New York City Ballet 2022 by Capital Region Living

JULY 12-16, 2022

YOU’VE CHEERED FOR US,

To our friends, our family, our community and our heroes—thank you for your continued support!

US,

NOW

SPAC C

It’s not just insurance. It’s your insurance. You are unique. So, our independent agents customize coverage speciﬁcally for you, making sure you have exactly what you need at surprisingly great prices. With roots that run deep in the Capital District, Amsure is an insurance agency ready to focus on you. Talk with our team or visit us at amsureins.com/unique AUTO | HOME | BOAT | LIFE

INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT FDIC INSURED, NOT A DEPOSIT, NOT BANK GUARANTEED, NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY, MAY GO DOWN IN VALUE.

2 | SPAC 2022

SPAC Classical Programs_5 x 8_2021_Layout 1 8/26/2021 1:05 PM Page 1

Saratoga Performing Arts Center A Classical Treasure

Thank you for keeping the arts alive in our community.

Banking / Wealth Management / Insurance AdirondackTrust.com

Amsureins.com

Investment and Insurance Products are: NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT A DEPOSIT. NOT BANK GUARANTEED. NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY. MAY LOSE VALUE. © Adirondack Trust Company Member FDIC

SPAC.ORG | 3

u e i d A s d i B r ta

OFF CKS N KI . TH A Y LT I S PA C T WI NG H ’ AT ALLE ERLI EAM TY B R ST ’S DR K CI NCE T R H DA G I YO L ER N C I PA NEW M N H I M T R I U P MIDS AR W RING F ‘A L YE RETI CE O FINA es the MAN HER enhanc and RFOR really t, E PE outside you look ou ople D BY being pe es GOO y. As ballets, metim !” the sk Or so nature on in story. tching to full mo wa a ssed ’re , we there’s lf so ble es that ing us rse tch he lov e are wa considers B) what sh r daughter YC do ltin (N to Hy le llet lp he “I en ab r to he for herself. be City Ba ling Hyltin de ve rk or ha in ’s t ew Yo dancer Ster retiring ial something ltin says. “It l terswee she’s principa ng for her bit ance— ch,” Hy passionate at spec ari by so mu find th nt perform ying is prep ncing unded e. I wa sa ratoga love da t to be surro confidenc r final Sa d to be dancing gif let he you sa been a gives ughter, for at e’ll be r da d she’s sh Th me t my . An tha people. e that in Midsum ow ould be r, not off thrilled A t sh ’s bu e pir sh e sh ine r he to ins goodby ge Balanch r last SPAC lovely where ent fo es me pr h a or he teac to be 16, in Ge Dream as t ’s such need to July year. “It ys. “The balle time.” that I July 12 re than Night’s tiring next all the SPAC she sa re dancing dancing performs at y of mo t time before y goodbye,” ages. Plus, mpan n be sa all NYCB ole co the firs ere ca r, way to chable for the wh ing gic. Th oga for Midsumme oa bringing ers to Sarat the ma n while watch ul cif ing to is appr nc adds law l and fan works, includ ial 90 da outside bugs on the on stage.” ec comica ratoga to the contemporary e, plus a sp ltin ing lightning bugs danc coming to Sa any’s dition ac of Hy ad r sp e, In d s tim mmer a roste 2019. e comp lightning Hyltin starte since dance masterful Su ion. At pres s de ago, th eks long, ll also nt” pa tat s When years we r th your they wi nningham’ ge” presen ivertisseme CB 20 still three m, s of he a house wi much Cu Sta s morie with NY ous “D Night’s Drea d Off Merce cy wa her me ou were in ily there, so On an e the fam eal mer residen cherishes “Y fam “NYCB cted to danc of A Midsum r most ether in e stays. we were a r sh t ty pe ck he he d ac Ci ex d an e a .” s off on ba was cond felt lik home she an AC ed Sp the se t show ance al seas SP extend she says. “It y. It felt like strong that deux in c piece tha start her fin final perform the coveted on the ,” cit n d nti e ow friends than in the ratoga is so it’s sitting a roma She will the te in her gran she will danc s to sh Sa so s. e ina n. And g of m hope joy more e for qualitie ich will culm Center, wher tcracker. to en ’s lov lockdow new mo the beginnin so Hyltin e Nu coln during where the I have have to C, wh ar C is Th d Lin NY ne in PA ow ite at “S rn 4 kn iry r vis I er Fa ys. “I ow s bo tator— time. e family ason, ltin sa Decemb Sugarplum se a spec rid, who wa r the first uld like to sh step th Hy al as e,” fin the fo every wo lawn— hter, Ing role of NYCB for my r one last tim to make . “So I in ed ug ys g ’s ve da lov sa fo ha be she her ing joy it.” “Goin t SPAC that I n, her lawn,” just en everyth inly fel inking rtins’ lockdow dly, with the s certa I get to dancing lf from th ltin ha t in Peter Ma re there.” se is year, Th my we p kid-frien hter ballet ter stage, Hy lie we sto ever. as Ju ug year as us,” she perfect phithea amatically my da “One most ino the am st dr nated. got om for some From ll, mo e origi e sky as we way— role sh the story, th magic ry that liet, a o + Ju as it got into d in the sto Rome rse ht rig me , im dancing really get ou says. “Y

By Abby

Tegnelia

ANO N BAI e) ERI ositite) pos opp ; (op KOLNIK PAUL

22 ER 20

toga

ra 32 sa

⁄

livin

⁄ SUMM

20 22

C A S Ps back! i

toga

ra 26 sa

⁄

rn e retu w th er sa e summ s to th d e last instay rl a o m Whil ew onic , and ter, th of ic ithea al yet amph norm ed, SPAC rten ck to o ba sh e e it ovid s wer ’t qu C m s sn a ra a , w prog . Now ned, te ed se c ri o n lo favo dista to be ed or tinue oor limit outd s con mer ction ttest m o ri h su st ’s re for a toga g up Sara best— earin t and . e is g gges venu —ever the bi years may be cent that re st in ju t o n

livin

⁄ SUMM

22 ER 20

pie

ed Renownturn to ll re fresh cello Yo-Yo Ma wi e since tim ) t Cellis r the first (opposite fo a st 5; SPAC Augu nce enjoys on 2017 ed audie in prea pack rformance t time pe las 2019 bliss, the AC enjoyed COVID such as SP touched un venues seasons er summ pandemic. by the

BELL

o Carmell ed rolee r Ca treasur in ay sta bany, she Al taking Broadw up in hen SPAC, lawn at ing s the ow evening s Taylor from herself was gr mmer re her su such as Jame rming the ver, as rfo ts we pe er ho e, conc ng of ows. g elusiv dreami ay sh while s lookin for Broadw brought it ne wa me milesto been a ho t year when sounding y. That sn’t t las its re al someda torically ha music ged tha eater. After his e the a chan ith se og ph eet to rat SPAC am et Str ar get era Sa ha to the this ye Barber of Fle nc But Op La Ma rs will n shows Man of theater-love : The Demo ng. in d rri s, dd starre most succes ney To Carmello sta teran who’s a! and Swee gionite oadway ve , Mamma Mi thriller , Dolly Br pital Re nd of Hello with Ca illed,” says the g Neverla production I’m thr s, Findin “I’m touring Falsetto Levi in the as ch lly su y as Do recentl

nice

) JASON

Tegnelia

mrs.

O, (Ma

By Abby

ore no m

D’AMIC

Sweeite as P

KES O R TA GA HUM R AT O DA R K P E R A S A S LY DD, N O CIOU W H E E N EY TO E DELI V E TA G E I S W S AT R N S TE ORM ANY PA C . CEN P E R F I N G A L B L O , AT S R MEL S TA R CAR OLEE CAR

⁄ 31

ESCO

⁄ SUMM

FRANC

livin

ience)

⁄

g.com

livin

toga

sara

aud (SPAC

toga

ra 30 sa

ltin ling Hy rtins er Ster Ma l danc t by Peter nated origi tires Principa balle re tion, a t Hyltin g high flyin lujah Junc meo + Julie ite) Hyltin os lle in Ha Juliet in Ro SPAC; (opp year. xt whose rformed at Ballet ne ty and pe w York Ci from Ne

g.com

livin

toga

sara

⁄ 27

Hyltin Martinsd te rigina es tir yltin re

g.com

alivin

atog

⁄ 31

THE PERFORMING ARTS AND JOURNALISM GO HAND IN HAND. From all of us at saratoga living, thank you, SPAC, for all you do in expertly stewarding the performing arts in Saratoga Springs. Bravo!

saratogaliving.com

g.com

livin

toga

sara

@saratogaliving

⁄ 27

EMPIRE MEDIA is the proud publisher of this SPAC summer 2022 program

E. Ste

Jame John

Patric

Megh

Thom

Let’s all get out and share world class entertainment.

are an The important part of all of us!

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT L A W

E. Stewart Jones, Jr.

James C. Knox

Michael W. Kessler

James E. Hacker

David I. Iversen

Randolph F. Treece

John F. Harwick

Julie A. Nociolo

Rosemary W. McKenna

Patrick L. Seely, Jr.

David R. Murphy

Benjamin F. Neidl

Meghan R. Keenholts Cathy L. Drobny

James W. Bendall

Thomas J. Higgs

Kevin S. Mednick

Mark R. Sonders

Focused Representation in:

Commercial Litigation • Property Tax Disputes Criminal Defense • Personal Injury Eminent Domain • Medical Malpractice

Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs & Albany 518.274.5820 • joneshacker.com

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Dear F

and Re our Ka are rebeauti for so l

For th for the we are major repres include Room, door fa commu Terrace views f the wa of our

music to our ears

This y brandthat we we've d We’ve equipm few wa enhanc

Music fills the air again and we’re all so happy we could burst into song. As long-time supporters of the performing arts in the Capital Region, we’re thrilled that live music and world-class ballet are bringing us back together. Bravo!

On ou with a unprec truly g newly the rec

Thank

Elizab Presid

er.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

t is thrilling to welcome you back for our 2022 season! This summer marks the full return of SPAC—Renewed and Rejuvenated. Much like our Karner Blue Butterflies, we are re-emerging glorious and beautiful after being cocooned for so long. For those of you joining us for the first time since 2019, we are proud to showcase our major campus transformation represented by The Pines that includes the Nancy DiCresce Room, a state-of-the-art indoor facility for education and community events; The Pines Terrace, with its breathtaking views from the Route 50 Gate all the way to the Victoria Pool, and the Julie Bonacio Family Pavilion in the heart of our campus. This year, we also welcome New York City Ballet back to the stage with a brand-new dance floor and a brand-new house curtain, both replacing ones that were several decades old. And we have brand-new chairs and stands, which we've dreamed of owning for decades, for our fabulous Philadelphia Orchestra. We’ve also improved the auditory experience by installing new sound equipment and an assisted listening system in the amphitheater. These are just a few ways in which we are continuing to modernize the venue for the future and enhance the experience at SPAC for you and our artists. On our stage, we will bring the strongest classical line-up ever presented with a mix of tradition and innovation, emerging and super-star artists, an unprecedented number of SPAC premieres and co-commissions, as well as a truly game-changing season celebrating diversity. This is all in addition to our newly introduced initiatives in the culinary, literary, visual, and healing arts, and the recent launch of SPAC’s School of the Arts. Thank you for joining us for a spectacular summer at SPAC. Elizabeth Sobol President and CEO

SPAC.ORG | 9

Dear S

W Proudly Supporting Arts and Education Programs at SPAC for our local community. Saratoga Subaru Saratoga Ford MAG Chevrolet of Greenwich MAG Collision Center Middlebury Chevrolet Mackey Commercial Mackey Vintage and Exotic

celebra two ye demic, that it i keeps

Unde extraor Preside comple renova expand progra collabo groups on com we hav destina econom

One o educat of SPAC more th growth SPAC S which j ensure transfo

Please suppo

With a

www.mackeyautogroup.com 10 | SPAC 2022

Susan Chair

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

Dear SPAC supporters,

elcome and thank you for making the 2022 season a time of celebration. After a challenging two years navigating the pandemic, we would like you to know that it is your loyal support that keeps SPAC strong and thriving. Under Elizabeth Sobol’s extraordinary leadership as President and CEO, SPAC has completed major facility renovations and upgrades, expanded year-round programming, increased collaborations with numerous arts groups and renewed emphasis on community outreach. In short, we have become a cultural destination which will have economic benefits for the community at large. One of the most exciting areas of growth and a personal passion of mine is education. In previous years, we have talked about the extraordinary expansion of SPAC’s education program, which has grown from serving 5,000 students to more than 50,000 individuals throughout the Capital Region. That investment and growth took another momentous leap last fall when we launched the brand-new SPAC School of the Arts at the Lewis A. Swyer Studios. The new School of the Arts, which just completed its first school year, is part of SPAC’s longstanding mission to ensure that students of all ages have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of the arts in a welcoming and joyful environment. Please come early and enjoy the total SPAC experience; your attendance and support is key to our success. With appreciation, Susan Law Dake Chair SPAC Board of Directors

SPAC.ORG | 11

Presents

at the

Southern Vermont Arts Center

July 6

Andrea McArdle

August 18

Lucie Arnaz

September 2

September 17

Andy Karl & Orfeh Donna McKechnie

For tickets: svac.org All dates and artists are subject to change.

