Oregon Ballet Theatre Presents Giants

Oct. 8 – 15, 2016 | Keller Auditorium

Serenade

George Balanchine | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
featuring the OBT Orchestra for all performances

Underwritten by Sue Horn-Caskey and Rick Caskey

In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (Company Premiere)

William Forsythe | Thom Willems

Giants Before Us (World Premiere)

Nicolo Fonte | Franz Liszt
Featuring pianist Hunter Noack

Underwritten by The Boeing Company

Dates|TimesCastingPreviews & ReviewsVideosPhotosSummaryRun Time

Sat., Oct. 8 at 7:30pm
Sun., Oct. 9 at 2pm
Thurs., Oct. 13 at 7:30pm
Blue Ribbon Society Night

Fri., Oct. 14 at 7:30pm
Sat., Oct. 15 at 7:30pm

Week 2

Serenade

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2:00 SPS Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30
Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra
Eva Burton Jacqueline Straughan Eva Burton Jacqueline Straughan
Brian Simcoe Colby Parsons Brian Simcoe
Nobriga Candace Bouchard Ansa Deguchi Candace Bouchard
Martina Chavez Kimberly Nobriga Martina Chavez
Thomas Baker Peter Franc Thomas Baker

 

In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated

Thursday, Oct. 13, 12:00 SPS Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30
Recorded Music Recorded Music Recorded Music Recorded Music
Katherine Monogue Xuan Cheng Katherine Monogue Xuan Cheng
Jacqueline Straughan Eva Burton Jacqueline Straughan Eva Burton
Makino Hildestad Kelsie Nobriga Makino Hildestad Kelsie Nobriga
Ansa Deguchi Emily Parker Ansa Deguchi Emily Parker
Jessica Lind Jessica Lind Candace Bouchard Jessica Lind
Candace Bouchard Candace Bouchard Kimberly Nobriga Kimberly Nobriga
Adam Hartley Peter Franc Adam Hartley Peter Franc
Christopher Kaiser Brian Simcoe Christopher Kaiser Brian Simcoe
Avery Reiners Thomas Baker Avery Reiners Thomas Baker

 

Giants Before Us

Thursday, Oct. 13, 12:00 SPS Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30 Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30
Xuan Cheng Jacqueline Straughan Xuan Cheng Jacqueline Straughan
Brian Simcoe Peter Franc Brian Simcoe Peter Franc
Chauncey Parsons Chauncey Parsons Chauncey Parsons Chauncey Parsons
Michael Linsmeier Michael Linsmeier Michael Linsmeier Michael Linsmeier
Avery Reiners Avery Reiners Avery Reiners Avery Reiners
Colby Parsons Colby Parsons Colby Parsons Colby Parsons
Christopher Kaiser Christopher Kaiser Christopher Kaiser Christopher Kaiser
Thomas Baker Thomas Baker Thomas Baker Thomas Baker
Adam Hartley Adam Hartley Adam Hartley Adam Hartley
Keenan English Keenan English Keenan English Keenan English
Paige Wilkey Paige Wilkey Paige Wilkey Paige Wilkey

 

Week 1

Serenade

Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 Sunday, Oct. 9, 2:00
Orchestra Orchestra
Waltz Couple Jacqueline Straughan Eva Burton
Brian Simcoe Coby Parsons
Russian Woman Candace Bouchard Ansa Deguchi
Dark Angel Martina Chavez Kimberly Nobriga
Elegy Thomas Baker Peter Franc

In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated

Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 Sunday, Oct. 9, 2:00
Orch Orch
Xuan Cheng Katherine Monogue
Eva Burton Jacqueline Straughan
Kelsie Nobriga Makino Hildestad
Emily Parker Ansa Deguchi
Jessica Lind Candace Bouchard
Kimberly Nobriga Kimberly Nobriga
Peter Franc Adam Hartley
Brian Simcoe Christopher Kaiser
Thomas Baker Avery Reiners

Giants Before Us

Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 Sunday, Oct. 9, 2:00
Noack Noack
Jacqueline Straughan Xuan Cheng
Peter Franc Brian Simcoe
Cha. Parsons Cha. Parsons
Michael Linsmeier Michael Linsmeier
Avery Reiners Avery Reiners
Coby Parsons Coby Parsons
Kelsie Nobriga Kelsie Nobriga
Thomas Baker Thomas Baker
Adam Hartley Adam Hartley
Keenan English Keenan English
Paige Wilkey Paige Wilkey

Rehearsals for OBT’s GIANTS


In the art form of ballet, there are only a few acknowledged masters whose work we consider ‘iconic.’ In this program we trace the evolution of ballet in the 20th and 21st Centuries with two truly iconic masterworks and a creation by one of the ballet world’s most sought-after artists.

George Balanchine created his celebrated Serenade in 1935 – it was the very first work Balanchine created in America and this work, perhaps more than any other, is forever linked to his legacy of neo-classical dancing infused with the romance and rigor of old Russia. William Forsythe, the American wunderkind, took Balanchine’s legacy and updated its athletic musicality to reflect an even sharper, even bolder attack on the organization of movement in space. The reverberations of Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated (1989) continue to echo anywhere ballet is performed today, and it is an enormous delight to bring this ground-breaking work to Portland for the very first time. Continuing in the theme of our evolution – we have invited Oregon Ballet Theatre’s newly named resident choreographer, Nicolo Fonte, to create the title work on this program of giants. Fonte, well-known to Portland audiences for his previous works Bolero, Left Unsaid, Petrouchka, and most recently Never Stop Falling (In Love) – which featured the band Pink Martini on stage with OBT – is creating a work that will make it clear that ballet, and your local world-class ballet company, are forever moving forward, forever looking up.

Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with 2 intermissions
Header Image: Eva Burton. Photo by James McGrew.