THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA
www.balletbc.com

“The Four Seasons” AND “Firebird”

September 25, 26, 27 2003
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Vancouver, BC

Orchestra Director: Ormsby Wilkins

THE FOUR SEASONS - Vivaldi

Greta Hodgkinson & Rex Harrington in Summer from The Four Seasons. Photo by: Cylla von Tiedemann

Choreography: James Kudelka
Music: Antonio Vivaldi
Costume Design: Carmen Alie and Denis Lavoie
Lighting Design: David Quinn

Featuring: Aleksandar Antonijevic

The first half of the program featured The Four Seasons – a creation of the National Ballet of Canada. Set to the immediately recognizable music of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concerti, this abstract ballet follows the life cycle of man from spring through winter. It was a mixture of “all that is classical” married to “all that is contemporary” blending uninterrupted and interpreted at the highest level. To incorporate four of the older ballet members in the “Winter” was a wonderful injection of realism, beginning to end, a mixture of nostalgia and surprise.

Dancers Rebekah Rimsay, Chan Hon Goh, Rex Harrington and Sonia Rodriguez in Spring from The Four Seasons. Photo by: Cylla von Tiedemann.

This performance is referred to as a farewell tribute to principal dancer Rex Harrington in celebration of his career with the Company, who will be retiring at the end of the 2003/2004 season, after 20 years as the principal dancer. He is Canada’s most accomplished male dancer and The Four Seasons is his “signature” role.

THE FIREBIRD

Choreography: James Kudelka
Music: Igor Stravinsky (1910 orchestration)
Set and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design: David Finn

Featuring: Guillaume Cote, Chan Hon Goh

The second half featured Kudelka’s The Firebird (originally debuted in Paris in 1910, a role that was intended for Anna Pavlova and which she declined to perform).

Storyline from the Ballet BC website: “In Russian folklore the Firebird is a miraculous bird with eyes that sparkle like diamonds and feathers that shine like gold and silver. At midnight, she illuminates the night sky like a thousand lights. When she sings, pearls fall from her beak and her chant can heal the sick and return vision to the blind.

In a dense and mysterious forest, Prince Ivan is hunting when he sees the glittering Firebird and attempts to capture her. Imprisoned by the young prince, she regains her freedom in exchange for a magic feather with which he can summon her in time of danger. When Ivan and his princess are threatened by the evil wizard Kostchei the Deathless, he calls for the Firebird to appear. After destroying the wizard’s powers forever, the Firebird brings peace to the forest in a final lullaby as she flutters out of view.”

Rex Harrington and Chan Hon Goh as Kastchei and the Firebird in The Firebird. Photo by: Cylla von Tiedemann.

The performance excelled in its splendor, featuring magnificent costumes and sets that bedazzled the audience throughout the performance, culminating with the final scene in a stage covered with a golden regal light, soaked in colour, effectively captivating all the theatre. This is truly a beautiful ballet with Chan Hon Goh performing the constantly moving “Firebird” as though the ballet was written for her and Guillaume Cote as a realistic Prince Ivan sent by the King to the enchanted forest to capture the firebird. The costumes of the creatures of the forest resembled reptilian creatures with the princesses in direct contrast with flowing muslin skirts. The ballet was a true delight for a very receptive audience.

The orchestra performed brilliantly under the direction of Ormsby Wilkins who is well known for his ability to bring out the sensitive yet vibrant interpretations of the classical ballets.

All in all these, were outstanding performances that were a delight to behold.

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