Hosted By “Jersey Boys’” TONY AWARD® Winner

Christian Hoff

Destination Luxury Recording Studio With In-House GRAMMY®-Winning Engineer, Benjamin J. Arrindell

East Arlington, Vermont (802) 430 - 7398

oldmillroadrecording.com

for Best Studio Design

1475 W

12 | SPAC 2022

Stuyvesant Plaza - SPAC

. l l o r t . S e n i . D p o h S

hnie

Design

Celebrating 63 Summers of Style!

1475 Western Avenue | Albany | StuyvesantPlaza.com Stuyvesant Plaza - SPAC Playbill.indd 1

6/26/2019 3:53:05 PM

Nothing brings together a community like food… particularly in gorgeous gathering places that foster deep connections: to one another, to the arts, to nature, and the planet. CulinaryArts@SPAC is a food-and-drink-forward series that offers culinary experiences with an emphasis on sustainability. Featuring the talents of both local and visiting chefs who partner with farmers, butchers, distillers and purveyors, CulinaryArts@SPAC supports the notion of socially conscious cultivation & consumption, local procurement, and fair wages. Partnering with SPAC to program and produce the events is Kim Klopstock, owner and operator of Lily and the Rose Catering and food writer Pam Abrams.

14 | SPAC 2022

C n,

Residential & Commercial Real Estate • Title Insurance • Land Use & Planning Criminal Law / DWI • Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Banking & Settlement Services • Business & Corporate Family & Matrimonial • Trusts & Estates

Albany • Clifton Park • Saratoga Springs • Glens Falls SPAC.ORG | 15

People you trust. Care you deserve. “The staff we have is what has allowed us to become the institution we’ve become, and receive the honors we’ve received. All the credit goes to the people.”

ELARIO PHOTOG

ANGELO G. CALBONE President & CEO, Saratoga Hospital

YTK WORKS

518.69 Mazzon

We are pleased to support SPAC

We, too, are dedicated to outstanding performances. Have a great season!

Thr identi ar

DRIVEN TO DELIVER® www.rivkinradler.com CAPITAL DISTRICT 518.462.3000

16 | SPAC 2022

HUDSON VALLEY 845.473.8100

LONG ISLAND 516.357.3000

NEW JERSEY 201.287.2460

NEW YORK CITY 212.455.9555

e s

RK CITY .9555

The

Possibilities are endLess EXTRAORDINARY FOOD UNFORGETTABLE EVENTS ELARIO PHOTOGRAPHY

YTK WORKS

518.690.0293 MazzoneHospitality.com

Essential to Your Business Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Bond has assessed the shifting business landscape, identified potential legal hazards and advised how to keep your business standing tall. We are devoted to a thriving future for our clients and the communities in which we live.

ALBANY BUFFALO GARDEN CITY MELVILLE NEW YORK CITY ROCHESTER SARATOGA SPRINGS SYRACUSE UTICA WESTCHESTER 268 Broadway - Suite 104, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 • 518.533.3090 • BSK.COM

SPAC.ORG | 17

Imagine Your Next Event at SPAC Host intimate and large-scale gatherings, including business meetings, company outings, life events, milestone celebrations, and more!

SPAC’s new including Th and The Pin

The Welcome y DiCresce R indoor mu The Pines T second floo SPAC’s i Nancy DiCresce Room

The Julie Bonacio Family Pavilion Take your event to the heart of the campus under the open-air pavilion, a versatile space offering a wide variety of options from a simple covered reception area to an elegant event space.

The Julie Bonacio F

ily Pavilion e heart of open-air ce offering ons from a n area to an ace.

SPAC’s newly renovated campus boasts two unique rental spaces including The Pines@SPAC which features both the Nancy DiCresce Room and The Pines Terrace, in addition to the Julie Bonacio Family Pavilion.

The Pines@SPAC Welcome your guests to the Nancy DiCresce Room, a state-of-the-art indoor multi-purpose room, and The Pines Terrace, an impressive second floor balcony overlooking SPAC’s iconic amphitheater. The Pines Terrace

The Julie Bonacio Family Pavilion

For more information visit spacrentals.org or contact rentals@spac.org

Become a 2023 Member Today! As a 501c3 non-profit, your SPAC membership gift is vital to the success of our classical residencies and educational programs.

Join or renew today to lock in 2022 rates and help make SPAC’s work on stage and in our community possible! You’ll receive exclusive access and attractive benefits to make every visit to SPAC memorable.

Membership benefit highlights include: • • • • •

Invitations to special member-only events Early ticket access and discounts VIP Parking Live Nation concert ticket access Behind-the-scenes rehearsal access for New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra • Patrons’ Club Dining and Patrons’ Patio access for pre-performance refreshments • The Pines Terrace access for SPAC shows with its breathtaking views of our entire campus and amphitheater for President’s Circle donors Membership benefits vary based on level of giving

More information on membership and associated benefits can be found at spac.org/membership 518.584.9330

20 | SPAC 2022

es d y

Cutting-edge cancer care now at Ellis. It’s one way Ellis is changing how the Capital Region treats cancer.

RoswellatEllis.com

SPAC.ORG | 21

Interested in becoming an ambassador for SPAC? Join The SPAC Action Council or Friends of SPAC today The SPAC Action Council was established in 1977 by SPAC founders Philly Dake and Jane Wait. The Action Council serves as a community of ambassadors to SPAC, supporting its cultural mission, membership, events and programming by broadening awareness and promoting development. The Friends of SPAC Committee (formerly SPAC Junior Committee) is comprised of arts-loving volunteers. As ambassadors, the committee promotes SPAC membership at all levels. The committee connects young people with world-class arts events and education, ensuring the vitality of SPAC and the arts. Activities include community outreach and fundraising that support SPAC’s mission. Visit “Join & Support” at spac.org for more information today!

Jean

54 SE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

SAVE THE DATE

The SPAC Action Council presents:

SPAC in Conversation: Sylvie Bigar formerly known as The Lecture Luncheon

A day of thoughtful conversation, camaraderie and fine dining featuring acclaimed travel and food writer Sylvie Bigar

Spa Little Theater & The Hall of Springs

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your support is a vital part of SPAC’s success

22 | SPAC 2022

CALL US TODAY:

518.581.2860

Looking to make a statement in your kitchen? Shop in-store, by phone or online at www.marcellasappliance.com.

CELEBRATING 65 YEARS!

Shoppers World, 15 Park Ave, Clifton Park, NY 12065 518.952.7700 560 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12305 518.381.1957

a n, nd

Saratoga Dermatology

e) ee

BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGY

g ch Jean C. Buhac, M.D.

Saratoga Dermatology specializes in Dermatologic Surgery including Mohs surgery, cosmetic enhancements such as Botox, fillers, lasers and peels, and the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases: skin cancers, acne, warts, rosacea, psoriasis, rashes. Jennifer L. Smith, M.D.

Jean Buhac, MD

54 SEWARD STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | SARATOGADERMATOLOGY.COM | 518.581.2860 BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS CALL US TODAY:

518.581.2860

Dr. Buhac specializes in dermatological surgery and the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases, including: • Rashes • Skin cancers • Acne • Rosacea

• Psoriasis • Eczema • Warts

Saratoga Dermatology 54 Seward Street | Saratoga Springs, NY saratogadermatology.com | 518.581.2860

cess

SPAC.ORG | 23

THANK YOU, MEMBERS! SPAC Welcomes our 1,604 Members Including 382 New Members

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SPAC depends on the generous support of members, corporate and institutional partners, and philanthropic gifts.

Your annual membership gifts help support our beloved residencies, year-round programming, newly introduced initiatives in the culinary, literary, visual, and healing arts, and the recent launch of SPAC School of the Arts. Thank you for the essential role you play in serving our community. Our list of 2022 donors can be found by scanning the QR Code below.

Em A

Du Lai Bai

24 | SPAC 2022

Spring Static

es,

2022 SPRING SEASON

NEW YORK CITY BALLET Founders: George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein Founding Choreographers: George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins Ballet Master in Chief from 1983-2017: Peter Martins Artistic Director Executive Director Jonathan Stafford Katherine E. Brown Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan Resident Choreographer and Artistic Advisor: Justin Peck Senior Repertory Director: Rosemary Dunleavy Repertory Directors Jean-Pierre Frohlich Gonzalo Garcia Craig Hall Lisa Jackson Glenn Keenan Rebecca Krohn Christine Redpath Kathleen Tracey

New York City Ballet Orchestra

Music Director: Andrew Litton Associate Music Director: Andrews Sill Resident Conductor: Clotilde Otranto

The Company Jared Angle Tyler Angle Harrison Ball Ashley Bouder Chun Wai Chan Adrian Danchig-Waring Megan Fairchild Jovani Furlan Joseph Gordon Anthony Huxley Sterling Hyltin Russell Janzen Sara Mearns Tiler Peck Unity Phelan Taylor Stanley Daniel Ulbricht Andrew Veyette Peter Walker Indiana Woodward Sara Adams Daniel Applebaum Preston Chamblee Harrison Coll Emilie Gerrity Ashley Hod Emily Kikta Claire Kretzschmar Isabella LaFreniere Ashley Laracey Megan LeCrone Roman Mejia Miriam Miller Mira Nadon Georgina Pazcoguin Erica Pereira Brittany Pollack Aaron Sanz Troy Schumacher Sebastian Villarini-Velez Emma Von Enck Victor Abreu Devin Alberda Marika Anderson Olivia Boisson Gilbert Bolden III Jacqueline Bologna India Bradley† LaJeromeny Brown Christina Clark Lauren Collett Nieve Corrigan Naomi Corti Uma Deming Gabriella Domini Meaghan Dutton-O'Hara Savannah Durham Jonathan Fahoury David Gabriel Christopher Grant Laine Habony Kennard Henson Spartak Hoxha Rachel Hutsell Sasonah Huttenbach Baily Jones Alec Knight Ruby Lister Malorie Lundgren Jules Mabie Alston Macgill Mary Thomas MacKinnon Olivia MacKinnon Zoe Bliss Magnussen Jenelle Manzi Alexa Maxwell Samuel Melnikov Clara Miller Lars Nelson Maxwell Read Davide Riccardo† Ava Sautter Kristen Segin Mary Elizabeth Sell Mckenzie Bernardino Soares Mimi Staker Quinn Starner KJ Takahashi McKenzie Kennedy Targosz Rommie Tomasini Claire Von Enck Cainan Weber Andres Zuniga †

Janice Levin Dancer Honoree

Apprentices: Dominika Afanasenkov, Sarah Harmon, Shelby Mann, Anna Snellgrove

Solo Pianists: Elaine Chelton, Stephen Gosling, Alan Moverman, Susan Walters Children’s Repertory Director: Dena Abergel Associate Children's Repertory Director: Arch Higgins Travelers is the Global Sponsor of New York City Ballet

