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Shostakovich Trilogy

Alexei Ratmansky, Het Nationale Ballet

After a successful premiere in New York and San Francisco, Alexei Ratmansky’s Shostakovich Trilogy is now being performed for the first time in Europe with the Dutch National Ballet. The Russian-American choreographer calls it ‘my most personal work’, in which he explores his complex relationship with his homeland. It is an atmospheric sketch of the life and career of his favourite composer, who lived in the oppressive grip of the Soviet regime. Ratmansky was inspired by works from different periods of Dmitri Shostakovich’s life: the three parts are based on Symphony no. 9,Chamber Symphony in C minor, opus 110a, and Piano Concerto no. 1. They are performed by Het Balletorkest conducted by Matthew Rowe.

After a successful premiere in New York and San Francisco, Alexei Ratmansky’s Shostakovich Trilogy is now being performed for the first time in Europe with the Dutch National Ballet. The Russian-American choreographer calls it ‘my most personal work’, in which he explores his complex relationship with his homeland. It is an atmospheric sketch of the life and career of his favourite composer, who lived in the oppressive grip of the Soviet regime. Ratmansky was inspired by works from different periods of Dmitri Shostakovich’s life: the three parts are based on Symphony no. 9,Chamber Symphony in C minor, opus 110a, and Piano Concerto no. 1. They are performed by Het Balletorkest conducted by Matthew Rowe.

Symphony #9

in E-Flat Major, op. 70

 

interval

 

Chamber Symphony for Strings

Op. 110a

 

interval

 

Piano Concerto #1

for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings, Op.35

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dates

June 17 - June 30

information

  • Duration of performance unknown (inclusief twee pauzes)

Every moment feels like a fragment of a masterpiece. Indeed, this was simply one of the company’s most satisfying nights in years, a grand, ambiguous, mysterious and thrilling entertainment. – The San Francisco Chronicle

 

Fascination, poetic, enigmatic. Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘Shostakovich Trilogy’

Every moment feels like a fragment of a masterpiece. Indeed, this was simply one of the company’s most satisfying nights in years, a grand, ambiguous, mysterious and thrilling entertainment. – The San Francisco Chronicle

 

Fascination, poetic, enigmatic. Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘Shostakovich Trilogy’

includes expressions of ebullience, heroism, affection, wit and inspiration. – The New York Times

 

Shostakovich Trilogy is a groundbreaking, intensely personal tribute from the renowned choreographer Alexei Ratmansky to Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the greatest composers of Russia. The performance will bring together the work of two revolutionary artists. 

 

In Shostakovich Trilogy, Alexei Ratmansky explores his complex relationship with his homeland. Ratmansky, who calls this his most personal work, gives an atmospheric sketch of the life and career of his favourite Russian composer, who suffered greatly under the oppression of the Soviet regime. Ratmansky was inspired by works by Dmitri Shostakovich from various periods. He overwhelms the audience with a deluge of solos, small ensembles and group sections, while giving unity to the trilogy through the repetition of certain phrases and the structure of the three sections, which are each danced by four or five soloists in front of a mixed corps de ballet. 

 

Shostakovich Trilogy, created in 2013 for American Ballet Theatre, has not been shown before in Europe in its entirety. It is a special honour for Dutch National Ballet that the much sought-after Ratmansky is allowing the company to dance the European premiere of his Shostakovich Trilogy.

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credits

choreography Alexei Ratmansky music Dmitri Sjostakovitsj costumes Keso Dekker set design George Tsypin light design Jennifer Tipton musical accompaniment Het Balletorkest conductor Matthew Rowe coproduction American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet

This performance is made possible by