The world premiere of U.S. choreographer Helen Pickett’s “Emma Bovary” will open the next season of the National Ballet of Canada.
It's billed as a psychological exploration of the title character from Gustave Flaubert’s novel, “Madame Bovary,” set to an original score by Peter Salem.
It runs Nov. 11 to 18, along with the Canadian premiere of James Kudelka’s “Passion,” in which principal dancer Piotr Stanczyk will mark his retirement from a 25-year career with the National Ballet.
Artistic director Hope Muir announced a 2023/24 lineup that also includes John Cranko’s “Onegin” from Nov. 22 to 26; holiday favourite “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 8 to 30; and a March Break presentation of Christopher Wheeldon’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” March 6 to 17, 2024.
The summer season opens June 1 to 9, 2024 with the North American premiere of “Don Quixote,” choreographed by Cuban-born dancer Carlos Acosta after Marius Petipa.
The 2023/24 season concludes with George Balanchine’s ballet triptych, “Jewels,” running June 15 to 22, 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2023.