SPAC.ORG | 25 Spring Static Pages.indd 1

5/24/22 11:46 AM

NEW YORK CITY BALLET

PRINCIPAL DANCERS

Jared Angle

Tyler Angle

Harrison Ball

Ashley Bouder

Sar

born Altoona, Pennsylvania joined NYCB 1998 principal 2005

born Altoona, Pennsylvania joined NYCB 2004 principal 2009

born Houston, Texas joined NYCB 2012 principal 2022

born Carlisle, Pennsylvania joined NYCB 2000 principal 2005

born South joine princ

Chun Wai Chan

Adrian DanchigWaring

Megan Fairchild

Jovani Furlan

Dan

born Salt Lake City, Utah joined NYCB 2002 principal 2005

born Joinville, Brazil joined NYCB as Soloist 2019 principal 2022

born joine princ

born Guangdong, China joined NYCB as Soloist 2021 principal 2022

born San Francisco, California joined NYCB 2003 principal 2013

Joseph Gordon

Anthony Huxley

Sterling Hyltin

Russell Janzen

born Phoenix, Arizona joined NYCB 2012 principal 2018

born Walnut Creek, California joined NYCB 2007 principal 2015

born Amarillo, Texas joined NYCB 2003 principal 2007

born Bridgeport, Connecticut joined NYCB 2008 principal 2017

26 | SPAC 2022

Sara Mearns

Tiler Peck

Unity Phelan

Taylor Stanley

sylvania

born Columbia, South Carolina joined NYCB 2004 principal 2008

born Bakersfield, California joined NYCB 2005 principal 2009

born Princeton, New Jersey joined NYCB 2013 principal 2021

born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania joined NYCB 2010 principal 2016

Daniel Ulbricht

Andrew Veyette

Peter Walker

Indiana Woodward

born St. Petersburg, Florida joined NYCB 2001 principal 2007

born Denver, Colorado joined NYCB 2000 principal 2007

born Fort Meyers, Florida joined NYCB 2012 principal 2022

born Paris, France joined NYCB 2012 principal 2021

onnecticut

Photos by Erin Baiano, Paul Kolnik, and Amitava Sarkar

SPAC.ORG | 27

NEW YORK CITY BALLET

ORCHESTRA

First Violins Arturo Delmoni Concertmaster Kurt Nikkanen Concertmaster Nicolas Danielson Assistant Concertmaster Michael Roth Associate Robert Chausow Associate Paul Peabody Yevgenia Strenger Alexander Simionescu Bin Lu Min Young Song Andrew Schaw Second Violins Lydia Hong Principal Conway Kuo Associate Yeojin Cho Nelly Kim Wei Yi Wang Derek Ratzenboeck Jiye Lee Sarah Pratt Helen Strilec

Violas Katharina Kang Litton Principal Cyrus Beroukhim Associate Katarzyna Bryla-Weiss Chihiro Allen Alexis Sykes Laurance Fader Jeffrey Jacobi Cellos Eugene Moye Principal Peter Sanders Associate Ann Kim Hannah Holman Joseph Lee Alessandro Benetello Double Basses Ron Wasserman Principal Marji Danilow Associate Wan Hao Xu Grey Fulmer Flutes Scott Kemsley Principal Laura Conwesser Associate Tanya Witek

Oboes Julia DeRosa Principal Alexandra Knoll Associate Erin Gustafson Clarinets Steven Hartman Principal Gerhardt Koch Associate Daniel Mui Bassoons Harrison Hollingsworth Principal Ethan Silverman Associate, Bassoon and Contrabassoon French Horns Dan Wions Principal Wil DeVos Richard Hagen Associate H. Robert Carlisle Trumpets Neil Balm Principal Jonathan Heim Co-Principal Robert Haley

Trombones Carlos Jiménez Fernández Principal Hugh Eddy Associate Nicholas Schwartz Bass Trombone Tuba Dan Peck Harp Sara Cutler Timpani Ian Sullivan Percussion James Baker Principal James Saporito Associate Pablo Rieppi Hanna Kim Piano Hanna Kim

Orchestra Manager David Titcomb Library Assistant Grey Fulmer

The dan PHOTO 28 | SPAC 2022 Spring Static Pages.indd 2

4/15/22 11:30 AM

22 11:30 AM

The dancers of New York City Ballet in Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces. PHOTO BY ERIN BAIANO SPAC.ORG | 29

NYCB ADMINISTRATION

NEW YORK CITY BALLET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Katherine E. Brown

Executive Offices

Operations and Company Management

Artistic Administrative Coordinator

Julianne Maeda

Senior Director of Operations

TurnOut Events Coordinator

Emily Young

Payroll and Benefits Administrator

Assistant to the Executive Director & Manager, Strategic Analysis

Communications and Special Projects

Josephine Holasek

Company Manager

Production and Design

Lighting Director

John Cuff

Resident Lighting Designer

Manager, Media Relations

Kina Poon

Stage Manager

Development and Special Events Senior Director, Development Director, Special Events

Director, Corporate Relations Director, Foundation & Government Relations

Director, Major Gifts & Individual Giving Deputy Director, Special Events

Associate Director, Corporate Relations Associate Director, Patron Programs Senior Manager, Major Gifts

Manager, Major Gifts & Individual Giving Associate Manager, Foundation

Assistant Stage Manager Technical Director

Matthew Bird

Assistant Lighting Director

Fredrick E. Wodin

Fly Man

Sarah Graham

Property Master

Meghan Baldwin

Assistant Carpenter

Christine van Kipnis

Sound Man

Galina Khitrova

Assistant Electricians

Joseph DeGeorge Norman Kirkland TJ McEvoy

Ronald Lynch III Andrew Hill

Stephanie Parry

Michael Boyd

Barbara Rocker

Chris Robinson

Catherine Hsieh

Terra Hazen

Music Department

Nicole Case

Rehearsal Pianist

Laura Porcelli

Piano Technician

Assistant, Membership

Emily Clarkson

Kenneth Triwush

Senior Coordinator, Special Events

Associate, Special Events

Alberto Ruiz

Rolf Lee

Nicholas Denninger

Associate, Patron Program

Nicole Mommen

Master Electrician

& Government Relations

Senior Associate, Special Events

Jacqueline Reid

Mark Walters

Director of Rehearsal Administration

Senior Coordinator, Membership

Mark Stanley

Master Carpenter

Joshua Lenihan

Alexandra Hart Katie Gorsky Rachel Smythe

Music Administrator

Costume and Wardrobe

Seth Weldon

Thomas A. Lemanski

Jeffrey Guimond Craig Baldwin

Michael Scales Ed Wedberg

Men’s Wardrobe Supervisor.

John Radwick

Assistant Men’s Wardrobe Supervisor Manager, Costume Shop Draper

Hair and Makeup Supervisor Makeup

Shoe Department Manager

Health and Welln Chiropractor

Podiatric Consults Nutritionist CDN

Wellness Consulta

Marketing and M

Senior Director, M

Director, Relation

Director, Acquisiti

Director, Creative Director, Media

Senior Manager, T & Group Sales

Manager, Editoria

Manager, Digital C Archivist, Media

Editor & Post-Prod

Coordinator, Med

Designer, Creativ

Coordinator, Soci

Associate, Acquis

Associate, Relatio Marc Happel

Assistant Women’s Wardrobe Supervisor

Chiropractic Cons

Producer, Media

Director of Costumes

Women’s Wardrobe Supervisor

Orthopedic Cons

Massage Therapis Marquerite Mehler

Robert Daniels

Katharina Plumb

Daniel Claffey

Gregory Russell

Director of Production

Managing Director

Associate Director, Communications

Health and Welln Brooks Parsons

Jacqueline (Norma) Attride Paulina Campbell Jay Sangster Jarod Lewis

Caroline LaPorta Suzy Alvarez Grace Arias

Daniel Wong

Designer, Creativ

Assistant, Ticket S Education

Senior Director, Ed

& Public Programs

Associate Directo

Senior Manager, P

Senior Manager, S

Coordinator, NYC

Assistant, Educati

The George Bala Director

Administrative Ma

Administrator/For General Partner

30 | SPAC 2022

rsons

Russell

affey

te Mehler

nley

e Reid

ommen

uiz

arkson

ters

eGeorge

Kirkland

nch III

Hill

e Parry

inson

ocker

don

A. Lemanski

uimond

dwin

cales

erg

pel

e (Norma) Attride

wick

ampbell

ster

wis

LaPorta

rez

ong

NYCB ADMINISTRATION

Health and Wellness

Orthopedic Consultants

Phillip A. Bauman, M.D.,

Chiropractic Consultant

David Williams, D.C.

Health and Wellness Coordinator Massage Therapist Chiropractor

Podiatric Consults Nutritionist CDN

Wellness Consultant Marketing and Media

Jessica Gallina, M.D.

Marika Molnar, PT, LAc Suzanne Jagoda Alicia Sparano

Louis C Galli, DPM;

Thomas M Novella, DPM Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D.,

Linda H. Hamilton, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Marketing & Media

Karen Girty

Director, Acquisition Marketing

Jill Jefferson

Director, Relationship Marketing Director, Creative Services Director, Media

Senior Manager, Ticket Services

Dustin Brauneck Camille Aden Laura Snow

& Group Sales

Aaron Franklin

& Group Sales

Brian McCafferty

Manager, Digital Content & E-Commerce

Mamé Dmey

Senior Manager, Ticket Services Manager, Editorial & Social Media Archivist, Media

Producer, Media

Editor & Post-Production

Madelyn Sutton A.M. LaVey

Morgan Winters

Coordinator, Media

Courtney Garboski

Coordinator, Social Media

Malik Winslow

Designer, Creative Services Associate, Acquisition Marketing

Associate, Relationship Marketing Designer, Creative Services

Assistant, Ticket Services & Group Sales

Aja Skye Bivens Eric McMillan

Finance and Administration Senior Director of Finance &

Administration/Chief Financial Officer

Farang Azari

Associate Director, Budgeting

Yuliya Bukhman

Director of Finance

Accounting Manager Accounting Manager Accounting Manager Payroll Manager AP Supervisor

Director, Donor Records Database Editor

Ana C. Valdez

Nicole M. Logan Jamie Kim

Juliana Laracuente Daniel Jun

Tatyana Wasserman Elizabeth V. Ferris Nancy Digonis

Human Resources

Senior Director, Human Resources, Diversity, and Inclusion Assistant Director, HR

Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition & Volunteer Services

HR & Benefits Associate Information Technology

Judy Elliott-Pugh Lia Rojales

Melinda Bonner Heather Hite

Director

Stephan Czarnomski

Programmer Analyst

John Abramowsky, Sr.

Assistant Director

Senior Infrastructure Engineer Desktop Support/Assistant Infrastructure Engineer

New York City Ballet MOVES Artistic Administrator

Yolanda Colon

Anthony Vignola Andrew Au

Jean-Pierre Frohlich

Katie Ross

Jason Vachula

Corinne Williams

Education

Senior Director, Education & Public Programs

Laura Johnson

Senior Manager, Public Programs

Sloane Bratter

Associate Director, Education

Senior Manager, School Programs Coordinator, NYCI & Education Assistant, Education

The George Balanchine Trust

Meghan Gentile Colleen Megley

Annabelle Sadoff Sophia Massie

Director

Nicole Cornell

Administrator/Foreign Licensing

Ellen Sorrin

Administrative Manager General Partner

Nicole Montano Barbara Horgan

SPAC.ORG | 31

TUESDAY, JULY 12 AT 7:30PM

NYCB ON AND OFF STAGE

NYCB ON AND OFF STAGE Hosted by Sterling Hyltin and Adrian Danchig-Waring, NYCB Principal Dancers Accompanied by the NYCB Orchestra A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Excerpt) Music by Felix Mendelssohn Choreography by George Balanchine* Conductor: ANDREW LITTON DANIEL ULBRICHT ALEXA MAXWELL Butterflies Lauren Collett, Gabriella Domini, Quinn Starner, Rommie Tomasini Butterflies and Fairies Hannah Barber, Julia Beaton, Addison Dinkels, Teagan Enck, Bailey Gilman, Keira Green, Zoe Greenblatt, Halina Hawkins, Caitlin Herring, Emeline Hong, Addison Kelly, Alex Lambie, Brooke McAndrew, Brielle Olah, Molly Pacella, Cailin Prostor, Natalie Riccio, Theresa Richter, Ella Scandariato, Sophia Sebald, Elliot Smith, Claire Steele, Lily Wolff, Ruoxi Zhan CHACONNE (Excerpt) Music by Christoph Willibald von Gluck Choreography by George Balanchine* Conductor: ANDREWS SILL SARA MEARNS

