A spectacular experience awaits as the Norwegian National Ballet presents Mesteraften, accompanied by live music from the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. The programme brings together three outstanding works: Act II of Swan Lake, A Boléro and Diamonds. Secure your seats now.
Three works, three expressions, one masterful evening
When the Norwegian National Ballet packs its bags and travels south, west and north, it brings a full-length performance filled with dazzling stage imagery, powerful contemporary dance and some of the most iconic moments in ballet history.
The audience will experience three works spanning more than a century: from the elegant classical heritage of Swan Lake, through Samantha Lynch’s pulsating contemporary expression, to Balanchine’s brilliant neoclassicism.
Swan Lake in Makarova’s tradition
The evening begins in white and beauty with Act II of Swan Lake, set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime music. Act II is the famous swan act – the most iconic part of the ballet.
The version presented here was created by Anna-Marie Holmes, based on the original choreography by Petipa and Ivanov from 1895. It reveals the beauty of classical ballet in its purest and most timeless form.
Ravel at full intensity
Samantha Lynch is a soloist with the Norwegian National Ballet as well as a sought-after choreographer. In recent years, several of the world’s leading ballet companies have commissioned works from her. For this tour, her first work created for the main stage of the Norwegian National Opera returns: A Boléro, set to Ravel’s celebrated 1928 composition, in which the same musical motif is repeated again and again, becoming more intense and powerful each time.
Audiences and critics alike embraced A Boléro following its premiere in 2021. This is what ballet of our time can look like.
Dazzling on pointe
Can ballet be made about jewels? Master choreographer George Balanchine did exactly that in his three-part ballet Jewels. The Norwegian National Ballet now performs the final section, Diamonds, where movement, colour and musical choices are inspired by the brilliance of diamonds.
Balanchine believed that movement and music were two sides of the same thing. Here, the dancers perform to substantial portions of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 in D major.
Local orchestras in the pit
On tour, audiences encounter three works that each celebrate the power of music and movement in their own way. Local orchestras provide the live accompaniment as the Norwegian National Ballet joins forces with Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and, here at the concert hall, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.
Swan Lake, Act II
Choreography: Anna-Marie Holmes after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Set design: Peter Farmer
Lighting design: Paul Vidar Sævarang
A Boléro
Choreography and set design: Samantha Lynch
Music: Maurice Ravel
Costume design: Bregje van Balen
Lighting design: Paul Vidar Sævarang
Diamonds
Choreography: George Balanchine
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 3 in D major
Set design: Jean-Marc Puissant
Costume design: Karinska
Lighting design: Jennifer Tipton
“Jewels is produced in association with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. This production was first seen at the Royal Opera House, London on 23rd November 2007.”
The performance of Diamonds, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.
Performers:
Norwegian National Ballet
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
Musical direction:
Øyvind Bjorå
Photo: Erik Berg / Den Norske Opera & Ballett
Diamonds from Jewels – choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Running time:
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including two intervals.
ORGANISER
Stavanger Concert Hall
