NYC Ballet Stagesets, Santiago Calatrava New York, Project, Photo, News, Design, Image

NYC Ballet Stageset Designs, Manhattan

New York City Arts Building Interior – design by Santiago Calatrava, architect

May 18, 2010

New York City Ballet Stagesets

Dates: May – Jun 2010

Architect and Engineer: Santiago Calatrava

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA AND THE ARCHITECTURE OF DANCE

World-Renowned Architect and The New York City Ballet Debut Monumental Collaboration
To celebrate his first collaboration with the NYC Ballet (NYCB), world renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava served as an Honorary Chairman of the company’s Opening Gala, an event marking the start of the 2010 spring season.

photos : Paul Kolnik

Calatrava, who is best known for his acclaimed bridges, transportation centers and educational buildings, agreed to create scenic designs for five of the company’s new productions after receiving a personal invitation from NYCB Ballet Master, Peter Martins. Not only are these the first stage designs that the celebrated architect has ever conceived, but he is also the only architect besides Philip Johnson (1981) to receive such an honor. The new season, appropriately titled, Architecture of Dance – New Choreography and Music Festival, will feature seven world premiere ballets and four commissioned scores, all dedicated to the 50^th anniversary of Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts.

Melissa Barak Ballet stageset design:

Among the five choreographers that Calatrava collaborated with is Benjamin Millepied, whose production is scheduled to debut during Thursday’s Opening Gala. Millepied’s Ballet will feature a Calatrava-designed, multi-functional environment, which uniquely illustrates the architect’s reoccurring theme of movement and flight. Calatrava’s scenic designs will also appear in world premiere ballets choreographed by Melissa Barak, Mauro Bigonzetti, Christopher Wheeldon and Peter Martins. To ensure that his concept aligned with their productions, Calatrava met with each of the five choreographers to discuss their visions and artistic styles.

“I was deeply honored when Peter Martins approached me with this opportunity,” said architect, engineer and designer, Santiago Calatrava. “As an architect, I have always studied and sought inspiration from movement and the human body. To me, there is no muse greater than a dancer. It is my sincere hope that my scenic designs truly express the choreographers’ visions.”

Christopher Wheeldon stageset design:

The New York City Ballet’s 2010 Spring Season runs from May 4 – June 27, 2010 and features performances of over 40 ballets, including those featuring Calatrava’s set designs. For general information see www.nycballet.com.

Santiago Calatrava

Previously:

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA / NEW YORK CITY BALLET COLLABORATION

For the first time since 1981, the New York City Ballet (NYCB) has commissioned a world-renowned architect to design the sets for its new productions. Santiago Calatrava, best known for his acclaimed bridges, transportation centers and educational buildings, will create scenic designs for five of the 2010 Spring Season’s world premieres. The stage designs will be unveiled on Thursday, April 29th during the Ballet’s Opening Gala, in which Calatrava and his wife will serve as honorary chairs.

After receiving a personal invitation from NYCB’s Ballet Master, Peter Martins, Calatrava agreed to design several multi-functional environments, each one uniquely illustrating his reoccurring theme of movement and flight. Not only are these the first stage designs that Calatrava has ever conceived, but he is also the only architect, besides Philip Johnson (1981) to receive such an honor. The new season, appropriately titled “Architecture of Dance – New Choreography and Music Festival,” will feature seven world premiere ballets and four commissioned scores, all dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts.

Calatrava’s scenic designs will appear in world premiere ballets choreographed by Benjamin Millepied, Melissa Barak, Mauro Bigonzetti and Peter Martins, each being set to one of the four commissioned scores. In addition, Calatrava will also provide the setting for choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s new production, whose score has yet to be announced. To ensure that his concept aligned with their productions, Calatrava met with each of the choreographers to discuss their visions and artistic styles.

The New York City Ballet’s 2010 Spring Season, which will run from May 4 – June 27, 2010, will feature performances of over 40 ballets, including those featuring Calatrava’s set designs. Below is a brief overview of each of these five ballets, along with premiere dates and composer information:

Benjamin Millepied – Commissioned Score by Thierry Escaich
World Premiere: Saturday, May 22 at 2pm
A native of France, Benjamin Millepied is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. This will be his second work for NYCB and his first collaboration with Santiago Calatrava. His new ballet is being created to a commissioned score by the acclaimed French organist and composer, Thierry Escaich.

Christopher Wheeldon – Score To Be Announced
World Premiere: Saturday, May 29 at 8pm
A former dancer and resident choreographer for the NYCB, British-born Christopher Wheeldon has created 16 previous works for the company. The score for his new ballet, which will feature Santiago Calatrava’s set design, will be announced at a later date.

Melissa Barak – Commissioned Score by Jay Greenberg
World Premiere: Saturday, June 5 at 8pm
Currently a member of the Los Angeles Ballet, Melissa Barak is a former NYCB dancer. For her 2010 Spring Season world premiere, Barak will create a ballet to a commissioned score by musical prodigy, Jay Greenberg. Still a teenager, the young American composer has been compared to Mozart and Mendelssohn. Greenberg is the youngest composer ever signed to exclusive contracts with IMG and Sonny Classical. This will mark his first score composed for dance. Not only will the Barak/Greenberg collaboration feature a set design by Santiago Calatrava, but the costumes are underwritten in part by Bergdorf Goodman and designed by acclaimed fashion designer, Gilles Mendel, of J. Mendel.

Mauro Bigonzetti – Commissioned Score by Bruno Moretti
World Premiere: Thursday, June 10 at 8pm
The former Artistic Director of Italy’s Aterballeto, where he is now principal choreographer, Mauro Bigonzetti has choreographed three works for NYCB. For his 2010 Spring Season world premiere, Bigonzetti will collaborate with Santiago Calatrava for his stage design, and Bruno Moretti, who has been commissioned to create a new score for the ballet. Set design

Peter Martins – Commissioned Score By Esa-Pekka Salonen
World Premiere: Tuesday, June 22 at 7:30pm
NYCB’s Ballet Master-in-Chief, Peter Martins will create a new work to a violin concerto by Esa-Pekka Salonen, which was co-commissioned by the NYCB, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Martins, who first approached Santiago Calatrava with this monumental collaboration, will also feature a set design by the renowned architect.

Santiago Calatrava’s sets to be built in Manhattan-based warehouse.

NYC Ballet Stageset information from C-H C

Location: NYC Ballet, New York City, USA