TYLER ANGLE

Dominika Afanasenkov+, Sarah Harmon+, Sasonah Huttenbach, Ruby Lister, Malorie Lundgren, Ava Sautter, Anna Snellgrove+, Kennedy Targosz, Rommie Tomasini THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS (Excerpt) Music by Paul Hindemith Choreography by George Balanchine* Conductor: ANDREW LITTON Piano solo: STEPHEN GOSLING Second Variation: Sanguinic EMILIE GERRITY CHUN WAI CHAN Lauren Collett, Gabriella Domini, Quinn Starner, Rommie Tomasini SUMMERSPACE (Excerpt) Music by Morton Feldman Choreography by Merce Cunningham Conductor: ANDREWS SILL SARA ADAMS, DEVIN ALBERDA, EMILIE GERRITY, MEAGHAN DUTTON-O’HARA, ASHLEY LARACEY, ANDREW VEYETTE 32 | SPAC 2022

GUSTAV (Excerpt Music by Choreog

Piano: S

DANIEL ALEXAN

+Guest A Appeari

EMANO (Excerpt Music by Choreog

Conduc

Soprano Piano: A Bass: M Drums:

EMILY K JONATH

IN CREA (Excerpt Music by Choreog Pianos ELAINE

SARA AD DEVIN A

GLASS P (Excerpt Music by Choreog

Conduc

Dominik Baily Jon Mary Th

Gilbert B Kennard Maxwell

+Appren

*This prog

F STAGE

TUESDAY, JULY 12 AT 7:30PM

GUSTAVE LE GRAY NO.1 (Excerpt) Music by Caroline Shaw Choreography by Pam Tanowitz Piano: STEPHEN GOSLING DANIEL APPLEBAUM ALEXANDRA HUTCHINSON+

NAOMI CORTI ANTHONY SANTOS+

+Guest Artist Appearing Courtesy of Dance Theater of Harlem EMANON – IN TWO MOVEMENTS (Excerpt) Music by Wayne Shorter Choreography by Jamar Roberts Conductor: RON WASSERMAN Soprano Saxophone: CHRIS HEMINGWAY Piano: ALAN MOVERMAN Bass: MARTIN KENNEY Drums: JAMES SAPORITO EMILY KIKTA UNITY PHELAN EMMA VON ENCK INDIANA WOODWARD JONATHAN FAHOURY JOVANI FURLAN ANTHONY HUXLEY IN CREASES (Excerpt) Music by Philip Glass Choreography by Justin Peck Pianos ELAINE CHELTON and ALAN MOVERMAN SARA ADAMS EMILIE GERRITY BRITTANY POLLACK KRISTEN SEGIN DEVIN ALBERDA DANIEL APPLEBAUM HARRISON COLL TAYLOR STANLEY GLASS PIECES (Excerpt) Music by Philip Glass Choreography by Jerome Robbins Conductor: ANDREWS SILL Dominika Afanasenkov+, India Bradley, Olivia Boisson, Gabriella Domini, Baily Jones, Ruby Lister, Malorie Lundgren, Olivia MacKinnon, Mary Thomas MacKinnon, Shelby Mann, Alexa Maxwell, Mimi Staker Gilbert Bolden III, Jonathan Fahoury, David Gabriel, Christopher Grant, Kennard Henson, Jules Mabie, Roman Mejia, Samuel Melnikov, Maxwell Read, Davide Riccardo, KJ Takahashi, Andres Zuniga +Apprentice *© The George Balanchine Trust *This program is approximately 90 minutes in length without intermission

SPAC.ORG | 33

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 7:30PM

20TH CE

Conduct

CHA

Music by (Ballet m Choreog Costume Lighting

SARA M

EMMA V OLIVIA B ALEXA M VICTOR

Dominik Ava Sau David G Maxwell

Pas de T Pas de D Pas de C Pas de D Chaconn

+Appren * © The

Premiere

INTERM

Sara Mearns in George Balanchine’s Chaconne. PHOTO BY PAUL KOLNIK 34 | SPAC 2022

20TH CENTURY MASTERS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 7:30PM

Conductor: ANDREWS SILL

CHACONNE

Music by Christoph Willibald von Gluck (Ballet music from the opera Orphée et Euridice) Choreography by George Balanchine* Costumes by Karinska Lighting by Mark Stanley SARA MEARNS

TYLER ANGLE

EMMA VON ENCK OLIVIA BOISSON ALEXA MAXWELL VICTOR ABREU

HARRISON COLL CHRISTINA CLARK CLAIRE VON ENCK LARS NELSON

MEAGHAN DUTTON-O’HARA AARON SANZ

Dominika Afanasenkov+, Sarah Harmon+, Sasonah Huttenbach, Ruby Lister, Malorie Lundgren, Ava Sautter, Anna Snellgrove+, Kennedy Targosz, Rommie Tomasini, David Gabriel, Jules Mabie, Samuel Melnikov, Maxwell Read, Mckenzie Bernardino Soares, Andres Zuniga Pas de Trois Christina Clark, Meaghan Dutton-O’Hara, Aaron Sanz Pas de Deux Emma Von Enck and Harrison Coll Pas de Cinq Claire Von Enck with Lauren Collett, Gabriella Domini, Shelby Mann+, Quinn Starner Pas de Deux Sara Mearns and Tyler Angle Chaconne Sara Mearns and Tyler Angle with Olivia Boisson, Alexa Maxwell, Victor Abreu, Lars Nelson and Ensemble +Apprentice * © The George Balanchine Trust Premiere: January 22, 1976, New York State Theater INTERMISSION

SPAC.ORG | 35

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 7:30PM

20TH CE

SUM

Music by Choreog Scenery Lighting Staged b

SARA AD MEAGH

Summer

Music: IX

Premiere America New Yor

INTERM

GLA

Music by Choreog Producti Costume Lighting

1. Rubric ASHLEY ISABELL JACQUE

and COR

2. Facad UNITY P

and COR

I. Akhnat CORPS D Dominik Gabriell Mary Th Mimi Sta

Victor Ab Christop Samuel KJ Takah

+Appren

Music by Ashley Laracey in Merce Cunningham’s Summerspace. PHOTO BY ERIN BAIANO

The orig gift from

Premiere

20TH CENTURY MASTERS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 7:30PM

SUMMERSPACE

Music by Morton Feldman Choreography by Merce Cunningham Scenery and Costumes by Robert Rauschenberg Lighting by Aaron Copp Staged by Jean Freebury SARA ADAMS, ADRIAN DANCHIG-WARING, EMILIE GERRITY, MEAGHAN DUTTON-O’HARA, ASHLEY LARACEY, ANDREW VEYETTE Summerspace (1958) by Merce Cunningham © Merce Cunningham Trust. All rights reserved Music: IXION, used by arrangement with C.F Peters Corporation,publisher and copyright owner. Premiere: August 17, 1958, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, American Dance Festival at Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut New York City Ballet Premiere: April 14, 1966, New York State Theater INTERMISSION

GLASS PIECES

Music by Philip Glass Choreography by Jerome Robbins Production Design by Jerome Robbins and Ronald Bates Costumes by Ben Benson Lighting by Ronald Bates 1. Rubric ASHLEY HOD ISABELLA LaFRENIERE JACQUELINE BOLOGNA

DANIEL APPLEBAUM DAVIDE RICCARDO DEVIN ALBERDA

and CORPS DE BALLET 2. Facades UNITY PHELAN

JOVANI FURLAN

and CORPS DE BALLET I. Akhnaten (excerpt) CORPS DE BALLET Dominika Afanasenkov+, India Bradley, Olivia Boisson, Christina Clark, Lauren Collett, Gabriella Domini, Sarah Harmon+, Baily Jones, Ruby Lister, Malorie Lundgren, Olivia MacKinnon, Mary Thomas MacKinnon, Shelby Mann, Alexa Maxwell, Ava Sautter, Anna Snellgrove+, Mimi Staker, Quinn Starner, Rommie Tomasini, Kennedy Targosz Victor Abreu, Gilbert Bolden III, Jonathan Fahoury, David Gabriel, Christopher Grant, Kennard Henson, Jules Mabie, Roman Mejia, Samuel Melnikov, Maxwell Read, Davide Riccardo, Mckenzie Bernardino Soares, KJ Takahashi, Cainan Weber, Andres Zuniga +Apprentice Music by arrangement with Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. The original production of Glass Pieces was made possible by a generous and deeply appreciated gift from a friend of the company, and with the choreographer’s thanks to P., M., and R. Premiere: May 12, 1983, New York State Theater SPAC.ORG | 37

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

EVOLUT

EMA

Music by Choreog Costume Scenery

Conduct

Soprano Piano: A Bass: M Drums:

EMILY K EMMA V

JONATH ANTHO

Music: P and used

Lead un provided

Major su with add and Ted

Leaders LuEsther estate o

Premiere

INTERM

Jonathan Fahoury in Jamar Roberts’ Emanon – In Two Movements. PHOTO BY ERIN BAIANO 38 | SPAC 2022

EVOLUTION

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

EMANON – IN TWO MOVEMENTS Music by Wayne Shorter Choreography by Jamar Roberts Costumes by Jermaine Terry Scenery and Lighting by Brandon Stirling Baker Conductor: RON WASSERMAN Soprano Saxophone: CHRIS HEMINGWAY Piano: ALAN MOVERMAN Bass: MARTIN KENNEY Drums: JAMES SAPORITO EMILY KIKTA EMMA VON ENCK

UNITY PHELAN INDIANA WOODWARD

JONATHAN FAHOURY ANTHONY HUXLEY

JOVANI FURLAN PETER WALKER

Music: Prometheus Unbound and Pegasus, published by IMUA Music and used by arrangement with Kobalt Music Publishing. Lead underwriting support for Emanon – In Two Movements was provided by Elysabeth Kleinhans. Major support was provided by Jeff and Susan Campbell and Stephen Kroll Reidy, with additional support from Michael and Nan Cooper, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund. Leadership support for new work is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, estate of Harlan Morse Blake, and donors to the New Combinations Fund. Premiere: February 3, 2022, David H. Koch Theater INTERMISSION

SPAC.ORG | 39

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

EVOLUT

IN C

Music by Choreog Costume Lighting Pianos ELAINE

SARA AD BRITTAN

DEVIN A HARRISO

Music: F by arran

Commis Choreog tion, with and the

Addition New Co

Premiere PAUSE

Taylor Stanley in Justin Peck’s In Creases. PHOTO BY PAUL KOLNIK 40 | SPAC 2022

EVOLUTION

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

IN CREASES

Music by Philip Glass Choreography by Justin Peck Costumes conceived by Justin Peck and Marc Happel Lighting by Mark Stanley Pianos ELAINE CHELTON and ALAN MOVERMAN SARA ADAMS BRITTANY POLLACK

EMILIE GERRITY KRISTEN SEGIN

DEVIN ALBERDA HARRISON COLL

DANIEL APPLEBAUM TAYLOR STANLEY

Music: Four Movements for Two Pianos, (1st and 3rd movements) ©2007, by arrangement with Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. Used by Permission. Commissioning support for In Creases was provided by the Rudolf Nureyev Fund for Emerging Choreographers, established through a leadership grant from the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation, with additional support provided by the Harriet Ford Dickenson Foundation and the Joseph and Sylvia Slifka Foundation. Additional support for new work was provided by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and donors to the New Combinations Fund. Premiere: July 14, 2012, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, New York PAUSE

SPAC.ORG | 41

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

EVOLUT

GUS

Music by Choreog Costume Lighting

Piano: S

DANIEL ALEXAN

+Guest A Appear

Assistan

Music: G

Lead un Gustave

Leaders

Leaders by the V

Leaders LuEsther estate o

World Pr New Yor

INTERM

Daniel Applebaum and Naomi Corti in Pam Tanowitz’s Gustave Le Gray No. 1. PHOTO BY ERIN BAIANO

EVOLUTION

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

GUSTAVE LE GRAY NO. 1 Music by Caroline Shaw Choreography by Pam Tanowitz Costumes by Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung Lighting by Davison Scandrett Piano: STEPHEN GOSLING DANIEL APPLEBAUM ALEXANDRA HUTCHINSON+

