METROPOLITAN CLASSICAL BALLET TO PRESENT
SPRING CELEBRATION AT BASS HALL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2005

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Metropolitan Classical Ballet will present the fourth production of the season, a Spring Celebration, at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 19th at 8:00 PM. The evening will include Act II plus the grand pas from Raymonda, Paul Mejia's romantic ballet, Inspiration, and a series of Classical Divertissements to include splendid pas de deux and solo dances which allow company members to fully display their talents. The performance will be accompanied by the Texas Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Metropolitan Classical Ballet's music director, Ron Spigelman. Guest artists include Stephanie Murrish and Daniil Gaifullin.

Raymonda, Act II and Grand Pas Classique
Music by Alexander Glazunov
Choreography by Marius Petipa
Staged by Alexander Vetrov

The great Russian ballet classic, Raymonda is a knightly legend set the Middle Ages. Alexander Glazunov composed the exciting musical score and the choreography is by Marius Petipa. Choreographed in his 80th year, the ballet is considered to be his last great masterpiece. It was first presented at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg, Russia in 1898. Act II is characterized by powerful dance scenes filled with exotic charm, but the highlight is the final the grand pas which skillfully combines classical and character dance. Olga Pavlova will dance the title role.

Inspiration
Music: Ständchen
Music by Franz Schubert
Arrangement by J. K. Mertz
Choreography by Paul Mejia
Accompanied by Silas do Espirito Antonio Santo, classical guitar

Ständchen, much loved in Franz Schubert's time and today, was arranged by Franz Liszt, and it was this version upon which Johann Kaspar Mertz, Czech guitarist-composer, based his own transcription. Mr. Santo has added some arpeggiation and tremolo figures to further adapt the sublime and haunting melody for the ballet choreographed by Mr. Mejia in 2003 for Olga Pavlova and Alexander Vetrov.

Classical Divertissements:

The Talisman
pas de deux
Choreography by Marius Petipa.
Music by Riccardo Drigo

The Talisman, a rarely seen pas de deux of a nymph and the god of the wind, is all that is left from a ballet by Marius Petipa created in 1889 called Le Talisman.

Gopak
Music by Soloviev-Sedoi
Choreography by Rostislav Zakharov

Gopak is a spirited Ukrainian Cossack dance from the 16th century.

Walzer Der Rosenkavalier
Music by Richard Strauss
Arrangement by Johannes Doebber
Choreography by Leonid Yakobson

Walzer Der Rosenkavalier is a lovely waltz choreographed by Leonid Yakobson, one of the most original masters of 20th Century Russian dance.

Don Quixote
Grand Pas Don Quixote
Music by Ludwig Minkus
Choreography by Marius Petipa

A combination of energy, athleticism, grace and balance, the Grand Pas de Deux is the climax of the full-length ballet, Don Quixote, which is based on the literary classic, Don Quixote de la Mancha, written in 1605 by the Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes. Choreographed by Marius Petipa at the height of his career, the ballet premiered on December 14, 1869 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. For years, the ballet was little known in the West outside of the Grand Pas de Deux, which is often performed as a separate piece. It will be danced by guest artists, Stephanie Murrish and Daniil Gaifulliin.

Program subject to change.

Tickets 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. Tickets are also available through Metropolitan Classical Ballet's administrative office located at 500 West Abram in Arlington or by calling (817) 465-4644. Group, student and senior discounts are available. Season sponsors include American Airlines, WRR Classical 101, and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap.

-END-

Media Note: Further information and photos may be obtained by contacting Judy Puder at (817) 465-4644.