Return of the Masters: A Musical Perspective

Guest Writer: Rick Reeves, orchestra manager

Houston Ballet Orchestra looks forward to performances of Mahler’s expansive Das Lied von der Erde, or Song of the Earth in the Return of the Masters program (Sept. 8-18). It is rare that any ballet company has the opportunity to present a musical work of this magnitude. It is written for a large orchestra which uses additional woodwinds, a second harp, a mandolin and special guest artists mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer and tenor Russell Thomas.

While the orchestral forces are large, there are only a few occasions when the entire group is playing at the same time. Mahler’s choice of instrumentation (the compliment of musicians) make the orchestra sound like a small chamber group or a large symphony orchestra. But the orchestral writing is not just about supporting the text of the song. Das Lied is a combination of musical forms. It’s part song cycle and part symphony. The symphonic moments act as interludes to tie the six songs together. Mahler made use of singers in several of his symphonies. Das Lied might represent the continued evolution in his compositional style;  a musical culmination of his symphonies and his songs.

Music Director Ermanno Florio conducting the Houston Ballet Orchestra photo:Geoff Winningham

Mahler, like several other composers of his day, was concerned about writing a ninth symphony. At that time it seemed that whenever a notable composer wrote his ninth symphony he died. Mahler started his tenth symphony before he finished the ninth symphony. I believe he died shortly after completing the ninth symphony and Das Lied. The first performances were given posthumously. The tenth symphony was not completed.

Susanne Mentzer is a Houston favorite having appeared with Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Symphony Orchestra, as well as most all of the other major opera venues in the world. She is a gifted musician known for her expressive singing. This will be our first opportunity to work with her. Joining Susanne is Russell Thomas. Russell has sung at the Metropolitan Opera and with the Boston Symphony as well as many other organizations. We look forward to hearing this powerful tenor with the orchestra.

On the same program is In the Night which will feature our solo pianist Katherine Burkwall-Ciscon, playing Nocturnes by Chopin. She has an in-depth knowledge of the choreography and knows how it relates to the music. Notice the video monitor on her piano. She watches the dancers as she plays so that her musical accompaniment is perfectly matched to the choreography.

Check out this video for more insight on Song of the Earth from Music Director Ermanno Florio.

Blogging from the Road: The Kennedy Center Tour

Guest writer: Jim Nelson, general manager

Monday, June 14
One hour after the curtain fell on Sunday afternoon’s matinee of La Fille mal gardée, sixteen dancers (including the Sunday performance leads Connor Walsh and Melody Herrera), artistic director Stanton Welch, ballet mistress Louise Lester, and Maestro Ermanno Florio headed to IAH to catch the last flight to D.C. to participate in The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America II festival which opens tomorrow. 

Houston Ballet will kick off the festival with Stanton Welch’s gorgeous ballet Falling.  Also on the program is The Suzanne Farrell Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre.

Houston Ballet was included in the inaugural festival in 2008, and we’re thrilled to be asked back for round two.  The Kennedy Center describes the festival as “an exploration of the breadth and depth of the art form, showcasing companies from across the nation.”  Other ballet companies participating in the festival include Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Memphis, Tulsa Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and The Joffrey Ballet.

Today the dancers are loosening up with a class with Louise Lester, and they will have the remainder of the day to explore D.C. and to rest.  Maestro is rehearsing The Kennedy Center Orchestra and production manager Brian Walker and lighting designer Lisa Pinkham are focusing lights and preparing cues.  Tomorrow is jam-packed with class, dress rehearsal and the opening performance.

The festival is a shining example of the terrific programming The Kennedy Center presents.  The lineup allows dance-goers to see nine great companies over three nights with diverse rep from nine different choreographers such as Balanchine, Duato, Elo, Millipied, Welch and others.  It’s also a great opportunity for the dancers participating in the festival to interact with each other. Houston Ballet dancers will have the opportunity to take class with the dancers from the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre companies during the three days we’re here.