NAOMI CORTI ANTHONY SANTOS+

+Guest Artist Appearing Courtesy of Dance Theater of Harlem Assistants to the Choreographer: Jason Collins and Vincent McCloskey Music: Gustave Le Gray Lead underwriting support for New York City Ballet’s production of Gustave Le Gray No. 1 is provided by Denise Littlefield Sobel. Leadership support is provided by The Thompson Family Foundation. Leadership support for new works by female choreographers is provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Leadership support for new work is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, estate of Harlan Morse Blake, and donors to the New Combinations Fund. World Premiere: May 31, 2019, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts New York City Ballet Premiere: April 22, 2022, David H. Koch Theater

INTERMISSION

SPAC.ORG | 43

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

EVOLUT

Conduct

THE

Music by Choreog Lighting

Piano so

Theme 1. OLIVIA 2. MIMI 3. ALEXA

First Var SEBAST

Olivia M Dominik

Second EMILIE G

Lauren C

Third Va CHRISTO

Christina

Fourth V MEGAN

+ Appre

*©The G

Music us sole U.S

Premiere

Chun Wai Chan and Emilie Gerrity in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. PHOTO 44 | SPAC 2022 BY ERIN BAIANO

EVOLUTION

THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 2:00PM THURSDAY, JULY 14 AT 7:30PM

Conductor: ANDREW LITTON

THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS Music by Paul Hindemith Choreography by George Balanchine* Lighting by Mark Stanley Piano solo: STEPHEN GOSLING Theme 1. OLIVIA BOISSON, LARS NELSON 2. MIMI STAKER, KENNARD HENSON 3. ALEXA MAXWELL, AARON SANZ First Variation: Melancholic SEBASTIAN VILLARINI-VELEZ Olivia MacKinnon and Kristen Segin Dominika Afanasenkov+, Sarah Harmon+, Anna Snellgrove+, Kennedy Targosz Second Variation: Sanguinic EMILIE GERRITY CHUN WAI CHAN Lauren Collett, Gabriella Domini, Quinn Starner, Rommie Tomasini Third Variation: Phlegmatic CHRISTOPHER GRANT Christina Clark, Naomi Corti, Malorie Lundgren, Ava Sautter Fourth Variation: Choleric MEGAN LeCRONE and Ensemble + Apprentice *©The George Balanchine Trust Music used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors LLC, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Music, publisher and copyright owner. Premiere: November 20, 1946

SPAC.ORG | 45

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 2:00PM

A MIDS

(Ballet in Music by Choreog Scenery Costume Original Lighting

Conduct

ACT

A Forest Titania

Puck RO

Helena, Hermia, Lysande Demetri Hippolyt Theseus Titania’s Bottom

Butterfly

ACT

At the C

Divertiss

Miriam Miller and the Company in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. PHOTO BY PAUL KOLNIK

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 2:00PM

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Ballet in Two Acts and Six Scenes) Music by Felix Mendelssohn Choreography by George Balanchine* Scenery by David Hays Costumes by Karinska Original Lighting by Ronald Bates Lighting by Mark Stanley Conductor: ANDREW LITTON

ACT I

A Forest Near Athens, on Midsummer Eve. Titania MIRIAM MILLER

Oberon DANIEL ULBRICHT

Puck ROMAN MEJIA Helena, in love with Demetrius Hermia, in love with Lysander Lysander, beloved of Hermia Demetrius, suitor of Hermia Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons Theseus, Duke of Athens

CLAIRE KRETZSCHMAR ERICA PEREIRA LARS NELSON SEBASTIAN VILLARINI-VELEZ ASHLEY HOD PRESTON CHAMBLEE

Titania’s Cavalier

AARON SANZ

Bottom

GILBERT BOLDEN III

Butterfly ALEXA MAXWELL

ACT II At the Court of Theseus in Athens. Divertissement

STERLING HYLTIN and ANDREW VEYETTE

SPAC.ORG | 47

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 2:00PM

A MIDS

THE ACT

Butterflie Oberon’ Titania’s Bottom’s Courtier Titania’s Oberon’ Butterflie Hippolyt

INTERM

ACT Daniel Ulbricht in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. PHOTO BY PAUL KOLNIK 48 | SPAC 2022

Courtier

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 2:00PM

THE CAST ACT I Butterflies Lauren Collett, Gabriella Domini, Quinn Starner, Rommie Tomasini with Hannah Barber, Addison Dinkels, Halina Hawkins, Emeline Hong, Brooke McAndrew, Molly Pacella, Ella Scandariato Oberon’s pages Keira Green, Theresa Richter, Sophia Sebald, Ruoxi Zhan Titania’s Page Zoe Tamvada Bottom’s Companions Victor Abreu, KJ Takahashi, Cainan Weber, Andres Zuniga Courtiers to Theseus Jules Mabie, Samuel Melnikov, Maxwell Read, Mckenzie Bernardino Soares Titania’s Retinue Marika Anderson, Dominika Afanasenkov+, India Bradley, Christina Clark, Nieve Corrigan, Naomi Corti, Sasonah Huttenbach, Ruby Lister, Malorie Lundgren, Mary Thomas MacKinnon, Ava Sautter, Kennedy Targosz Oberon’s Kingdom: Hannah Barber, Julia Beaton, Butterflies and Fairies Addison Dinkels, Teagan Enck, Bailey Gilman, Keira Green, Zoe Greenblatt, Halina Hawkins, Caitlin Herring, Emeline Hong, Addison Kelly, Alex Lambie, Brooke McAndrew, Brielle Olah, Molly Pacella, Cailin Prostor, Natalie Riccio, Theresa Richter, Ella Scandariato, Sophia Sebald, Elliot Smith, Claire Steele, Lily Wolff, Ruoxi Zhan Hippolyta’s Hounds Dominika Afanasenkov+, Sarah Harmon+, Shelby Mann+, Ava Sautter, Anna Snellgrove+, Kennedy Targosz

INTERMISSION

ACT II Courtiers

Dominika Afanasenkov+, India Bradley, Christina Clark, Lauren Collett, Nieve Corrigan, Naomi Corti, Gabriella Domini, Sarah Harmon+, Sasonah Huttenbach, Ruby Lister, Malorie Lundgren, Mary Thomas MacKinnon, Shelby Mann+, Ava Sautter, Anna Snellgrove+, Quinn Starner, SPAC.ORG | 49

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, JULY 16 AT 2:00PM

Kennedy Targosz, Rommie Tomasini, David Gabriel, Jules Mabie, Samuel Melnikov, Maxwell Read, Mckenzie Bernardino Soares, KJ Takahashi, Cainan Weber, Andres Zuniga Divertissement Olivia Boisson, Baily Jones, Meaghan Dutton-O’Hara, Mary Elizabeth Sell, Mimi Staker, Emma Von Enck Victor Abreu, Devin Alberda, Jonathan Fahoury, Christopher Grant, Kennard Henson, Davide Riccardo +Apprentice *© The George Balanchine Trust

ALBANY PRO MUSICA CHORUS José Daniel Flores-Caraballo, Opalka Family Artistic Director Soprano: Angela Yam Mezzo-soprano: Emily Triebold Sopranos Tonya Burandt Hansen, Joanna Feuer, SooYeon Justesen, Heather Lessard, Katie McNally, Sandra Schujman Altos Abigail Cowan, Kathryn Farris, Terressa Mannix Darcy Meadows, Dharma Sanchez-Flores, Irina Tikhonenko The children appearing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream are students from the local area rehearsed and supervised by Dena Abergel and Arch Higgins Leadership support for costume refurbishment of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was provided by The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust as part of the Company’s 50th anniversary celebration of its residence at Lincoln Center. Premiere: January 17, 1962, City Center of Music and Drama, New York

CHACO A chaco of the 1 first per somew for the Opera i danced In addit for the

EMANO Jamar R from W Dance T digital N Movem Terry, a

THE FO The sco in 1940 openin on Nov ballet th organis possess of one o phlegm the fou interpre the tem choreo he wan musical concert

GLASS Althoug “music Shanka theater Akhnate a ballet Glasswo into the energy. the ens

GUSTA Tanowit Dance T Across DTH wi Gustave lighting

50 | SPAC 2022

bie, s,

earsed

ed by n of its

REPERTORY NOTES CHACONNE A chaconne is a dance built on a phrase in the bass and was often used by composers of the 17th and 18th centuries to end an opera in a festive mood. This choreography, first performed in the 1963 Hamburg State Opera production of Orfeo ed Euridice, was somewhat altered for presentation as the ballet Chaconne, particularly in the sections for the principal dancers. Balanchine’s first Orfeo was made for the Metropolitan Opera in 1936. His novel approach—the singers remained in the pit while the action was danced onstage—was not well received, and the production had only two performances. In addition to the Hamburg production, he choreographed other versions of the piece for the Paris Opera in 1973 and the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1975. EMANON - IN TWO MOVEMENTS Jamar Roberts’ Emanon – In Two Movements is set to Pegasus and Prometheus Unbound from Wayne Shorter’s Emanon. The Resident Choreographer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Roberts previously created a piece for film, Water Rite, as part of NYCB’s digital New Works Festival in 2020. With a cast of eight dancers, Emanon – In Two Movements is his first stage work for NYCB, and features costume design by Jermaine Terry, and set and lighting design by Brandon Stirling Baker. THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS The score for this ballet was commissioned by George Balanchine from Paul Hindemith in 1940. The ballet, together with Ravel’s opera L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, constituted the opening program of Ballet Society (the direct predecessor of the New York City Ballet) on November 20, 1946. In Complete Stories of the Great Ballets, Balanchine wrote of the ballet that it “is an expression in dance and music of the ancient notion that the human organism is made up of four different humors, or temperaments. Each one of us possesses these four humors, but in different degrees, and it is from the dominance of one of them that the four physical and psychological types—melancholic, sanguinic, phlegmatic, and choleric—were derived. Although the score is based on this idea of the four temperaments, neither the music nor the ballet itself makes specific or literal interpretation of the idea. An understanding of the Greek and medieval notion of the temperaments was merely the point of departure for both composer and choreographer.” An accomplished pianist, Balanchine commissioned the score because he wanted a short work that he could play at home with friends during his evening musicales. It was completed in 1940 and had its first public performance at a 1944 concert with Lukas Foss as the pianist. GLASS PIECES Although Philip Glass’s work is often labeled as minimalist, he prefers to call it “music with repetitive structures.” His early compositions were greatly influenced by Ravi Shankar and the hypnotic rhythms of Indian music. Some of his most notable work for theater includes the trilogy of operas comprising Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, and Akhnaten. Jerome Robbins, originally in line to direct Akhnaten, instead choreographed a ballet using music from the opera along with Rubric and Facades, both from Glassworks. In Glass Pieces, Robbins incorporated concepts from postmodern dance into the traditional ballet vocabulary, and he infused the work with a distinctly urban energy. The recurrent rhythms, driving momentum, and labyrinth of shifting patterns of the ensemble combine to create a physical architecture for Glass’s music. GUSTAVE LE GRAY NO. 1 Tanowitz originally choreographed Gustave le Gray No. 1 in 2019 for dancers from Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) and Miami City Ballet at the Kennedy Center’s “Ballet Across America.” At this performance, two NYCB dancers and two guest dancers from DTH will perform alongside an onstage pianist. The ballet is set to Caroline Shaw’s Gustave le Gray and features costume design by Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung and lighting design by Davison Scandrett.

