Boston Ballet to Perform for First Time
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The highly acclaimed Boston Ballet will greet Korean fans for the first time. Along with artistic director Mikko Nissinen, the renowned troupe will bring three of their best works: ``Concerto Barocco,'' ``In the Upper Room'' and ``Polyphonia.''
``I am very excited to be bringing Boston Ballet to Korea for the first time, and for audiences in Seoul to experience the talents of this company. I am also a big fan of Korean cuisine!'' Nissinen said in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.
Though there won't be the ravishing settings and costumes of classical ballet, fans will have the chance to appreciate simple yet intense dance movements at this special event.
``Concert Barocco,'' choreographed by George Balanchine, is a neo-classical work performed to Bach's Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins. The dance will show itself through the delicate strings of the violin and present the elegance and simplicity of Balanchine's style.
```Concerto Barocco' is a brilliant marriage of music and movement ― observe how the choreography is directly related to the music. The abstract geometry of the piece is genius,'' Nissinen explained.
Christopher Wheeldon's ``Polyphonia'' is an unpredictable piece. Performed to Gyorgy Ligeti's 10 piano pieces, four couples will present a strong show wearing simple leotards. With intense movements, like pushing and rolling on the stage, ``Polyphonia'' will provide a breath of fresh air to classical ballet fans.
Look forward to an explosive performance with ``In the Upper Room,'' choreographed by Twyla Tharp. Korean fans have already had the chance to watch Tharp's other famous work ``Rabbit and Rogue'' by the American Ballet Theater early this month, which was a big success. With a keen eye for fusing various elements to dance repertoires, Tharp focused on athletic and striking movements in this work.
``This is a tour de force of explosive energy and stamina: an interesting juxtaposition of dance and athleticism,'' the artistic director said.
Four female dancers will be wearing red pointed shoes, while the other nine will be wearing sneakers. Tharp incorporated ballet movements with jogging and yoga movements, complete with spinning and stomping.
Founded in 1963, the Boston Ballet is famous for the versatility of its dancers and its diverse repertoire, ranging from classical and neo-classical ballet to contemporary works. It was the first American troupe to perform in China in 1980 and has been receiving rave reviews with its distinctive and experimental works joined with some of the most revered choreographers.
``Ballet is a wonderful art form and I've been very fortunate to work with some great companies and choreographers throughout my career. I've committed my life's work to enhance the art form as much as possible. All of us with the Boston Ballet are very much looking forward to our visit and I hope this is only the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship,'' said Nissinen.
The ``Three Masterpieces'' will be on stage at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center Aug. 27-28 and the Universal Arts Center Aug 30-31. Tickets cost from 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com or call 1544-1681.