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Ancient Greece:
An Inspiration for the Ages
Ancient Greece: An Inspiration for the Ages
Generations of artists, from poets and playwrights to musicians and architects, have found endless inspiration in Ancient Greek culture. This is also true for choreographers throughout ABT’s 80-year history. From the 1943 ABT premiere of George Balanchine’s iconic ballet Apollo to the upcoming World Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s dramatic full-length Of Love and Rage, ABT has presented a plethora of ballets that expertly explore elements of Greek mythology, literature and philosophy.
Apollo
Named after the Greek god of music and poetry, this ballet by George Balanchine depicts the birth of Apollo and his journey to becoming a god. After Apollo bestows a symbol of each art form upon the Muses of poetry, mime and dance, he leads the Muses as they ascend to Mount Olympus in the distance.
Stella Abrera, Melanie Hamrick, Joo Won Ahn and Katherine Williams in Apollo (2019). © The George Balanchine Trust. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.
Diana and Acteon
This daring pas de deux uses the Roman name for the Greek goddess of the hunt, Artemis. A well-known excerpt from the full-length ballet Esmeralda, the duet made its ABT premiere in 1973 with choreography by Agrippina Vaganova.
Xiomara Reyes and Herman Cornejo in the Diana and Acteon pas de deux (2010). Photo: Katsuyoshi Tanaka.
Artemis
This mythological ballet by Lar Lubovitch was given its World Premiere by ABT in 2003. A work for 30 dancers to a commissioned score by composer Christopher Theofanidis, the ballet expands upon the myth represented in the Diana and Acteon pas de deux.
Julie Kent in Artemis (2003). Photo: Marty Sohl.
Serenade after Plato's Symposium
Declared a “marvel of musicality” and a “celebration of human diversity” by The New York Times, Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky’s 2016 work resulted from a re-reading of Plato’s charming dialogue The Symposium. The modern, color-blocked costumes and minimalist set by Jérôme Kaplan let the virtuosic choreography of this ballet shine.
Scene from Serenade after Plato’s Symposium (2019). Photo: Marty Sohl.
Daphnis and Chloe
In the fall of 2016, ABT performed Benjamin Milliepied’s Daphnis and Chloe for the first time. Inspired by the Greek novel by Longus, the ballet follows the story of Daphnis discovering his love for Chloe and the challenges the young lovers face in finding their happy ending.
Cassandra Trenary and Calvin Royal III in Daphnis and Chloe (2017). Photo: Rosalie O’Connor.
Of Love and Rage
Ratmansky’s newest creation transports audiences to the Greek city of Syracuse in 400 BC. Adapted for the stage from the Ancient Greek novel Callirhoe by Chariton of Aphrodisias, the elaborate plot to keep Callirhoe and her lover Chaereas apart is expressed through Ratmansky’s intricate choreography and Aram Khachaturian’s sweeping score.
Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell in Of Love and Rage (2020). Photo: Erin Baiano.
World Premiere
March 5-8, 2020
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Costa Mesa, California
Costume sketch for Of Love and Rage by Jean-Marc Puissant.
New York Premiere
June 2-6, 2020
Metropolitan Opera House
New York, New York