Header Photo by Agathe Poupeney .
While theatre fans in Melbourne and Sydney on now an almost annual basis get to enjoy timed or fully exclusive access to a number of major musicals in their respective states, supported by their respective Government tourism organisations, the approach is a little bit different up in Brisbane. Almost every year since 2009 under the leadership of long-time Chief Executive John Kotzas, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has held its annual International Series.
Attracting the likes of world-renowned Ballet Companies including the Royal Ballet, Ballet Preljocaj, Teatro Alla Scala and the “mighty” Bolshoi Ballet – this annual inclusion in the Brisbane cultural calendar brings not only world-class performances exclusively to Queensland, but is complemented by a wealth of events including opening night galas, exhibitions, live simulcasts to regional venues and essentially a residency model for the artists involved with the performing organisation.
In what could be their final major announcement for 2019, QPAC together with Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch and Minister for Tourism and Industry Development Kate Jones today announced that the 2020 QPAC International Series will be held from 1 to 19 July 2020 and feature performances by Paris Opera Ballet. Shaking things up a little bit from the last few years, Paris Opera Ballet will be performing three works rather than two – an opening gala featuring works from the company’s repertoire, Rudolf Nureyev’s Swan Lake and a mixed bill of contemporary works in Parisienne Soirée. You can read more about each work and Paris Opera Ballet at the bottom of this article.
All works will feature performers from Paris Opera Ballet, in addition to musical accompaniment locally from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In previous years there have been opportunities for young dancers and local dancers to have some role in the performance – further details have yet to be confirmed for the 2020 International Series.
If you read the below and would like to be the first to purchase tickets to the opening gala, Swan Lake and/or Parisienne Soirée – tickets will go on sale from 9am Thursday 12 December 2019. Tickets will be purchasable either online or by phoning QTIX (136 246)
What They Say…
The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the world’s oldest ballet companies, and the last time they visited Queensland was in 2009 for the first International Series held at QPAC. This is a rare chance for Queenslanders to see this prestigious company live on stage, accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
There will also be many opportunities for Queenslanders to connect with Paris Opera Ballet’s exclusive visit to our state, including public conversations, exhibitions, community participation projects and more.
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP
Queensland Minister for the Arts
Events like this are a huge boon for our tourism industry. We look forward to welcoming this prestigious ballet company to Queensland, which will attract high-value tourists from overseas and interstate.
Since 2009, the QPAC International Series has attracted the world’s finest companies to perform exclusively in Brisbane, including The Royal Ballet, Teatro alla Scala and last year’s Bolshoi Ballet, contributing nearly $33 million to our tourism economy.
Securing the Paris Opera Ballet will continue to build on this success and add to an epic lineup of cultural events for Queensland in 2020, including Richard Wagner’s operatic masterpiece The Ring.
The Honourable Kate Jones MP
Queensland Minister for Tourism Industry Development
This season has been a long time coming, but worth the wait. We will present an extensive program on and off the stage that showcases the remarkable depth of the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet and engages audiences in the very best of French culture.
Mr John Kotzas
Chief Executive of QPAC
I would like to sincerely thank John Kotzas, Chief Executive of QPAC; Leo Schofield and Ian McRae, QPAC International Series Guest Curators; Leeanne Enoch, Minister for the Arts; and Kate Jones, Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development, who have supported this season.
“In addition to the international dimension, the dancers and myself are thrilled to come to Australia to present a series showcasing the different faces of our company.
Ms Aurélie Dupont
Dance Director of Paris Opera Ballet
The QPAC International Series 2020 Repertoire
Opening Gala
Being held on 1 July 2020 at 7.30pm, the opening gala will be priced between $89.00 and $215.00 per seat dependent on seating reserves (be mindful that a higher reserve may indicate closer, central and/or better view of the stage). This evening will feature excerpts from five classical and contemporary dance works within the company’s repertoire. These include, as of writing:
- Three Préludes, choreographed by Ben Stevenson
- Variations, choreographed by Serge Lifar to music by Franz Schubert and costume design by Chanel
- Ab (intra), choreographed by Rafael Bonachela to music by Pёteris Vasks
- Tchaikovsky pas de deux, choreographed by George Balanchine to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Raymonda Grand Pas, choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev to music by Alexander Glazunov
Swan Lake
Created for Paris Opera Ballet in 1984 under his tenure as Director, the Company will stage Rudolf Nureyev’s Swan Lake from 4 to 12 July 2020, priced between $79.00 (C-Reserve) to $215 (Premium Reserve). Nureyev chose to give this signature Paris Opera Ballet work a Freudian dimension, illuminating Tchaikovsky’s iconic score through a sense of profound hopelessness.
Parisienne Soirée
Three celebrated works now considered synonymous with the Company will be presented in Parisienne Soirée. The mixed bill comprises Blake Works I, with music by James Blake and choreographed by William Forsythe; In the Night, a one act ballet by Jerome Robbins set to the nocturnes of Frédéric Chopin; and The Seasons’ Canon by Crystal Pite, featuring music by Max Richter. There appears to be fewer performances of this than Swan Lake, being performed from 16 to 19 July 2020. Ticket prices will range from $69.00 (C-Reserve) to $169.00 (Premium Reserve)
