Australians are invited to enter William Shakespeare’s poetic world of elves and fairies as envisioned by choreographer George Balanchine with A Midsummer Night’s Dream – a new Paris Opera Ballet performance set to screen in Aussie cinemas on May 5-10.
Entering the Paris Opera Ballet’s repertoire for the first time, this magical piece, danced to the music by Felix Mendelssohn, features sets and costumes by fashion legend Christian Lacroix.
Faithful to the Bard’s vocabulary whilst adding a subtle touch of pantomime, Balanchine portrays a complex love story in two acts and six scenes. Theseus (danced by Florian Magnenet) is the duke of Athens and Hippolyta (danced by Alice Renavand) is the queen of the Amazons. They become caught up in a domestic quarrel between the king of the elves and the queen of the fairies, which results in the intervention of the mischievous Puck (danced by Emmanuel Thibault) and his magic potion along with a troupe of amateur actors. The denouement is celebrated in the form of a grand virtuoso entertainment.
The cinema screening includes the full performance, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews and features. It is hosted by Sandra Jennings, a Balanchine Trust repetiteur, and Aurélie Dupont, director of dance at the Paris Opera.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream from the Paris Opera Ballet screens as part of the 2016-17 Palace Opera & Ballet Cinema Season, which also features opera and ballet performances from London’s Royal Opera House and Milan’s Teatro alla Scala.
Participating cinemas include:
– Brisbane: Palace Barracks
– Canberra: Palace Electric
– Perth: Cinema Paradiso
– Hobart: State Cinema
– Melbourne: Palace Balwyn, Brighton Bay & Cinema Como
– Sydney: Palace Verona & Norton Street
– Adelaide: Palace Nova Eastend
To enter to win a double pass to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream from the Paris Opera Ballet, email info@danceinforma.com with the answer to this question: Who is dancing the role of Hippolyta in this production? Title your email entry “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Giveaway” and include your full name, your date of birth and your mailing address. This competition opens Wednesday, April 12, 2017, and closes Monday, April 24, 2017.
For full programme information, visit www.palaceoperaandballet.com.au.
Photos: Paris Opera Ballet in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photos courtesy of Palace Films.
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