PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION — Italian Premiere

Choreography: Norbert Graf, Ayman Harper, Ivan Liška
Music: Modest Mussorgsky (in various instrumental versions)
Costumes: Susanne Stehle

The opening work makes its Italian debut. Mussorgsky's timeless piano masterpiece is transformed into a kaleidoscope of playful, experimental movement. The choreographers create a living puzzle in which dance engages with the imagery of some of the great visual artists of the twentieth century: from Picasso and Magritte to Roy Lichtenstein's Pop Art, Lucio Fontana's slashed canvases and Yves Klein's iconic blue. A compelling journey into modern art, set to a remarkable musical tapestry that reimagines the original work through progressive rock arrangements, synthesizers, marimbas and big-band sounds.

SONGS OF A WAYFARER

Choreography: Jiří Kylián
Music: Gustav Mahler (Songs of a Wayfarer)
Sets and Costumes: John F. Macfarlane | Lighting: Kees Tjebbes (after Jennifer Tipton)
Choreographic Assistants: Shirley Esseboom, Stefan Zeromski

Created in 1982 for Nederlands Dans Theater, this remarkable ballet by Jiří Kylián marked a profound emotional and artistic turning point in his career. Set to the evocative, deeply moving music of Mahler's song cycle, the choreography moves between overwhelming sorrow and moments of pure joy. Kylián's fluid movement vocabulary follows the contours of the score, punctuated by sudden, sharply defined gestures and breathtaking lifts that send the dancers soaring through the air. The result is a universal reflection on the human journey through love, loss and the consoling power of nature.

INTERMISSION

BALLET 102

Choreography: Eric Gauthier
Musical Collage: Jens-Peter Abele, Eric Gauthier

Now a firm favourite at major international dance galas, Ballet 102 is a cheeky, witty and hilarious tribute to the history of the twentieth-century pas de deux. Following in the footsteps of the acclaimed Ballet 101, choreographer Eric Gauthier offers a whirlwind crash course in dance, with plenty of laughs along the way. From the dramatic poses of Cranko and MacMillan's classics to references drawn from popular culture, the piece takes in everything from Nijinsky's scandalous Faun to Michael Jackson's legendary moonwalk and the disco rhythms of Saturday Night Fever. An irresistible performance that breaks the fourth wall and wins over audiences from the very first moment.

SLICE TO SHARP — Company Premiere

Choreography: Jorma Elo
Music: Antonio Vivaldi, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Costumes: Holly Hynes | Lighting: Mark Stanley

Performed for the first time by the Bavarian company. Created in 2006 for the stars of New York City Ballet, and earning Jorma Elo the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse, Slice to Sharp is a dazzling showcase of energy and technical virtuosity. Set to Baroque scores by Vivaldi and von Biber, the Finnish choreographer creates a magnetic contrast between classical elegance and a contemporary dance style that is fast-paced, asymmetrical and unpredictable. Intricate footwork, lightning-fast changes of direction and daring off-axis extensions combine in a whirlwind of movement, brought to life by Holly Hynes's minimalist costumes. A thrilling finale to the evening, charged with extraordinary physical and emotional intensity.