A Thousand Tales: New Contemporary Ballet with Music by Alexey Shor Delights Audiences in Dubai
Agencies | Abu Dhabi
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
A Thousand Tales ballet made its world premiere at Dubai Opera on the 6th and 7th of January, featuring music by Alexey Shor, direction and choreography by Francesco Ventriglia, and set and costume design from the mind of Roberta Guidi di Bagno.
2023 started on a high note for cultural lovers in Dubai, as the city’s Dubai Opera played host to the world premiere of an original contemporary ballet production entitled A Thousand Tales, which was brought to life by a team of award-winning artisans from around the world.
Structured around the music of US-based composer Alexey Shor, the ballet mesmerised audiences of all ages with a fantastical journey through countless literary worlds plucked from the top shelf of our childhood bookcase, including those of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Aladdin, Puss in Boots, The Three Musketeers, and many more.
Responsible for putting the whole production together was famed Italian choreographer Francesco Ventriglia, who, inspired by Shor’s music, wrote the libretto for the work, while also taking charge of direction and choreography.
“I am so grateful and happy to have been able to create a new work based on such an incredible magical music score by Alexey Shor”, Ventriglia said. “I feel blessed as well to have had alongside me such an incredible creative team, and on stage in the principal roles some of the most talented artists from the most important European Theatres. ”
Joining Ventriglia and Shor on the production team were Set and Costume Designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno and Lighting Designer Valerio Tiberi, who helped to create the mystical world of the ballet and immerse audiences into the fantasy realm unfolding on stage.
Commenting on the production, Guidi di Bagno echoed Ventriglia’s sentiments, remarking that “It’s been such a fantastic production. The organisers and production team have been absolutely wonderful, and we really put all our soul into it. I’ve been very happy working here in Dubai, and also discovering the fabulous work of Alexey Shor whose music is just stunning; it’s ageless, his music, you can listen to it again and again, it really touches my soul, and we were all very much involved and inspired by it.”
Indeed, Shor’s music appeared to have touched the hearts of many of those who were involved in the ballet, with multiple cast members noting how it formed the beating heart of the production, painting an acoustic image of each character and laying out the ballet’s various moods and themes whilst helping to captivate listeners with its melodic qualities.
These dancers, of course, were the ones who ultimately took centre stage throughout the shows, with the cast of A Thousand Tales representing some of the top talent of the contemporary ballet world.
Each of the Principal Dancers was purposefully hand-picked from among the leading ballet companies in Europe, while the Corps de Ballet hailed from the Ballet Nacional Sodre (Uruguay), one of the oldest and most respected representatives of South American ballet around the world.
Their efforts on stage were widely applauded by the audiences who packed the venue on both evenings, with many enthusiastically expressing their admiration long after the curtain had come down.
Comprising an eclectic mix of individuals from across the Middle East and beyond, the unanimous admiration for the evening’s proceedings showcased the hunger that remains for such original works, perhaps serving as a reminder that, while the great ballets of the past shall always be remembered, audiences are always eager to experience what new work, created by masters of our time, can accomplish.
To know more visit https://alexeyshor.com/
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