Preview: Carolina Ballet
What’s on: Carolina Ballet: “Petruschka” and “Beethoven: Symphony No. 9”
“Petruschka” backstory: In 2002, company artistic director Robert Weiss devised a new version of the famous ballet to the raucous, colorful Stravinsky score. The original story of the lonely, awkward Petruschka, hopelessly in love with a beautiful ballerina, here takes place in a “circus of the mind,” where dancers become horses, lions and snake charmers, performing athletic and amusing choreography.
“Beethoven: Symphony No. 9” backstory: Weiss fearlessly took on all four movements of this beloved composition in 2012, creating one of his most inspired ballets. The first movement features an artist pursuing his muse; the second is full of joyous leaping; the third’s loving couple strolls in serenely repeating patterns; the fourth, with the famous “Ode to Joy,” fills the stage with the whole company dancing out dazzling designs.
Where and when to see it: Memorial Auditorium, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. 8 p.m. Nov. 19-21; 2 p.m. Nov. 21-22
Tickets: $32.03 to $72.59, including tax (student rush $20)
Info: 919-719-0900 or carolinaballet.com
Dicks: music_theater@lycos.com
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 4:27 AM with the headline "Preview: Carolina Ballet."