The Making of PNB’s New Jewels
George Balanchine’s Jewels celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and we’re throwing the biggest birthday party possible! All new costumes and sets are coming to PNB’s production of Jewels. But these things don’t happen overnight. Read on for breathtaking photos AND facts about the process of stitching it all together! A total of 79 costumes were built. We […]
A Brief Fling – Musical Mystery Solved!
By Emil de Cou, Music Director/Principal Conductor, PNB Orchestra On February 28, 1990 Twyla Tharp’s Scottish-themed ballet Brief Fling made its debut on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. I was in the orchestra pit that night, conducting a performance of La Bayadere – Kingdom of the Shades. A colleague led the orchestra in a lively performance […]
Roméo et Juliette Timeline
In late January 2008, PNB became the first American company to perform Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette, with costumes and sets rented from Maillot’s Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. In early 2012, PNB’s costume shop, under the direction of Larae Hascall, shop manager since 1987, began building the Company’s own production. The inspiration for PNB’s first performance and the […]
Tell the Tale: Coppelia
The doll Coppélia, often is seated on a balcony of his workshop overlooking the village square. She is so lifelike that everyone believe her to be a real girl, including Franz. Swanilda is not pleased. Oh well, Franz thinks, she’ll get over it. The town’s mayor then arrives to announce the next day’s festivities in honor of the […]
Coppélia Then and Now
By Cecilia Iliesiu George Balanchine’s Coppélia is a ballet near and dear to my heart. As I rehearse for its opening in one week, I daydream about my memories as a wide-eyed 12-years-old girl dancing Coppélia. This ballet must tickle every little girl’s dreams of becoming a ballerina and twirling in a tutu on stage. In 2003, I had been cast as one of […]
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ by the Numbers
The whole town will be buzzing when the curtain goes up on PNB’s new production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, freshly imagined by celebrated author and illustrator Ian Falconer (Olivia the Pig), plus Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, more than 150 roles, and McCaw Hall all aglitter with new décor and surprises! Over 50 drapers, stitchers, first hands, […]
Q&A: Giselle Designer Jérôme Kaplan
Costume designer Jérôme Kaplan discusses his designs for PNB’s Giselle, from the romantic peasant village to the haunting world of the Wilis in Act II.
Inside the Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By Peter Boal As the hints of mid-summer weather start to be felt, along comes George Balanchine’s enchanting production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This production is unique to PNB, not in choreography, but in the wondrous set and costume designs created for us by Martin Pakledinaz. Marty chose designs elements that were particular to the […]
PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal’s Staging of Giselle
Peter Boal shares his vision for staging Giselle at PNB, drawing on his experience dancing the ballet and his approach to honoring this romantic masterpiece.
The Story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The First Act takes place in a forest near the duke’s palace. Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, his queen, quarrel over the Indian child they both want. Oberon orders Puck to bring the flower pierced by Cupid’s arrow (which causes anyone coming under its influence to fall in love with the first person […]