The Hong Kong Ballet
announces 2015/16 Season Including
the World Première of Pinocchio this summer
and an International Tour in 2016
[Hong Kong – 6th May 2015] The Hong Kong Ballet announces today its 2015/16 season line-up, including the world première of Pinocchio by renowned Swedish choreographer Pär Isberg, the enduring tragic romance Romeo and Juliet by Rudi van Dantzig, the perennial Christmas favourite The Nutcracker by Terence Kohler; as well as Choreographers’ Showcase which celebrates the creativity of Hong Kong’s most talented choreographers and a brand new, fun and educational Ballet Classics for Children: The Sleeping Beauty. Subscription is open until 25th June 2015. Subscribe now to enjoy the best price and best seats in the hall. Details: www.hkballet.com/201516.
When asked about her thoughts behind this line-up, Artistic Director Madeleine Onne said: “The 2015/16 programme has quite a fun and family-focused theme, as well as a broad artistic range. Working with Pär Isberg for the production of Pinocchio will be a wonderful experience for the whole company – this old fairy tale classic, re-imagined as a ballet, will delight and inspire both the dancers and audience members of all ages. The Choreographers’ Showcase will embrace local talent, of which there is an abundance in our vibrant City, and our 2016 tour throughout Ontario and to New York will be exhilarating and challenging. Other highlights include: the most famous love story of them all, Romeo and Juliet; the festive favourite, The Nutcracker; the family friendly Ballet Classics for Children and; a magnificent mixed bill featuring guest artists and world premières by Edwaard Liang and Fei Bo.”
PINOCCHIO
28-30.8.2015 & 4-6.9.2015
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Fri 7:30pm│Sat 2:30pm & 7:30pm│Sun 1:30pm & 6:30pm
$1,000 (VIP ticket) $680 $480 $280 $140
Come see one of the best-known fairy tales retold through ballet! The Cricket appears and the adventures of Pinocchio begin. From a piece of wood, Geppetto creates Pinocchio, whom he loves as his own son. Naughty little Pinocchio keeps on running into trouble, first with the Fox and the Cat, two greedy crooks, then Lampwick, the naughtiest boy in class. To top it all off, he even picks up the habit of lying! His lies cannot deceive the Blue Fairy, who makes his nose grow longer as he tells lies. To look for Pinocchio, Geppetto sets out to the sea and ends up in the whale’s stomach. Will the Blue Fairy come to their rescue? Will Geppetto and Pinocchio reunite in the end? Will Pinocchio learn to be a good boy and son?
CHOREOGRAPHY Pär Isberg
MUSIC Ottorino Respighi, arranged by Benjamin Pope
ASSISTANT TO CHOREOGRAPHER Eva Säfström
COSTUME DESIGN Jérôme Kaplan
SET DESIGN Bo-Ruben Hedwall
LIVE ACCOMPANIMENT Hong Kong Sinfonietta
CONDUCTOR Benjamin Pope
CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE 2015
2-4.10.2015
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
FRI & SAT 8:00pm | Sun 3:00pm
$260 $160
Choreographers’ Showcase serves as a platform for The Hong Kong Ballet dancers to present their creativity, ideas and accumulated dance experience. This tradition dates back to the early 1980s. This year, we extend this platform to Hong Kong’s very own emerging choreographers, celebrating new visions from talented young artists.
ROMEO AND JULIET
20-22.11.2015
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
FRI 7:30pm | SAT & SUN 2:30pm & 7:30pm
$1,000 (VIP ticket) $680 $480 $280 $140
The seamless choreography in Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet vividly depicts the story’s passion, sorrow and vengeance, capturing the intense passion of the star-crossed lovers and the ceaseless feud between two family clans in beautiful Verona. Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s thrilling orchestral score, this dramatic ballet stays loyal to Shakespeare’s original tragic ending. The romantic pas de deux, taut fight scenes and the festive street dances will leave you awe-inspired.
CHOREOGRAPHY Rudi van Dantzig
MUSIC Sergei Prokofiev
STAGED BY André Lewis
SET & COSTUME DESIGN Toer van Schayk
LIGHTING DESIGN Alice Kwong
LIVE ACCOMPANIMENT Hong Kong Sinfonietta
CONDUCTOR Gerry Cornelius
THE NUTCRACKER
18-20.12.2015
FRI 7:30pm | SAT & SUN 2:30pm & 7:30pm
22-27.12.2015
TUE, WED & THU 7:30pm | FRI & SAT 2:30pm & 7:30pm | SUN 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$1,000 (VIP Ticket), $680, $520, $320, $180
Christmas would not be Christmas without The Nutcracker! Come and celebrate the holidays with us, joining the magical adventure of Clara, Fritz and the Nutcracker as they battle the evil Rat King. A flurry of snowflakes appears and guides the way to find the Ballerina at the top of the Christmas tree. Can the heroic Nutcracker conquer the dastardly Rat King and his army? Will the children save the day and reunite the Ballerina and her beloved Nutcracker?
