ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Metropolitan Classical Ballet, under the leadership of artistic directors, Paul Mejia and Alexander Vetrov, opens its ninth season with a dynamic mixed repertory program at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth on September 13th at 8:00 PM, marking the second full season to be presented at Bass Hall. Mr. Mejia and Mr. Vetrov chose four exciting and diverse works to open the season: Markitenka, Le Spectre de la Rose, Hamlet and The Four Temperaments. The Metropolitan Classical Ballet Orchestra under the direction of Ron Spigelman will provide the musical accompaniment.

MARKITENKA
Pas de Six
Music by Cesare Pugni
Choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon
Staged by Alexander Vetrov

Markitenka was originally a one-act ballet set in a little village in Hungary. It told the story of two young people, Kathy and Hans, who in order to marry, had to escape the plans of the Mayor of the village and the Baron of the region, both of whom wanted the young woman for themselves.

First performed in 1844 in London, England, Markitenka was choreographed by Arthur Saint-Leon and the music was by Cesare Pugni. Carlotta Grisi and the choreographer himself danced the leading roles. Today, Markitenka is performed as a "pas de six" from the wedding.

LE SPECTRE DE LA ROSE
Music by Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography by Michel Fokine
Staged by Alexander Vetrov

Le Spectre de la Rose premiered on 19 April 1911, in Monte Carlo by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Dancers at the premiere were Vaslav Nijinsky as the Spirit of the Rose and Tamara Karsarvina as the Young Girl.

The ballet tells the story of the meeting and parting of a young couple at a ball. The young woman returns from the ball bringing with her a rose. She falls asleep in a chair and dreams of dancing with the spirit of the rose until the spirit disappears with a spectacular leap through the window and she awakens.

HAMLET
Music by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky
Choreography by Paul Mejia

Hamlet, a fantasy overture, was one of three Tchaikovsky compositions inspired by William Shakespeare, along with Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest. Mr. Mejia became intrigued by all three overtures because he felt they truly gave a musical impression of each story in terms of their emotional and psychological impact. Mr. Mejia's Hamlet had its world premiere in 1981 while he was co-artistic director with Maria Tallchief at the Chicago City Ballet.

THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS
Music by Paul Hindemith
Choreography by George Balanchine
© The George Balanchine Trust
Staged by Paul Mejia

In 1940, George Balanchine commissioned Paul Hindemith to write a small chamber work that could be played during musical evenings at home. The resulting composition for string orchestra and piano, entitled The Four Temperaments, pleased him so much that six years later, he decided to choreograph it for the opening program of Ballet Society, the direct precursor of the New York City Ballet. The Four Temperaments was recognized immediately as a work without precedent in choreographic history, and it is still popular today.

Tickets to the Season Premiere are available through the Bass Performance Hall Ticket Office at (817) 212-4280; toll free at (877) 212-4280, or online at www.basshall.com. Season, group and individual tickets may be purchased at the Metropolitan Classical Ballet administration office by calling (817) 465-4644 or at 500 West Abram Street in Arlington, Texas.

Season sponsors include American Airlines, WRR Classical 101, and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap.

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Media Note: Further information and photos may be obtained by contacting Judy Puder at (817) 465-4644.

Photo of Olga Pavlova and Andre Prikhodko
by Sharon K. Nolan

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