Four world premieres, three full-length programs (including a North American premiere), and an all-Balanchine evening are among the attractions of the unusually bold 2017 San Francisco Ballet season, announced today by company director Helgi Tomasson.
Before the season-opening gala on Jan. 19, 2017, the company will appear in Washington’s Kennedy Center, Oct. 26-30, 2016, with seven performances of Christopher Wheeldon’s “Cinderella” and produce 33 “Nutcracker” shows in the S.F. Opera House, Dec. 10-29, 2016.
Tomasson said he is especially pleased about the company partnering with the Royal Ballet a co-production of “Frankenstein” by Liam Scarlett. “The production designs are especially rich and evocative of the gothic spirit of Shelley’s novel, and I like that the ballet’s narrative is focused on relationships and a departure from the common characterization of the book as simply a horror story.” (Feb. 17-26 in the War Memorial.)
The company’s own choreographers, Yuri Possokhov and Myles Thatcher, will present premieres, on Jan. 26-Feb. 5 and April 5-18, respectively, of works yet unnamed. Program 1 (Jan. 24-Feb. 4) will include a premiere by Jirí Bubenícek, a Czech choreographer, former company member of the Hamburg Ballet. His “Gentle Memories” was part of San Francisco Ballet’s 2016 opening night gala.
The fourth premiere is by Arthur Pita, on Program 5 (March 9-19). A native of South Africa, Pita studied in London, and has created works for Sadler’s Wells and Linbury Studio Theater.
The all-Balanchine program, March 7-18, includes “Stravinsky Violin Concerto,” “Prodigal Son” and “Diamonds.” Full-length programs, in addition to “Frankenstein,” are “Swan Lake” (the current season’s sold-out sensation), March 31-April 12, and Wheeldon’s “Cinderella,” April 29-May 7, 2017.
Repertory pieces by Tomasson, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, William Forsythe, Possokhov, and Wheeldon run through the season.
Subscription tickets for three-, five- and eight-program packages, range from $75 to $1,463, going on sale on June 15. Single tickets, starting at $25, will be available at the Ballet’s website beginning Nov. 16, 2016.
