2:00 pm | 2 hrs | $12/$10 members/$6 for children 12 and under

Paris Opera Ballet gives a French twist to one of the few narrative ballets in the Balanchine canon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Inspired by the whimsy of William Shakespeare’s plot and characters and Felix Mendelssohn-Barthholdy’s lush music, George Balanchine choreographed this 2-act fantasia as a showcase for the leading artists at New York City Ballet. Debuted in 1962, A Midsummer Night’s Dream became a repertory staple and has never waned in popularity. The beguiling production, danced by the etoiles, premiers danseurs, and corps de ballet of the Paris Opera Ballet with the participation of the Paris Opera Ballet School, has been given a fresh look with sets and costumes by Christian Lacroix. It was captured at the Bastille Opera in March, 2017.

Le Songe d’une nuit d’été
Entrée au répertoire
Musique Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Chorégraphie George Balanchine
D’après William Shakespeare,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Décors Christian Lacroix Costumes Christian Lacroix Lumières Jennifer Tipton
Direction musicale Simon Hewett Chef des ChoeursJosé Luis Basso Soliste Pranvera Lehnert
Anne-Sophie Ducret
Les Étoiles, les Premiers Danseurs et le Corps de Ballet
Avec la participation des élèves de l’École de Danse
Orchestre et Chœurs de l’Opéra national de Paris
Costumes de Christian Lacroix, d’après les maquettes originales de Karinska.
Titania
Hannah O’Neill
Oberon
Fabien Revillion
Helena
Sae Eun Park
Hermia
Muriel Zusperreguy
Lisandre
Simon Valastro
Demetrius
Vincent Chaillet
Hyppolite
Alice Renavand
Puck
Antoine Kirscher
Thésée
Audric Bezard
Chevalier de Titania
Karl Paquette
Papillon
Alice Catonnet
Divertissement- soliste femme
Marion Barbeau
Divertissement- soliste homme
Florian Magnenet

The Paris Opera Ballet mounting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was commissioned by Benjamin Millepied, who had performed the role of Oberon while at New York City Ballet, but the final realization was produced under the supervision of Aurélie Dupont the new Directrice of Dance. The production also features the Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

Christian Lacroix, once known for his haute couture and now as costume designer in great demand, was given the task of following Balanchine’s original specifications on costume design plus add a layer of opulence. Nearly 200 costumes were created to fulfill the order, most of them abundantly decorated with Swarovski crystals. Sophie Hallette, the French lace-maker, provided embroidered snow white and “bonbon pink” floral lace as well as lace in iridescent metallic colors. Paris Opera Ballet in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a visual, aural, and kinesthetic feast.