Tuesday, June 15
The dancers have their one rehearsal on The Kennedy Center stage from 2:30-3:30, and it’s their first time to dance Falling with The Kennedy Center Orchestra.  They have just enough time to run the ballet once, go back and correct a few tempos and spacing and re-run problem sections.  Stanton and Louise give the dancers a few notes and then release them for the afternoon.  Houston Ballet is first on the program, and the theater is absolutely packed.  Tonight’s awesome cast is Ian Casady and Melody Herrera, Peter Franc and Amy Fote, Nao Kusuzaki and Chris Coomer, Elise Judson and Joe Walsh, and Connor Walsh and Kelly Myernick.

I’m always struck by the D.C. audience.  They are well informed dance-goers, and they are so responsive.  In some parts of the world, the audience is extremely quiet throughout the ballet—they do not respond to solos or pas de deux sections, and it’s not until the ballet is concluded that you can judge the audience’s reaction.  D.C., like Houston, is on the other end of the spectrum, and they enjoy responding immediately and generously.  Tonight is no exception, and the audience cheers the Houston dancers on throughout the ballet and resoundingly at the end of the ballet.  The bravos and multiple curtain calls are reflected in the dancers’ beaming faces.

-Jim

Photos from dress rehearsal:

Dancers Connor Walsh and Kelly Myernick

Dancer Melody Herrera

Ballet mistress Louise Lester, Maestro Ermanno Florio, and The Kennedy Center Orchestra

Dancers Connor Walsh (left) and Joe Walsh (right)

Left to right: lighting designer Lisa Pinkham, artistic director Stanton Welch, and ballet mistress Louise Lester

Continued coverage of Kennedy Center Tour

Guest writer: Jim Nelson, general manager

The Houston Ballet dancers and staff departed Sunday, June 8 immediately after the matinee performance of A Doll’s House and La Sylphide.  Luckily, we had no delays en route, and we arrived at our hotel in the George Washington University area at midnight (as scheduled). 

Monday was a free day for the company—their only day off until after the season closes Sunday, June 15.  However, there was no free day for Maestro Ermanno Florio, who was busy rehearsing the Michael Torke score of Velocity with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, or for production manager Brian Walker, lighting supervisor Christina Giannelli, and costume shop supervisor Laura Lynch, who were all engaged in getting the stage, lighting and costumes readied for Tuesday’s performance.

Several dancers joined company apprentice Rhodes Elliott who arranged for a tour of the Capitol.  Highlights of their tour included a visit with Congressman James Clyburn and a great photo-op from Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi’s, balcony overlooking the Washington Monument.

                  

                 

Tuesday, June 10
The dancers started their day at 11:00 am with company class taught by Artistic Director Stanton Welch and continued with their one and only dress rehearsal of Stanton’s Velocity.  They had one mark-through with the orchestra followed by a few notes from Stanton before having a run of the ballet. 

                  

The opening of the festival began at 7:30 pm to a seemingly sold-out house.  Ballet West opened the program with Balanchine’s Serenade followed by Pennsylvania Ballet in Robbins’ In the Night. 

The Velocity cast for Tuesday featured principal dancers Simon Ball, Ian Casady, Mireille Hassenboehler, Melody Herrera, Randy Herrera, Connor Walsh and Sara Webb—a stellar cast indeed! Houston Ballet closed the program, and the audience response was astounding—a standing ovation and multiple curtain calls. 

Wednesday, June 11
The company had a late start Wednesday followed by notes in the studio. Company class was combined with the dancers of Pennsylvania Ballet and was taught by Roy Kaiser, Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Ballet, giving the HB dancers a brief exchange with some of the other artists participating in the festival. Wednesday’s cast of Velocity was relatively the same with the exception of Amy Fote going on for Sara Webb and Oliver Halkowich going on for Randy Herrera.  The second performance was stunning as well, and the audience again gave us a spontaneous standing ovation.

After the performance, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau greeted Houston Ballet with a reception honoring the company.  It was great to feel the support of our hometown here in D.C.

                      

                      

                      

Thursday, June 12
The company returns to Houston today for the last four performances of the season, tomorrow through Sunday, and then a well-deserved break through July 22.  The D.C. tour was an amazing finish to a spectacular season!

-Jim

All photos by Jim Nelson