CHOREOGRAPHY Terence Kohler
MUSIC Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
DRAMATURGE Clair Sauran
SET & COSTUME DESIGN Jordi Roig
LIGHTING DESIGN David Bofarull
PAINTERS Jordi Castells & Quique Conde
LIVE ACCOMPANIMENT Hong Kong Sinfonietta
CONDUCTOR Philip Ellis
BALLET CLASSICS FOR CHILDREN: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
29-31.1.2016
FRI 7:30pm | SAT 2:30pm & 5:00pm | SUN 5:00pm
4 performances with narration in Cantonese
30-31.1.2016
SAT 7:30pm | SUN 12:00nn & 2:30pm
3 performances with narration in English
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$280 $180
The third and brand new production in the popular series, Ballet Classics for Children: The Sleeping Beauty, introduces the well-known ballet with an innovative blend of storytelling, dance and interaction. Masterminded once again by renowned local choreographer Yuri Ng, this one-hour educational programme tailor-made for children will be conducted in Cantonese or English by Rick Lau. Perfect for the entire family, you and your loved ones will be mesmerised by the beautiful Princess Aurora and the charming Prince Désiré in this forever popular fairy tale.
ARTISTIC CURATOR Yuri Ng
NARRATOR / SCRIPT WRITER Rick Lau
MUSIC Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
SERENADE AND MORE
10-12.6.2016
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
FRI 7:30pm | SAT 2:30pm & 7:30pm | SUN 2:30pm
$1,000 (VIP Ticket), $680, $480, $280, $140
Featuring George Balanchine’s timeless ballet Serenade set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score of the same name, this programme promises to be an exciting and diverse evening and afternoon of dance. Artistic Director of BalletMet, Edwaard Liang, will choreograph a world première for the Company which will complement performances by international guest stars. With a variety of music and blend of classical and contemporary offerings, this programme will serve as a wonderful way to close the season.
SERENADE
CHOREOGRAPHY George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
MUSIC Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
COSTUME DESIGN Barbara Karinska
ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN Ronald Bates
TOUR 2016: OTTAWA
1.3.2016
Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, Ottawa
TUE 8:00pm
Dancing with the Wind by Li Jun
Castrati by Nacho DuatoIn Light and Shadow by Krzysztof Pastor
3-5.3.2016
Southam Hall, National Arts Centre, Ottawa
THU, FRI & SAT 8:00pm
The Sleeping Beauty by Cynthia Harvey
TOUR 2016: TORONTO
8.3.2016
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
TUE 8:00pm
10.3.2016
Flato Markham Theatre
THU 8:00pm
12.3.2016
Regina Rosen Auditorium, The Grand Theatre, Kingston
SAT 7:30pm
Pas de Trios from A Room of Her Own by Fei Bo
Castrati by Nacho Duato
In Light and Shadow by Krzysztof Pastor
TOUR 2016: NEW YORK
15-20.3.2016
The Joyce Theater
TUE & WED 7:30pm│THU & FRI 8:00pm│SAT 2:00pm & 8:00pm│SUN 2:00pm
Dancing with the Wind by Li Jun
Castrati by Nacho DuatoIn Light and Shadow by Krzysztof Pastor
About Hong Kong Ballet
One of the premier classical ballet companies in Asia, The Hong Kong Ballet is becoming internationally recognised as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. Since 1979 the Company has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organisation with accomplished dancers and a strong repertoire composed of a range of stunning, technically challenging productions, led by Artistic Director Madeleine Onne. www.hkballet.com
For further information, please contact:
Tiphanie Chan
Senior Marketing Manager
T: 2105 9716
M: 9197 1223
[email protected]
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
[Press Ctrl and click on the photo to download full image]
Production: Pinocchio
Dancer: Shen Jie
Photographer: Cheung Chi Wai
Production: Choreographers' Showcase 2014: Horn by Yuh Egami and Ricky Hu
Dancers: Xia Jun and Yui Sugawara
Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Production: Romeo and Juliet
Dancers: Zhang Yao (till 2013) and Ye Fei Fei (till 2014)
Photographer: Keith Hiro
Production: The Nutcracker
Dancers: The Hong Kong Ballet Dancers
Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Production: The Sleeping Beauty
Dancers: Liu Yu-yao and Wei Wei
Photographer: Cheung Chi Wai
Production: Serenade
Choreography by George Balanchine c The George Balanchine Trust
Photographer: Cheung Wai Lok
Production: A Room of Her Own.
The Hong Kong Ballet Dancers
Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Production: Castrati
The Hong Kong Ballet Dancers
Photographer: Hidemi Seto
Courtesy of studioArchitanz
Production: In Light and Shadow
Dancers: Frank van Tongeren and Liu Miao-miao
Photographer: Jamie Kraus
