the Balanchine Style^® and Balanchine Technique^® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Lead philanthropic support for Spotlight Series provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with additional support from the Producers' Circle.

The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation, Anna McCowan Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry & Joan Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation, Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.

Photos:
Brendan Saye in ​Apollo​. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Heather Ogden, Jeannine Haller, Miyoko Koyasu and Brendan Saye in Apollo. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Skylar Campbell in Tarantella. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.