World Premiere by Helen Pickett
Emma Bovary
Canadian Premiere
Passion
World Premiere by Helen Pickett
Emma Bovary
Canadian Premiere
Passion
World Premiere by Helen Pickett
Emma Bovary
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Please Note: Strobe lights and theatrical haze are used in Emma Bovary.
The world premiere of Emma Bovary marks an exciting first partnership between The National Ballet of Canada and award-winning choreographer, director and dancer, Helen Pickett. Pickett combines a striking physical vocabulary with sensitivity to the human condition, and she is breaking new ground in narrative ballet. Emma Bovary is a psychological exploration of the lead character from Gustave Flaubert’s 19th-century novel, Madame Bovary, his influential depiction of a young woman disillusioned by life.
Read Feature With Helen Pickett and James Bonas on Creating Emma Bovary
Emma is a young idealistic woman of ambition and dreams, who yearns for something more than her life and marriage offers her.
Charles, Emma’s husband, is a country doctor who adores his wife but bores her, never truly seeing or challenging Emma.
Madame Bovary, Emma’s mother-in-law, is protective of her son and determined to keep the family together.
Lheureux, a skillful salesman of fancy goods who entices Emma into spending far beyond her means.
Rodolphe, Emma’s lover, is a wealthy local man who is a charming and charismatic serial seducer.
Born in California, Helen Pickett spent over a decade at Frankfurt Ballet under the direction of William Forsythe and is trained in method acting, somatic techniques and film. Pickett has worked as an actress with the Wooster Group in New York City and created more than 60 works internationally, including her award-winning ballets The Crucible, Camino Real and The Exiled. Pickett was Resident Choreographer of Atlanta Ballet from 2012 to 2017, received her MFA from Hollins University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Her recent commissions internationally include American Ballet Theatre, Het Nationale Ballet and Boston Ballet.
Peter Salem is in high demand as a composer for contemporary ballet, film and television. He has collaborated previously with choreographer Helen Pickett on The Crucible and Camino Real and he has worked with such companies as Hong Kong National Ballet and English National Ballet. Salem composed the award-winning music for the popular BBC television programs Call the Midwife, Cider with Rosie and Five Daughters.
“Pickett is a genius when it comes to articulating emotion through gesture… Opening night’s Emma was the revelatory and daring Hannah Galway…” – The Globe and Mail
“Emma Bovary concludes powerfully, leaving a lasting impression and bringing this classic literary character to life. Every detail contributes to the meticulous and thoughtful storytelling. The gorgeous dancing from the company brought together with a haunting score and exquisite design elements, is not to be missed.” – The Dance Debrief
“Every creative choice, from choreography and costuming to lighting and music has purpose and feels intentional in the hands of this gifted creative team. The result is a feast for the senses… Emma Bovary is a masterpiece.” – My Entertainment World
Acclaim for Helen Pickett:
“Pickett is a contemporary ballet choreographer of substance, with deep convictions, an effervescent sense of humour and a wide-ranging intellect.” – Dance International
“Helen Pickett seals her reputation as a masterful creator of narrative ballet” – The Review Hub
After 25 years with The National Ballet of Canada, Piotr Stanczyk will retire from his role as Principal Dancer. In honour of his illustrious career, Artistic Director Hope Muir has acquired Passion by James Kudelka, a formative figure from Stanczyk’s career, for his farewell performance. Stanczyk will dance in select performances and will be celebrated at the final show on November 18.
Created for Houston Ballet in 2013, Passion is a love story whose meticulous structure mirrors the music, the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano in D, Op. 61a. Two couples – one classical, the other contemporary – weave within the Corps de Ballet like musical themes, evoking complex relationships of passion.
Read Feature With Piotr Stanczyk About His Journey in Dance
James Kudelka served as Resident Choreographer of The National Ballet of Canada following his nine years as Artistic Director. He creates works of incredible musicality and vision for companies internationally, from original full-length ballets to short contemporary works and remounted classics. Kudelka was Resident Choreographer of Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie from 2008 to 2020.
German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most influential figures in the history of music, bridging the Classical and Romantic eras with his unforgettable works. He is renowned for his piano sonatas, string quartets and symphonies, with his ground-breaking Eroica Symphony considered a defining work.
“Passion is a study in contrast – classic versus modern, romantic fantasy versus lusty reality.” – Houston Press
Emma Bovary
Hannah Galway (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Jenna Savella (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm)
Heather Ogden (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm)
Charles Bovary, Emma’s Husband
Donald Thom (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Jack Bertinshaw (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm)
Josh Hall (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm)
Madame Bovary, Emma’s Mother-in-Law
Jordana Daumec (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Alexandra MacDonald (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm)
Chelsy Meiss (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm)
Rodolphe Boulanger, Emma’s Lover
Siphesihle November (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Harrison James (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm)
Christopher Gerty (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm)
Monsieur Lheureux, Fancy Goods Salesman
Spencer Hack (November 11, 17 at 7:30 pm/ November 12, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Kota Sato (November 15, 16 at 7:30 pm)
Ben Rudisin (November 16 at 2:00 pm/ November 18 at 7:30 pm)
Piotr Stanczyk and Svetlana Lunkina (November 11, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm)
Christopher Gerty and Heather Ogden (November 12 at 2:00 pm/ November 17 at 7:30 pm)
Jack Bertinshaw and Jenna Savella (November 16, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Harrison James and Calley Skalnik (November 11, 15, 16, 18 at 7:30 pm)
Larkin Miller and Genevieve Penn Nabity (November 12 at 2:00 pm/ November 17 at 7:30 pm)
Keaton Leier and Tina Pereira (November 16, 18 at 2:00 pm)
Emma Bovary
Choreography:
Helen Pickett
Directors:
James Bonas & Helen Pickett
Treatment by:
Helen Pickett & James Bonas
Music and Sound:
Peter Salem
Set and Costume Design:
Michael Gianfrancesco
Lighting Design:
Bonnie Beecher
Animations:
Grégoire Pont
Projection Design:
Anouar Brissel
World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, November 11, 2023
Produced and Commissioned by The National Ballet of Canada.
Lead philanthropic support for Emma Bovary is provided by The Anna McCowan-Johnson New Creations Fund and The Producers’ Circle and with generous underwriting by the Sabourin Family Foundation.
The Producers’ Circle (2023): Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, 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 Lozinski, O.C. & Joan Lozinski, O.C., The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation, The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation and Alexander Younger & Sarah Richardson.
Passion
Choreography:
James Kudelka
Staged by:
Ian Casady and Amy Fote
Music:
Ludwig van Beethoven, Concerto for Piano in D, Op. 61A, First Movement
Piano Soloist:
Andrei Streliaev
Costume Design:
Denis Lavoie
Lighting Design:
Michael Mazzola
World Premiere: Houston Ballet, Houston, Texas, September 5, 2013
The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, November 10, 2023
Passion was commissioned by Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet and received its world premiere at the Wortham Centre Brown Theatre, in Houston Texas, on September 5, 2013.
The opening night couples featured Simon Ball and Karina Gonzales, and Joseph Walsh and Lauren Stronger.
Passion is generously supported by The Gail Hutchison Fund.
The National Ballet also acknowledges support provided by Anne-Marie Canning.
The National Ballet invites you to attend the Ballet Talk 45 minutes before every performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
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