SPAC.ORG | 51

REPERTORY NOTES IN CREASES In Creases is the first work that Justin Peck, then an NYCB corps de ballet dancer, created for the Company. The ballet is set to Philip Glass’ “Four Movements for Two Pianos,” and received its world premiere in July 2012 during NYCB’s annual summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in upstate New York. Named the Company’s Resident Choreographer in 2014, Peck has since created 18 works for NYCB, and his ballets are found in the repertories of dance companies around the world. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of his happiest and most loved comedies. It is called a “Dream” because of the unrealistic events that the characters experience in the play—real, yet unreal, such as crossed lovers, meaningless quarrels, forest chases leading to more confusion, and magic spells woven by the infamous Puck. Balanchine had been familiar with Shakespeare’s play from an early age. As a child he had appeared as an elf in a production in St. Petersburg, and he could recite portions of the play by heart in Russian. Balanchine loved Mendelssohn’s overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (composed over a period of 15 years with the overture [Opus 21] first in 1826, and the other sections later in Opus 61). It is this score, Balanchine later said, that inspired his choreography. Mendelssohn had written only about an hour’s worth of music for the play, not enough for an evening-length dance work, so Balanchine added the following pieces, listed in the order of being played: Overture to Athalie, Opus 74; Overture to The Fair Melusine, Opus 32; excerpts from The First Walpurgis Night, Opus 60; Symphony No. 9 for Strings; Overture to Son and Stranger, Opus 89. Midsummer night has long been associated with love and magic. In European folklore it is the one night of the year when supernatural beings such as fairies are about and can interact with the real world. It is also a date that falls near the summer solstice, which was traditionally a time for fertility rites and festivals devoted to love. Shakespeare’s 1595 play has been the source for films, an opera by Benjamin Britten (1960), and a one-act ballet by Frederick Ashton, called The Dream (1964). George Balanchine’s version, which premiered in 1962, was the first wholly original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Two years later, on April 24, A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened the New York City Ballet’s first repertory season at the New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater). SUMMERSPACE Summerspace was first performed by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company on August 17, 1958 at the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut, and entered New York City Ballet’s repertory on April 14, 1966. This piece is indicative of Cunningham’s unique collaborative method, in which Morton Feldman composed the score, Robert Rauschenberg designed the décor, and Cunningham choreographed independently from each other. Together, the movement, music, and décor give the effect of a balmy, summer day. Dressed in painted leotards, the dancers move about the stage in sudden bursts of speed and suspensions, zigzagging every which way, like flying creatures. The delicate music at times sounds like bubbles of water rising to the surface, at others, with a muffled rumble in the bass, like distant thunder.

52 | SPAC 2022

Spring Stat

wo mer e NYCB, d.

NEW YORK CITY BALLET

d ers rels, s Puck. d he ions dental the score, nly nce ed: om and

Board of Directors

klore it d can ich was 595 e-act n,

eam eater

n ondon, piece man m and ancers ery of water der.

Diana L. Taylor, Chair Jeffrey M. Peek, President Sarah Jessica Parker Alan D. Schnitzer Barbara J. Slifka Vice Chairs Stephen Kroll Reidy Treasurer Maria Cristina Anzola Zoë E. Baird JT Batson Ronald N. Beck Howard P. Berkowitz Franci J. Blassberg Donya Archer Bommer Ursula M. Burns Susan J. Campbell Debra Martin Chase Stuart H. Coleman Paul M. Donofrio Barbara R. Evans Kira Faiman

Kristin Kennedy Clark Secretary

Mark S. Melodia Counsel

Meyer Feldberg Thelma B. Ferguson Randy Fishman Maureen Footer Barry S. Friedberg Lynn J. Good David Heleniak Robert I. Lipp Carol D. Mack Alison Mass Clarke Murphy Karen Murphy Marie Nugent-Head Gordon B. Pattee

Robert Pitts Brynn Putnam Raja Rajamannar Mazdack Rassi Deborah Roberts Denise Saul Charles W. Scharf Bonnie Strauss Allyson Tang Danielle Taubman Alair A. Townsend John L. Vogelstein Cathinka Wahlstrom William H. Wright II

Chairmen Emeriti: Jay S. Fishman†, Barry S. Friedberg, Eugene P. Grisanti†, Theodore C. Rogers, Howard Solomon†, John L. Vogelstein Directors Emeriti: Gillian Attfield, Frederick W. Beinecke, Daniel Brodsky, Randal R. Craft, Jr., Mary Sharp Cronson, Lawrence Herbert, Nancy Lassalle†, David H. Mortimer, Edward J. Toohey† Members Ex-Officio: Honorable Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York; Anthony Shorris, Designee, Mayor of the City of New York; Honorable Mark D. Levine, Manhattan Borough President; Honorable Adrienne Adams, Speaker, New York City Council; Honorable Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs † In Memoriam

As As of of July May2022 2022

SPAC.ORG | 53

Spring Static Pages.indd 6

5/3/22 12:20 PM

Major annual support for New York City Ballet is provided by Miss Gillian Attfield, Berry Charitable Foundation, Franci Blassberg and Joe Rice, Emily and Len Blavatnik, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Barbara and Brad Evans, Estate of Georgia Lee Funsten, The Giorgi Family Foundation, The Florence Gould Foundation, Holland and Knight LLP, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Elysabeth Kleinhans, Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, Estate of Douglas Matheson, Karen and Tommy Murphy, Liz and Jeff Peek, Stephen Kroll Reidy, Charles and Amy Scharf, The Shubert Foundation, Joseph and Sylvia Slifka Foundation, Denise Littlefield Sobel, Michael and Sue Steinberg, Estate of Winifred R. Williams, and a gift in Memory of Nancy Lassalle. Leadership support for new work is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, Estate of Harlan Morse Blake, and donors to the New Combinations Fund. Leadership support for new work by female choreographers is provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Lead Underwriting support for the 2022 Art Series and Access Evenings is provided by Lynne and Richard Pasculano, with generous sponsorship support from Bank of America. The Stepping Forward Fund to support the salaries of NYCB dancers during their first year in the Company has been made possible through the generosity of the Joseph and Sylvia Slifka Foundation and Martha and Bob Lipp. The creation and maintenance of New York City Ballet’s costumes are endowed in part by the LuEsther T. Mertz Costume Fund. The Corps de Ballet is endowed in part by the Carl Jacobs Foundation. New York City Ballet gratefully acknowledges The Jerome Robbins Foundation for leadership support of its Repertory Directors who ensure the excellence and vitality of the Company’s repertory performances. New York City Ballet’s student matinees and school residencies are generously underwritten by a leadership grant in memory of Ralph W. Kern. 2021-22 commissioning support for emerging choreographers is provided by the Rudolf Nureyev Fund for Emerging Choreographers, established through a leadership grant from the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation with additional grants from the Harriet Ford Dickenson Foundation and the Joseph and Sylvia Slifka Foundation. New York City Ballet gratefully acknowledges the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund, which provides support for new work and audience development. New York City Ballet’s musical leadership is endowed in part by the Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro Fund for Musical Excellence. The creation and performance of works by Peter Martins is funded in part by an endowment gift from the Solomon family, given in loving memory of Carolyn B. Solomon. New York City Ballet’s performances of works by George Balanchine are supported in part by the Balanchine Production Fund, an endowment created through The Campaign for New York City Ballet. New York City Ballet is pleased to recognize:

Georg

THANKS

Lincol

SPECIAL

Jerom

Medical services during the performances are provided under the direction of Youngnan Jenny Cho, M.D. Children’s costumes executed by the NYCB Costume Shop, Arel Studio, and Parsons-Meares, Ltd. New York City Ballet Gift Shop Scenery built by Feller Scenery Co. Souvenir Merchandise designed and created by: The Araca Group Scenery painted by Nolan Scenery Studios, Inc. www.araca.com or (212) 869-0070 Shoes by Capezio Ballet Maker and Freed of London. Soft good and fabrics provided by I. Weiss and Sons. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is the summer home of New York City Ballet. Steinway & Sons is the official piano of the David H. Koch Theater. New York City Ballet wishes to express its appreciation to TDF for its support this season. The taking of pictures in the theater is strictly prohibited. The choreographies presented on this program are copyrighted by the individual choreographers.

54 | SPAC 2022 Spring Static Pages.indd 5

Programming is made possible by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Peter

Spring Static P 4/15/22 11:30 AM

ABOUT

NEW YORK CITY BALLET New York City Ballet is one of the foremost dance companies in the world, with a roster of spectacular dancers and an unparalleled repertory. The Company was founded in 1948 by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, and it quickly became world-renowned for its athletic and contemporary style. Jerome Robbins joined NYCB the following year and, with Balanchine, helped to build the astounding repertory and firmly establish the Company in New York.

ence

eidy, bel,

George Balanchine

been

In 1946 Kirstein and Balanchine formed Ballet Society and presented their new company at New York’s City Center of Music and Drama, which had been founded by Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Newbold Morris, and Morton Baum. After seeing a Ballet Society performance, Baum invited Balanchine and Kirstein’s fledgling company to officially join City Center. On October 11, 1948, New York City Ballet was born with a performance that featured Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Orpheus, and Symphony in C.

hich

its

ship

Lincoln Kirstein

22 11:30 AM

hine

Jerome Robbins

by:

New York City Ballet owes its existence to Lincoln Kirstein, who envisioned an American ballet where young dancers could be trained and schooled under the guidance of the greatest ballet masters. When he met George Balanchine in London in 1933, Kirstein knew he had found the right person for his dream. Balanchine traveled to America at Kirstein’s invitation, and in 1934 the two men opened the School of American Ballet, where Balanchine trained dancers in an innovative style and technique that matched his idea of a new, unmannered classicism.

Peter Martins

Spring Static Pages.indd 3

Balanchine served as Ballet Master of New York City Ballet from its inception until his death, in 1983, choreographing countless works and creating a company of dancers known for their linear purity, sharpness of attack, and overall speed and musicality. In 1949 Jerome Robbins joined the Company as associate director and, with Balanchine, created a varied repertory that grew each season. Following Balanchine’s death, Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins were named Co-Ballet Masters in Chief, and from 1990 until he retired in 2017, Mr. Martins assumed sole responsibility for the Company’s artistic direction. Under Martins’ leadership, NYCB maintained the integrity of its core works, the 20th-century masterpieces by Balanchine and Robbins, while adding significantly to its repertory by commissioning more than 250 world premiere ballets created by more than 60 choreographers. As part of NYCB’s ongoing commitment to the development of new choreography, in 2001 Martins created the position of NYCB Resident Choreographer, which was first held by Christopher Wheeldon (2001-2006), and is currently held by Justin Peck. In September 2000, Martins and the late philanthropist Irene Diamond launched the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of New York City Ballet, which promotes the development of choreographers and dancers involved in classical choreography by providing opportunities to develop their talents. In 2009 Katherine Brown was named NYCB’s first-ever Executive Director, a position created to oversee the administrative management of the Company. In February of 2019, Jonathan Stafford was named Artistic Director of New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet, and Wendy Whelan was named Associate Artistic Director of New York City Ballet.

4/15/22 11:30 AM| 55 SPAC.ORG

NEW YORK CITY BALLET

Jonathan Stafford was appointed Artistic Director of New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet in February 2019. Upon retiring as an NYCB Principal Dancer in May 2014, Stafford was named one of NYCB’s Ballet Masters. In December 2017, he was appointed to lead NYCB’s interim artistic team.

Jonathan Stafford Artistic Director

As a dancer with NYCB, Stafford performed an extensive repertory of featured roles in numerous ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, and Christopher Wheeldon, and also originated featured roles in works by Mauro Bigonzetti and Alexei Ratmansky. As an educator, Stafford served as a member of SAB’s guest faculty beginning in 2006 and joined the School’s permanent faculty in 2007. In 2015 he was named SAB’s first Professional Placement Manager. He graduated summa cum laude from the Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies with a B.A. in Organizational Leadership. Born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Stafford studied at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet before entering SAB in the summer of 1996. Stafford was named an apprentice with NYCB in 1998, joined the corps de ballet in 1999, and rose through the ranks to became a Principal Dancer in 2007.

Wendy Whelan was named New York City Ballet Associate Artistic Director in February 2019. One of the most acclaimed dancers of her generation, she performed with NYCB for 30 years. Whelan danced principal roles in more than 125 ballets in NYCB’s repertory, performing virtually all of the major Balanchine roles, working closely with Jerome Robbins on many of his works, and originating roles in more than 50 ballets by such choreographers as William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, and numerous others. Following her retirement from NYCB in October 2014, she has cultivated multi-disciplinary performance projects with a wide range of collaborators. Wendy Whelan Associate Artistic Director

Whelan began studying dance in Louisville with Virginia Wooton, a local teacher, and at the Louisville Ballet Academy before first studying at SAB in the summer of 1981. She was named an apprentice with NYCB in 1984, joined the corps de ballet in 1986, and was promoted through the ranks to be elevated to Principal Dancer in 1991. She is the recipient of a 2007 Dance Magazine Award, the 2011 Jerome Robbins Award, a 2011 Bessie Award for Sustained Achievement in Performance, and a Doctorate of Arts, honoris causa, from Bellarmine University.

