The applause and standing ovations are set to continue for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) International Series with the announcement that the mighty Bolshoi Ballet will return exclusively to Queensland for the Series in 2019.
QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said it is no secret the Bolshoi have wanted to return since the day they left in 2013, it was just a matter of locking in a time in their highly demanding performance calendar as well as waiting till contracts were signed to make it official. “The Bolshoi will present two ballets, Spartacus and triple bill Jewels in QPAC’s Lyric Theatre between 26 June and 7 July 2019, including the rare opportunity for audiences to make a weekend of it and see both ballet productions on the first weekend of the season,” said John. “The last QPAC International Series appearance for the Bolshoi featured some of the more traditional works of the company and this 2019 season will show what the Bolshoi are renowned for today. At the Russian company’s home in Moscow, seasons of Spartacus and Jewels are booked out months in advance and we expect to see the same for this exclusive Queensland return.”
Acting Minister for the Arts Craig Crawford said Queensland Symphony Orchestra would accompany the Bolshoi season in 2019. “This will continue the important legacy of the QPAC International Series making connections between the visiting company and Queensland artists,” he said. Minister Crawford said a program of related community activities would take place around Bolshoi’s Brisbane mainstage season.
The Bolshoi Ballet’s Director Makhar Vaziev said preparations could now get underway for this massive undertaking but they are in good hands working with QPAC. “We are happy to show in Brisbane two ballets from our repertoire – two masterpieces of outstanding choreographers of the 20th Century – Spartacus by Yuri Grigorovich and Jewels by George Balanchine. Spartacus is the heroic ballet of Grigorovich with exciting characters, powerful passions, and dynamic action. Jewels is the neoclassic of Balanchine and will permit us to present rather extensively the young generation of the Bolshoi Ballet dancers to the Australian audience,” said Makhar.
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