New York City Center will present the third annual season of Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, October 29 - November 1, 2009, featuring two unique programs including U.S. premieres by Artistic Director Christopher Wheeldon and Australian choreographer Tim Harbour, as well as works by Lightfoot León, Alexei Ratmansky and Mr. Wheeldon. The engagement will feature live music performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, with the opening night conducted by the orchestra's founder and music director, Alondra de la Parra. Tickets go on sale September 8th.
The season celebrates the centenary of the Ballets Russes, inspired by the legendary company's commitment to creating innovative, collaborative productions with the seminal artists of its time. The first program features Wheeldon's Commedia (2008), performed to Stravinsky's "Pulcinella Suite," and Alexei Ratmansky's Bolero, re-created for the Bolshoi Ballet in 2004, with music by Maurice Ravel. Husband and wife choreographic team Paul Lightfoot and Sol León, resident choreographers of Nederlands Dans Theater, follow with Softly as I Leave You, re-worked in 2009 as a duet for Morphoses dancers Drew Jacoby and Rubinald Pronk. The program will conclude with a new work by Tim Harbour commissioned by Morphoses with music by Ross Edwards.
The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas was founded in New York City in 2004 by then 23 year-old Mexican conductor and pianist Alondra de la Parra. Her vision has materialized into what is now an acclaimed orchestra that serves as a platform to showcase young composers and performers from the Americas, ranging from Argentina to Canada, presenting annual subscription concerts in New York City and touring the United States and Latin America. Since its inception, the Orchestra has performed for over 20,000 concertgoers in New York, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Dallas, and Washington DC, featured 15 young soloists from the Americas, and performed 10 world premieres of American composers. Its musicians hail from 19 different countries and are largely aged under 35. In recent seasons, POA has built on its early success by recording film scores, performing at the Latin Grammys, instigating an international Young Composers' Competition, and creating an innovative arts and education program for underprivileged youth in the United States and Mexico.
Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company will play for four performances, October 29- November 1, at New York City Center, West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, according to the following schedule: Thursday, October 29 at 8pm; Friday, October 30 at 8pm; Saturday, October 31 at 8pm; and Sunday, November 1 at 3pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling CityTix® at 212-581-1212, online at www.nycitycenter.org or at the City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).
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