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Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2009

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Metropolitan Classical Ballet announced today that it has contracted with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to provide live music for during the 2009-2010 season. The FWSO has been hired for productions at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth as well as the annual performances of The Nutcracker in Arlington. The value of this contract is an estimated $85,000.

The two organizations have worked together for the past several years doing performances of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, choreography by Paul Mejia, for the Performing Arts Fort Worth Children’s Education Program.

Artistic Director Paul Mejia said, “For me, music has always been a major part of the ballet experience. Its importance is unparalleled. My co-artistic director Alexander Vetrov and I have great respect for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and look forward to working with the musicians once again. We think this will be a wonderful collaboration.”

Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Music Director
Fort Worth Symphony

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the Metropolitan Classical Ballet,” said Ann Koonsman, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra president. “Artistic Director Paul Mejia is an extraordinary choreographer whose dance melds perfectly with the musical score.”

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has been serving the community and North Texas for more than seventy-five years. Its world-class musicians and internationally recognized music director, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, have become known for their outstanding performances of symphonic and pops music with a wide-range of talented artists. One of the largest performing arts organizations in the city, the Orchestra reaches more than 250,000 people each year in and around Fort Worth. A leader in education and community engagement, the FWSO is the only orchestra in the state to participate in Carnegie Hall’s award-winning Weill Music Institute Communities LinkUP! program. Adventures in Music, the Orchestra’s education and outreach program, inspires, educates and entertains more than 65,000 children each year.

Founded in 1997, Metropolitan Classical Ballet is regarded as one of the most successful ballet companies in Texas. Artistic Directors Paul Mejia and Alexander Vetrov are well-recognized names in ballet. Mr. Mejia, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet who danced principal roles in many Balanchine ballets, carries on Balanchine's style and artistic vision through his acclaimed choreography. Alexander Vetrov, former leading male principal dancer with the prestigious Bolshoi has the distinction of being the recipient of the Honored People's Artist of Russia, the highest honor given by the Russian President. Mr. Vetrov still maintains close connections with the Bolshoi today. Company dancers are valued for their superior technique and strong artistic personalities. Since 1999, the Company has performed at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. It reaches over 30,000 individuals each season. The Company’s repertory has an emphasis on simplicity, style and pure classical tradition, elements that make the Company uniquely classict.

Metropolitan Classical Ballet’s next performance will be the Spring Repertory Program on March 18^th at 8:00 P.M. at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. Paul Mejia's D Minor Sonata, set to the romantic music of French composer, Camille Saint-SaÎns, will open the program. The ballet will be accompanied by pianist Gleb Ivanov and violinist Eric Grossman. The program continues with Anatoly Emelianov’s choreography The Time set to music of Estonian composer Arvo Part. It ends with Paul Mejia's dynamic Spanish Dances accompanied by the renowned and internationally acclaimed musicians, pianist Gleb Ivanov and violinist Eric Grossman who will play the music of Pablo de Sarasate.

Individual tickets are affordably priced at $38, $25, and $10 and are available through Bass Performance Hall Ticket Office at (817) 212-4280; toll free at (877) 212-4280, or on the web at www.basshall.com.

Programming and program order are subject to change without notice.

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Media Note: Information regarding performances may be obtained by contacting the Metropolitan Classical Ballet administration office at (817) 465-4644, or on the website www.mcballet.org.