Media Release
The National Ballet of Canada Tours to London and Paris in October 2024
First European Appearance Since the Pandemic
TORONTO, ON, September 26, 2024 – Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today that the company will return to Europe this October for the first time since the pandemic. Previously announced with the 2024/25 season, the back-to-back tours will bring the company to the revered Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London and the legendary Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Muir has curated an all-Canadian programme featuring works by acclaimed choreographers Crystal Pite, James Kudelka, Emma Portner and William Yong.
“I am thrilled that the National Ballet will return to London and Paris this October with this compelling programme, which not only highlights the breadth of choreographic talent in Canada but also serves as the perfect vehicle to showcase the versatility of our artists,” said Muir.
London Tour, Sadler’s Wells
October 2 – 6
In the National Ballet’s first appearance in London at Sadler’s Wells since 2013, the company will perform Pite’s sublime work Angels’ Atlas, hailed as “mind-blowing” (CP24) with its mesmerizing light design and evocation of the human condition, alongside Kudelka’s exquisite Passion and Portner’s duet islands.
Paris Tour, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
October 12 – 15
In addition to Angels’ Atlas and Passion, the National Ballet will bring William Yong’s UtopiVerse to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The futuristic ballet made its world premiere in Toronto in June. This will mark the company’s first appearance in Paris since 2017.
Crystal Pite created Angels’ Atlas for the National Ballet in 2020 to rapturous reviews. Audiences and critics were blown away by the moving and visually stunning work. Unfolding against a morphing wall of light, the Globe and Mail called Angels’ Atlas “a glimpse into the infinite” and the Toronto Star added “human yearning is evoked powerfully onstage”. Set to original music by Owen Belton and choral pieces by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Morten Lauridsen, Angels’ Atlas is a profound work from one of the world’s leading contemporary choreographers.
Celebrated Canadian choreographer James Kudelka explores relationships of love in Passion. Two couples, each stylistically unique – one classical, the other contemporary – weave within the Corps de Ballet, evoking complex relationships of passion. A love story whose meticulous structure mirrors the music, Passion is set to the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano in D, Op. 61a.
A sculptural duet for two women, Emma Porter’s islands was hailed a triumph both at its world premiere by Norwegian National Ballet in 2020 and its North American premiere at the National Ballet in 2023. An acclaimed work from a genre-breaking choreographer, islands is set to an eclectic compilation of music by contemporary artists as well as original music by Forest Swords, bringing together hip hop, dub, guitar loops and electronic sampling for a rhythmic, avant-garde sound.
Toronto-based choreographer William Yong’s first commission for The National Ballet of Canada, UtopiVerse, showcases the versatility of the National Ballet artists, integrating Yong’s multi-disciplinary experience in this futuristic ballet. UtopiVerse received its world premiere in March 2024 and was hailed “a fascinating fusion of movement and visual spectacle” (Critics at Large).
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Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
Passion is generously supported by The Gail Hutchison Fund.
Lead philanthropic support for islands is provided by The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation.
Philanthropic support for Angels’ Atlas is generously provided by An Anonymous Donor, Rosamond Ivey, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The Producers’ Circle (2020), The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada and The Gail Hutchison Fund.
Lead philanthropic support for UtopiVerse is provided by The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation, The Hal Jackman Foundation and The Hal Jackman Foundation Fund, and an Anonymous donor with additional support from The Producers’ Circle (2024).
The National Ballet of Canada’s tour to Paris is presented by Productions Internationales Albert Sarfati as part of the TranscenDanses series, in collaboration with the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
This tour is also made possible in part by grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, The Circulation and Touring component of the Arts Abroad Program and from the Ontario Arts Council's Touring and Circulation Projects program and the Government of Ontario.
Artists of the Ballet in Angels Atlas. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage with the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport.
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The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Kate Dresser, Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca
