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Opus 111

Thomas, Postlewaite, Eames and Moore in performance. Photo by Angela Sterling.

Dancers of Pacific Northwest Ballet in performance.

Thomas and Postlewaite in performance. Photo by Angela Sterling.

Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers in a 2010 restaging. Photo by Angela Sterling.

Premiere

  • Date

    25 September 2008

  • Location

    Seattle, WA

Production

  • Choreographer

    Twyla Tharp

  • Composer

    Johannes Brahms (String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op.111, 1890)

  • Live Musicians

    John Pilskog (violin),
    Ingrid Fredrickson (violin),
    Scott Ligocki (viola),
    Betty Agent (viola),
    Page Smith (cello)

  • Lighting Designer

    Randall G. Chiarelli

  • Costume Designer

    Mark Zappone

Dancers

Rachel Foster, Carrie Imler, Carla Körbes, Ariana Lallone, Lesley Rausch, Jodie Thomas

Batkhurel Bold, Kiyon Gaines, Stanko Milov, James Moore, Jonathan Porretta, Lucien Postlewaite

  • Number of Dancers

    12

  • Runtime

    00:24:30

Description

Artistic director Peter Boal commissioned Tharp to create two new works for the Pacific Northwest Ballet: Afternoon Ball (2008) and Opus 111. The two works, performed back-to-back, form an opposition pair – one work bright and classical, the other cold and contemporary.

 

Opus 111 is a chamber ballet for six couples. The dancers are light, waltzing and loping through the four movements of the Brahms composition. The first section alternates couples and quartets; the second features a single couple in relief against the ensemble. The third and fourth movements roll through a series of variations on social, ballroom and folk dance forms.

 

From the original program: “Brahms composed this string quintet (unusually scored fro two violins, two violas, and cello) while on a nature retreat in the summer of 1890. The music has a vivacious folk flavor, with the cello featured in the first movement and the viola, Brahms’ favorite instrument, carrying the theme in the second. Twyla Tharp has choreographed the quintet’s four movements for five couples.”

 

Past Performances

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Opus 111 (preview) | Pacific Northwest Ballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet Studios

Seattle, WA

September 20 2008 Premiere

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Opus 111 (premiere) – Afternoon Ball (premiere) – Nine Sinatra Songs | Pacific Northwest Ballet

McCaw Hall

Seattle, WA

September 25 2008 Premiere

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Opus 111 – Afternoon Ball – Waterbaby Bagatelles | Pacific Northwest Ballet

McCaw Hall

Seattle, WA

November 5 2010 Repertory

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Waterbaby Bagatelles – Opus 111 – Nine Sinatra Songs | Pacific Northwest Ballet

Teatro Romano

Spoleto, Italy

July 6 2012 Repertory

  • 2008
  • 2010
  • 2012