Paris Opera Ballet Étoile principal dancer Hugo Marchand brings an extraordinary lineup of the company’s principals and soloists to The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall Friday July 31 – Sunday August 2.
With a pedigree dating back to 1669 under Louis XIV, the Paris Opera Ballet is renowned for his breathtaking technique, its classical precision, beauty and artistry and its commanding stage presence
But for this much anticipated L.A. residency, the company’s celebrated Étoiles – principal dancers – leave the traditional grand stage to present a carefully curated, intimate program.
Marchand will present a program of powerful, intimate performances that showcase the elegance and artistry of Paris’ top dancers, and their flawless technique, while bringing emotional depth and poetry to the audience.
The program also showcases the difference between classic French technique and American contemporary styles, creating a cross-cultural dialogue through dance. So there will be French Pas de Deux with classical highlights celebrating the heritage of the Paris Opera, as well as American Pas de Deux, such as George Balanchine’s Sonatine, mixing French lyricism with American neoclassical flair.
There will be live musicians, including star cellist Julie Sevilla Fraysse and pianist Elena Bonnay performing live, highlighting the connection between the music and the movement.
Delibes Suite is a classical pas de deux set to the music of French composer Léo Delibes (excerpts from La Source and Coppélia ). The piece is renowned for blending traditional technique with tenderly playful, light-hearted fantasy.
The Dying Swan is a famous 4-minute solo ballet created as a pièce d’occasion for ballerina Anna Pavlova. It portrays the poetic final moments of a swan’s life and became a landmark of Fokine’s early neoclassical style.
Choreographed by Roland Petit with his wife and muse, Zizi Jeanmaire in the title role, the one-act masterpiece reimagines Bizet’s opera into a bold, sultry dance drama. It is celebrated for its mix of classical technique and cabaret-style sensuality, featuring iconic scenes like the passionate Pas de Deux and the intense tavern sequences.
The Pas de deux from Le Parc is a breathtaking contemporary ballet piece set to the hauntingly beautiful second Adagio movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. The romantic duet is most famous for its spectacular “flying kiss” finale.
Choreographed in 1975 by George Balanchine, Sonatine is an intimate, neo-classical pas de deux set to Maurice Ravel’s eponymous piano score. Featuring two dancers and an onstage pianist, the ballet is noted for its polished simplicity, effortless speed, and playful musicality.
The Rendez-Vous is a mythical ballet created in 1945 in Paris by the chorégrapher Roland Petit. The chef-d’œuvre unites a stellar trifecta: the poet Jacques Prévert for the book, the painter Pablo Picasso for the décor and the composer Joseph Kosma for the music .
Trois Gnossiennes is a minimalist contemporary ballet choreographed by Hans van Manen to the piano score by Erik Satie. It features a single female and male dancer blending classical ballet lines with pedestrian movements to create tension and harmony. The ballet is a pas de deux renowned for its clear, pure lines and stripped-back aesthetic With the dancers alternating between fixed, angular poses and rapid, fluid movements. It is staged intimately, often right at the edge of the proscenium, to highlight the dynamic relationship and natural trust between the partners.
L’Esprit du bleu is a mesmerizing, poetic movement from the acclaimed 1997 ballet Signes, choreographed by Carolyn Carlson with a dreamlike score by composer René Aubry and visual design by painter Olivier Debré. It is characterized by fluid, gravity-defying motions that evoke deep, meditative emotion.
Signes was inspired by French abstract artist Olivier Debré’s desire to translate the concept of a smile into vibrant, large-scale stage paintings and colors. Carolyn Carlson choreographed the ballet around these paintings, creating a visual and emotional tapestry of movement, color, and sound intertwining.
The Music Center’s President & CEO Rachel S. Moore will present a DanceTalk at 1:15 p.m. before the Sunday matinee offering insights into the program.
For more information and tickets, please visit https://www.musiccenter.org/