Andrew Litton, Music Director of the New York City Ballet since 2015, is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of Britain’s Bournemouth Symphony, and Music Director Laureate of Norway’s Bergen Philharmonic, where he recently concluded a 12-year tenure as Music Director. For his work in Bergen, King Harald V knighted Litton with the Norwegian Royal Order of Merit. Litton led the Dallas Symphony as Music Director from 1994 to 2006. Each season, he also guest conducts leading orchestras and opera companies around the globe and adds to his discography of more than 130 recordings, which have garnered America’s Grammy Award, France’s Diapason d’Or, and other honors. Andrew Litton Music Director

Litton’s work in ballet began while he was a Juilliard student, performing as onstage pianist for Rudolf Nureyev, Natalia Makarova, and Cynthia Gregory. An accomplished pianist, Litton is an acknowledged expert on George Gershwin and has performed and recorded Gershwin widely as both pianist and conductor. In 2014 he released his first solo piano album, A Tribute to Oscar Peterson. For more information visit andrewlitton.com.

56 | SPAC 2022 Spring Static Pages.indd 4

4/15/22 11:30 AM

LET

City n

ory rome

ei AB’s ent

B.A. in

of ned me a

stic of

rtory,

ting m on, and ber ts with

n 6, and ncer he d causa,

e hony hony, , r. For wegian

ts adds nered onors.

arova,

and 4 he For

5/22 11:30 AM

SPAC.ORG | 57

BOA

CHAIRP Susan La

VICE CH Charles

Celebrating our living musical heritage through brilliant live performances, innovative educational programming, and engaging cultural events.

OUR 2022-2023 SEASON

SECRET Eleanor

TREASU Linda To

Raimund Sonny B Sally Bot

Featuring world premieres by Stewart Goodyear, John Harbison, Loren Loiacono, Tania León, Viet Cuong and Daniel Bernard Roumain.

STA

Elizabet Presiden

Leslie C General

CONVERGENCE

Zack As Assistan

Exploring Black American art forms on stage and in the community with Curating Artists Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Adia Tamar Whitaker and Regina Carter.

Brogan Operatio

Eric Bro Senior D Data and

TRAILBLAZE NY

Celebrating the completion of New York’s Empire State Trail with free outdoor concerts across the Capital Region and Upper Hudson Valley, Summer 2022.

Fu-chen Senior D Special P

Andreya Artistic A

Jeff Con Director

Learn more at AlbanySymphony.com

SPAC BOARD/STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRPERSON Susan Law Dake VICE CHAIR Charles V. Wait, Jr. SECRETARY Eleanor K. Mullaney TREASURER Linda Toohey Raimundo Archibold Sonny Bonacio Sally Bott

STAFF

Elizabeth Sobol President & CEO Leslie Collman-Smith General Manager Zack Ashcraft Assistant Box Office Manager Brogan Barker Operations Associate Eric Brower Senior Director, Ticketing, Data and Analytics Fu-chen Chan Senior Director, Events and Special Projects Andreya Cherry Artistic Administrator Jeff Conkey Director, Operations

Carl DeBrule C.J. DeCrescente Geraldine Golub Judy A. Harrigan, Ph.D George R. Hearst III Richard Higgins Anthony Ianniello, Esq. Sean Leonard Heather Mabee Chris Mackey Martin A. Mbugua Donald J. McCormack Bill McEllen Norma Meacham

Ron Riggi Dr. L. Oliver Robinson Andrea Spungen Stephen C. Verral Jason C. Ward TRUSTEES EMERITI William P. Dake Charles V. Wait TRUSTEES OF COUNSEL I. Norman Massry John J. Nigro Hon. Susan Phillips Read Edward P. Swyer

Christine Dixon Senior Director, Individual and Planned Giving

Timothy Roylance Manager, Box Office and Group Sales

Brittany Gilman Director, Marketing

Philip Scibilia Director, Membership

David Greco Senior Director, Operations

Christopher Shiley VP, Artistic Planning

Jay Lafond Chief Financial Officer

Scott Somerville Director of Creative Services

Cynthia Madcharo Senior Accountant

Frank Tessier Associate Manager, Membership and Guest Services

Maddie McCarthy Development Associate Dennis Moench VP, Education Linsey Reardon Education Events Coordinator

Heather N. Varney Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships Kristy Ventre Senior Director, Marketing and Communications Jill Zygo Director, School Programs

SPAC.ORG | 59

2022 CORPORATE PARTNERS DIAMOND PARTNERS

PLATINUM PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

For details on how to partner with SPAC, please call Heather Varney, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships at 518.584.9330 ext 122 or hvarney@spac.org. 60 | SPAC 2022

c.org.

What better way to honor your fond SPAC memories than with a planned gift to SPAC? A planned gift is one of the most meaningful commitments you can make and helps ensure the future of SPAC. There are many ways to join SPAC’s Evergreen Society: • Create a bequest • Donate from your IRA • Name SPAC as a life insurance beneficiary • Give appreciated stock These are just some of the easy ways to make a planned gift to SPAC. Talk with your financial advisor about what’s best for you financially. When you make a planned gift, you become a member of SPAC’s Evergreen Society and are acknowledged in all SPAC program materials and receive invitations to exclusive events. Other commemorative gifts include seat plaques and the dedication of trees and benches to celebrate a special occasion or honor the memory of a loved one.

For more information, please contact Christine Dixon at 518-485-9330 ext. 112 or cdixon@spac.org.

T F A

The A

Voted Best Menswear Shop

Upstate’s finest Menswear from Canali, Jack Victor, Stenstroms, Magnanni, and many more. • In-house Tailoring • Custom Clothing

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 2004

markthomasmensapparel.com

@markthomasmensapparel

SARATOGA | 385 BROADWAY | 518.871.1293 • ALBANY | 5 METRO PARK ROAD | 518.438.7887

June 4 – August 21 tang.skidmore.edu 62 | SPAC 2022

161 Warren hydecollec

TRANS F O R M ATIONS The Art of John Van Alstine

Exhibition On View June 11-September 18, 2022 Art Inspired Dance Performance by Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company August 6 at 2 pm

est ear

8.7887

21 du

161 Warren St., Glens Falls, NY hydecollection.org

John Van Alstine (American, b. 1952), Sisyphean Circle 10-16-16, 2016, granite and galvanized and powder coated steel, 57 x 52 x 18 in. © John Van Alstine.

Made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor & New York State Legislature.

The writers of saratoga living invite you to hang out After Hours. Th e m ost s uper - loca l cove r age in Sa r atoga , by Sa r atogia n s .

SA THRICE-WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES:

Party coverage • Saratoga-themed puzzles and trivia • What’s really going down on local Facebook pages • Trends, drama, “vibe checks” and more! FREE TO SUBSCRIBE

join us right now for our insider’s look at all things Saratoga!

SARA

June 24 August 15

SARATOGA SPRINGS YOUTH BALLET

SARATOGASPRINGSYOUTHBALLET.ORG SARAT A OGASPRINGSYOUTHBALLET.ORG AT

518-306-4037 418 GEYSER RD BALLSTON SPA, NY 12020

Lake Lake Luzerne, Lu uzerne, NY BOX OFFICE: 518.696.2771 luzernemusic.org/2022-season

SPAC.ORG | 65

Looking to celebrate ? PUTNAM PLACE

PRIVATE EVENT SPACE IN DOWNTOWN SARATOGA SPRINGS. ❖ Private birthday soirées ❖ Fundraisers ❖ Seminars ❖ Graduation Parties ❖ Bridal Showers

The largest LED screen in the region & full bar for your next celebration.

The

summer

festival

2022

Reimagining Re imagining Classics the

LIVE PERFORMANCES AND MUSEUM

We’re proud to support the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

AT TO R N E Y S

LLP

Albany + Buffalo + Greensboro + Hackensack + New York Palm Beach + Rochester + Saratoga Springs + Toronto www.hodgsonruss.com www.hodgsonruss.ca 68 | SPAC 2022

Remodeling your home adds many years of enjoyment. Stop in or call for a free consultation.

898 Loudon Road, Latham, NY • 518-313-1229

SPAC.ORG | 69

W go pe fo th th Th th

Tro

Co 518

EXPLORE THE ARTS. DISCOVER YOURSELF. We have a rich history of students who have gone on to become professional visual and performing artists. But arts education isn’t just for those students. Everyone can benefit from the creativity and self-expression experienced through the arts—from athletes to math majors. That’s why the arts are deeply embedded in the fabric of our school.

www.albanyacademies.org The road to success starts here. Boys/Girls, Preschool-12

Live Life Well at Eddy Senior Living.

We offer Independent Living for active seniors and Assisted Living and Memory Care for seniors who need a little extra help. SIX EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN: Niskayuna - Glen Eddy • Latham - Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center Troy - Beechwood at Eddy Memorial • East Greenbush - Eddy Hawthorne Ridge Queensbury - The Glen at Hiland Meadows • Slingerlands - Beverwyck

SPAC.ORG | 71

AtA. the LewisStudios A. Swyer Studios At the Lewis Swyer

Music, Theatre, Music, Theatre, and Dance Classes and Dance Classes for Children, for Children, Teens, and Adults! Teens, and Adults!

for Fall Classes! RegisterRegister Now for Now Fall Classes! spacschool.org spacschool.org

SP SPAC School ar arts educatio

Classes are taughtCla by e to explore diverseto top perspectives, andper dis

Supported by

SPAC SPAC ||

dios

SPAC School the Arts isthe changing SPAC School of the Arts of is changing face of the face of arts in education in the Capital Region! arts education the Capital Region! are taught by qualified teaching artists who challenge students Classes are taughtClasses by qualified teaching artists who challenge students explore topics and cultures, connect to explore diverseto topics anddiverse cultures, connect with others, learn with new others, learn new and discover passion, and deeper sense of self. perspectives, andperspectives, discover passion, confidence, and aconfidence, deeper sense ofaself.

Supported by

Supported by Additional the Charles R. Wood Additional support from the support Charles from R. Wood NYS Parks Connect Kids to Parks Foundation, NYS Foundation, Parks Connect Kids to Parks Michael program, Michaelprogram, and Stacie Arpey,and andStacie the Arpey, and the Business for Good Foundation Business for Good Foundation

SPAC || SCHOOL OF THE SPAC OF ARTS SPAC SCHOOL OF THEARTS ARTS SPAC || SCHOOL SCHOOL OFTHE THE ARTS

Sterling Hyltin’s New York City Ballet Swan Song The retiring principal dancer kicks off her final year with NYCB with a goodbye performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at SPAC.

BY ABBY TEGNELIA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL KOLNIK

ew York City Ballet (NYCB) principal dancer Sterling Hyltin is preparing for her bittersweet final Saratoga performance—she’s sad to be saying goodbye but thrilled that she’ll be dancing in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as her last SPAC show before retiring next year. “It’s such a lovely way to say goodbye,” she says. “The ballet is approachable for all ages. Plus, dancing outside adds to the magic. There can be lightning bugs on the lawn while watching lightning bugs dancing on stage.” When Hyltin started coming to Saratoga with NYCB 20 years ago, the company’s residency was still three weeks long, and she cherishes her memories of her extended Spa City stays. “You were in a house with your friends,” she says. “It felt like we were a family there, so much more so than in the city. It felt like home.” Hyltin’s love for Saratoga is so strong that she and her family visited during lockdown. And it’s sitting on the SPAC lawn—as a spectator—where the new mom hopes to show her daughter, Ingrid, who was born near the beginning of lockdown, her beloved NYCB for the first time. “SPAC is so kid-friendly, with the lawn,” she says. “So I would like to show my daughter ballet there.” From the amphitheater stage, Hyltin has certainly felt SPAC’s magic as well, most dramatically as Juliet in Peter Martins’ Romeo + Juliet, a role she originated. “One year as we were dancing, right as it got into the story, the sky got ominous,” she says. “You really get immersed in the story that way—for some ballets, being outside really enhanc es the story. Or sometimes you look out, and there’s a full moon in the sky. As people are watching us, we’re watching nature!” Hyltin considers herself so blessed to have been able to do what she loves that she’s retiring in order to help her daughter find that special something for herself. “I love dancing so much,” Hyltin says. “It’s been a gift to be surrounded by passionate people. That gives you confidence. I want to inspire that in my daughter, let her teach me where she should be. And for that I need to be present for her, not off dancing all the time.” NYCB performs at SPAC July 12 to July 16, bringing the whole company of more than 90 dancers to Saratoga for the first time since 2019. In addition to the comical and fanciful Midsummer, they will also dance a roster of contemporary works, including Merce Cunningham’s masterful Summerspace, plus a special “NYCB On and Off Stage” presentation. At press time, Hyltin was expected to dance the famous “Divertissement” pas de deux in the second act of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a romantic piece that shows off her most ethereal qualities. She will then start her final season back in NYC, which will culminate in her grand final performance December 4 at Lincoln Center, where she will dance the coveted role of the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker. “Going in for my final season, I know I have to enjoy dancing everything for one last time,” Hyltin says. “I have to stop myself from thinking that I have to make every step the most perfect ever. This year, I get to just enjoy it.” A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SARATOGA LIVING MAGAZINE.

odbye

or her but ht’s way to ncing e

nded re a

wn. w her B for ow my

year You nhanc ople

’s

ple. here .”

han 90 ciful

ent” at C, where

t time,” most

Yo-

na cou bo on imp the SPAC’s experie

“There’s Park. “T we use that we we fit in

Ma’s pe features to Augu four pro Joshua Saint-Sa continu

“Saint-S for goo fitting m

Ma’s pa perform compos become perform and eve to a div the wor esteem

“There commu Sobol. “ residen

Ma has excited post-CO Saint-Sa very ful them—a pass on

Yo-Yo Ma Finds Beauty in Nature at SPAC For this cellist great, performing outside in the Spa State Park brings out the very essence of music.

