Premiere of Echoes of time at the Teatr Wielki Polish National Opera

On 17 November 2012, the Polish National Ballet would like to invite you to the premiere of the ballet evening Echoes of time which consists of the works of three choreographers of the 21^th Century set to stunning energetic contemporary music. All three choreographers deconstruct the traditional order of classical dance, blazing new paths for modern ballet. Their ballets are devoid of any literary subcontext, yet they are a celebration of dance in its pure form and dancers’ expression.

The British choreographer Ashley Page will present his new choreography of Century Rolls to music (piano concerto) by a contemporary American composer John Adams. This is the very first production of the outstanding Western choreographer created especially for the Polish National Ballet.

Krzysztof Pastor’s ballet Moving Rooms is marked by dance expression and original lighting, to music by Alfred Schnittke and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. His work has already earlier been a success staged by the Dutch National Ballet at Holland Festival 2008 and during its visit in China.

Finally, the evening will close a hit and virtuoso Artifact Suite by an American artist William Forsythe, a long-standing director of the Frankfurt Ballett. It’s one of the most popular works of the legendary choreographer, universally recognized as the most outstanding ballet author of the turn of the century. For the first time in history we will see his work performed by a Polish company: it seems that the Polish National Ballet has been recognized for its artistic level. In his choreographic suite, Forsythe experiments with the theatre and ballet convention in an innovative way , to music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Eva Crossman-Hecht, based on technical mastery of the soloists and company.

Next performances on 18 and 20–22 November.

Ballet evening in three parts

1. CENTURY ROLLS
Choreography: Ashley Page
Music: John Adams
Set & Costume Designer: Tatyana van Walsum
World premiere: 17/11/2012

2. MOVING ROOMS
Choreography: Krzysztof Pastor
Music: Alfred Schnittke, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki
Costume Designer: Oliver Haller
Lighting Designer Bert Dalhuysen
Choreographer’s Assistant: Judy Maelor-Thomas
World premiere: Het Nationale Ballet, 19/06/2008

3. ARTIFACT SUITE
Choreography: William Forsythe
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Eva Crossman-Hecht
Set, Costume & Lighting Designer: William Forsythe
Staging: Kathryn Bennetts
World premiere: Ballett Frankfurt, 11/11/1984
Polish premiere: 17/11/2012