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Bella Figura

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• • Bella Figura Run-Time: Two hours
  • Repertory:
  • Bella Figura
    Music:
    Lukas Foss, G.B. Pergolesi, Allesandro Marcello, Antonio Vivaldi and Giuseppe Torelli
    Choreography:
    Jiří Kylián 
    
  • The Second Detail
    Music:
    Thom Willems 
    Choreography:
    William Forsythe
    
  • Pärt I, II and III
    Music:
    Arvo Pärt 
    Choreography:
    Helen Pickett
    
• • Performance Schedule:
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• Boston Ballet presents Bella Figura, a program headlined by Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura. Boston Ballet is the first American company to present this work. The program also includes a Company premiere of William Forsythe’s The Second Detail and three works by Helen Pickett. Bella Figura showcases the world’s finest contemporary ballet on stage at The Boston Opera House, April 28 – May 8, 2011.
  
  “Bella Figura will have audiences rethinking everything they know about ballet,” said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. “The program features the work of three contemporary choreographers, all exceedingly relevant, significant and alive. Seeing Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura was one of the most spectacular theatre experiences I have ever had. From that time forward, I have always wanted to bring this work to Boston. I’m pleased to present it with a work by another dance giant, William Forsythe. The Second Detail is an impeccable Forsythe ballet, an explosive, mind-bending work. Helen Pickett’s three beautiful, miniature pieces, dedicated to and inspired by the music of Arvo Pärt, complete the program.”
  
  Bella Figura is headlined with the work of the same title by Jiří Kylián, Resident Choreographer at Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT). Bella Figura, premiered in 1995 with NDT, is set to a selection of Baroque music, including selections by Lukas Foss, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Alessandro Marcello, Antonio Vivaldi, and Giuseppe Torelli. The work displays Kylián’s inventive combination of lyricism and comedy. Kylián has described the work as “a journey in time – light and space, addressing the ambiguity of aesthetics – performances and dreams.”  This progam contains partial nudity.
  
  The Bella Figura program also features William Forsythe’s The Second Detail, a Company premiere. The work, created for the National Ballet of Canada in 1991, is an electrifying display of classicism and physicality for an ensemble. The work is noted for Forsythe’s use of crisp movement and playful spirit. The work is set to the driving music of Thom Willems. Forsythe, one of the preeminent American dancers and choreographers, has created ground-breaking, exhilarating works which have been performed by the world’s finest ballet companies.
  
  Helen Pickett presents three works, PART I, II and III. The trio of works is dedicated to and inspired by the music of Arvo Pärt. PART I, LAYLI O MAJNUN, will be inspired by the centuries-old story of star-crossed Persian lovers. It received a preview in 2010 at Boston Ballet’s Night of Stars by principals Larissa Ponomarenko and Lasha Khozashvili. Set designs include calligraphy by Persian artist Bahman Panahi. PART II, 月夜 Tsukiyo, is a sensual pas de deux, first premiered with Boston Ballet in 2009. PART III, Tabula Rasa will be a world premiere work for an ensemble.
  

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