BY ABBY TEGNELIA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON BELL

n a comeback classical season that’s about as buzzed-about and fanfare-filled as it could possibly get, there’s no denying that Yo-Yo Ma’s return to SPAC is the boldest headline. Not only is the world-renowned cellist the most famous name on the marquee, but he also made the news during COVID for his comforting impromptu performance at a vaccination clinic in nearby Massachusetts. And now the famously positive and smiley musician will bring his healing powers of music to SPAC’s outdoor amphitheater August 5, in what is sure to be an especially meaningful experience for the virtuoso. “There’s nothing like creating music in nature,” Ma says of SPAC’s location in the Spa State Park. “The natural world, like the best music, engages all of our senses, demanding that we use our head, our heart, and our hands. In my experience, it’s when we use all three that we form the most enduring memories, that we can understand who we are and how we fit into the world. That’s the purpose of music.” Ma’s performance will be a highlight of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s residency, which features the full orchestra for the first time since 2019. The residency runs from July 27 to August 13 and also features the return of Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin (in four programs including a finale featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony) and violinist Joshua Bell (alongside star soprano Larisa Martinez on July 29). Ma will perform Camille Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1, an emotional and dramatic solo that’s written in one continuous movement with a final section that is especially demanding. “Saint-Saëns’ first cello concerto is so full of joy and sparkle,” Ma says. “It is beloved for good reason, and I hear it always as a celebration of nature and human nature. It is fitting music for such a beautiful place and such extraordinary musical company.” Ma’s passion for the arts began at an extremely young age; as a 7-year-old prodigy he performed for President John F. Kennedy after a rousing introduction by the great composer Leonard Bernstein. Since then, the 19-time GRAMMY Award winner has become a household name by appealing to about as diverse a crowd as possible, having performed for children on Sesame Street, with friend James Taylor on a range of projects and even with Miley Cyrus on a (charity) Metallica tribute album. But while his dedication to a diverse repertoire of music has certainly helped make him the most famous cellist in the world, it’s his mind-blowing mark on the classical music realm that has garnered him esteemed awards, appointments and accomplishments the world over. “There is no artist better than Yo-Yo Ma to embody the essence of this summer—joy, community and celebration of the human spirit,” says SPAC president and CEO Elizabeth Sobol. “Summer 2022 will be a season like no other as we welcome our audiences and resident companies home to SPAC and the park after several long years of yearning.” Ma has a long history of performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra and says he is excited to reunite with them on the SPAC stage (he was on-hand for the Orchestra’s first post-COVID performance at their home theater, Verizon Hall, where he also performed Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No.1). “The Philadelphia Orchestra always plays with the very fullest commitment,” he says. “Its musicians sound extraordinary every time I hear them—and as an institution, the orchestra has a remarkable, almost magical ability to pass on its love of music and performance from generation to generation.” A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SARATOGA LIVING MAGAZINE.

Led

Widel vo

said in anythin

And ye becaus enough native t at the 2 in New Porter d to singi includin stage a Blue, th

This sum First, sh And sh Orches songs b Ledisi’s depres radio,”

While L Best Tra even gr level,” L wiggle. make it into thi Ledisi s until I s the end

If you’r Elizabe commu singers diversit powerh

Ledisi Brings Nina Simone Tribute to SPAC Widely regarded as one of the greatest singers in the world, GRAMMY-winning vocalist Ledisi will perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra on August 3.

BY NATALIE MOORE

hen it comes to the sheer talent possessed by Ledisi, the genre-fluid powerhouse singer-songwriter who scheduled not one, but two SPAC performances this summer, don’t take our word for it. Instead, take it from, oh, 12-time GRAMMY winner John Legend. “As a contemporary vocalist, there’s almost no one I can think of in the world that sings as skillfully as she does,” the “All of Me” singer and household name once said in an interview. “In terms of her range, dexterity, clarity, versatility, she can do anything she wants. She’s one of the great singers in the world, period.” And yet Ledisi isn’t quite a household name herself—at least not yet. That could be because she’s not particularly concerned with sticking to any one type of music long enough to be classified as a pop, jazz or R&B artist. “I’m genre-less,” the New Orleans native told me the week after performing Jacques Brel’s “Ne Me Quitte Pas” in French at the 2022 GRAMMYS. “Last week I was at the GRAMMYS. Now I’m with Eric Church in New Orleans. And then before the GRAMMYS I was doing musical theater with Billy Porter directing at New York City Center. It’s just blowing my mind.” Oh, right: In addition to singing in a plethora of genres, ranges and languages and with music’s biggest names including Dave Matthews, Kelly Clarkson and jazz great Herbie Hancock, Ledisi is also a stage and screen actor, appearing in everything from Selma to The Legend of Little Girl Blue, the one-woman show she co-wrote and co-produced in 2019. This summer, Ledisi is flexing her multi-disciplinary muscles right here in the Spa City. First, she graced the SPAC amphitheater stage at the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival. And she’ll return August 3 to headline her very own show with the Philadelphia Orchestra, in which she’ll perform songs from Ledisi Sings Nina, her 2021 album of songs by music icon and civil rights activist Nina Simone, an artist who literally saved Ledisi’s life when she was contemplating suicide while living in Oakland. “When I was depressed and ready to quit and really leave this earth, 'Trouble in Mind' came on the radio,” Ledisi says. “I really got Nina then and I promised to finish this tribute.” While Ledisi Sings Nina is something to behold on its own—the album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at this year’s GRAMMYS—its songs become something even greater when paired with a full orchestra. “It just brings them sonically to another level,” Ledisi says. “The Philadelphia Orchestra has a little something that I like: A little wiggle.” Performing live also gives the artist a chance to sing songs by Simone that didn’t make it onto the album, such as African American folk song “See-Line Woman.” “It goes into this rhythm that I’m sure Nina would’ve loved, because it has this African beat on it,” Ledisi says of her arrangement of the song. “People get so euphoric; they’re so excited until I start to speak in words that are uncomfortable for them, and everybody gasps. At the end of it, they’re understanding: This is Nina. Ledisi is tributing her.” If you’re not quite sold on Ledisi’s August 3 performance yet, SPAC president and CEO Elizabeth Sobol will surely change your mind: “This is an incredible opportunity for our community to experience this inspiring musician who is arguably one of the greatest singers in the world,” she says. “Ledisi’s new project with the orchestra takes the diversity and depth of Simone’s artistry with the breathtaking range of Ledisi’s powerhouse vocals. It’s our can’t-miss performances of the season.” A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED ON SARATOGALIVING.COM.

will retu Instead there ev happen gratifica have th someon

Luckily speciali classica Take Sc for Dow becaus very, ve classica first ope “Of cou becaus

That Jo Music la Grant S which h there. In years, D born-fro convers

Speakin compos focus of Orch b

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAX BARRETT

Pianist and NPR Host Lara Downes Returns to Saratoga

Following a show at Skidmore in April, the 2022 Classical Woman of the Year will perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra on August 4.

BY NATALIE MOORE

hen you ask an artist as impressive as pianist Lara Downes if there has been a moment in her career when she felt she had officially “made it,” you expect an impressive answer. Maybe “when my recording topped the Billboard chart” or “when I was named 2022 Classical Woman of the Year.” But while both of those things have indeed happened to Downes, who performed at Skidmore’s Arthur Zankel Music Center this past April 14 and will return to Saratoga with the Philadelphia Orchestra August 4, neither were her answer. Instead, when asked if she had an “I made it” moment, she said, “No! And I don’t think there ever is. You do your work and you’re really happy when wonderful things happen, but I’ve noticed that the more success I have, the things that give me real gratification are not the applause, approval, recognition—of course it’s so wonderful to have those things—but when I feel that what I’m doing is actually impacting or helping someone else.” Luckily for Downes, there have been plenty such moments throughout her career. She specializes in revisiting the works of Black composers who in many cases helped shape classical music as we know it today, but aren’t necessarily recognized for having done so. Take Scott Joplin, the turn-of-the-20th-century composer who serves as the inspiration for Downes’ recent album, Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered. “It’s an interesting story because he wasn’t under-appreciated in his time,” Downes said of the musician. “He was very, very famous in his time as the ‘King of Ragtime.’ But at the same time he was also a classical composer and wanted to write operas.” Joplin did write Treemonisha, one of the first operas by a Black American composer, but did not live to see a full production of it. “Of course,” Downes continues, “the doors that were closed to him in his time were closed because of race.” That Joplin album is just one of a series of albums released under Downes’ Rising Sun Music label that explores the work of Black composers—including Eubie Blake, William Grant Still and Florence Price—and their contributions to the American classical canon, which has historically been dominated by white males. And the iconoclast doesn’t stop there. In addition to highlighting the works of influential composers from the last 200 years, Downes also explores the contributions of contemporary BIPOC artists in her born-from-COVID NPR series, AMPLIFY, which features performances by and conversations which features such musicians. Speaking of Price, the pioneering composer—who in the 1930s became the first female composer of color to have her work performed by a major symphony orchestra—will be the focus of Downes’ performance when she returns to Saratoga with the Philadelphia Orchestra. (This year’s Orchestra residency at SPAC will feature a record number of works by female and BIPOC composers.) At the August 4 show, Downes will also perform “The Strayhorn Concerto,” a brand-new piece of music created just for her from three songs by Billy Strayhorn, a jazz pianist and songwriter known for being a close collaborator of Duke Ellington’s. And while Downes’ work does indeed focus heavily on BIPOC artists, she hopes that her music brings people of all backgrounds together. “This is a time when people feel really divided,” she says. “Music is a place where we can see where we have crossed paths, where we have given and taken from each other, and where even the difficult and painful parts of our history have produced beautiful things.” A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED ON SARATOGALIVING.COM.

Steven Bouchey has been advising clients since 1990. As an independent, SEC Registered Investment Advisor, Bouchey Financial Group acts as a fiduciary for our clients in order to limit any conflicts of interest. It is through our successful stewardship of our client's financial situation that we are approaching $1 Billion in assets under management. Our team consists of 14 professionals, 4 CFP®s and 4 CPAs. www.bouchey.com Offices in Historic Downtown Troy and Saratoga Springs - 518.720.3333 FEE-ONLY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

FINANCIAL PLANNING

PERSONAL CFO SERVICES

Proud f

Bach prog

Leading innovation at the intersection of the arts, science, and technology — right here in the Capital Region. The Rensselaer student orchestra has played at Carnegie Hall and Steinway Hall.

Proud partner of SPAC for 16 years

Top 30 AR/VR college (Animation Career Review)

First integrated electronic arts program to be offered within a research university

Bachelor of Science program in music

220,000-square-foot stateof-the-art Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center

Top 10 undergraduate game design program (U.S. News & World Report)