Grandstand production to use music by Cohen
Stampede performance
Alberta Ballet on Thursday announced a new creation with the music of Leonard Cohen for a performance at this year’s Calgary Stampede TransAlta Grandstand Show.
The Grandstand Show, called Together, will be hosted by Calgary recording artist Jann Arden and produced by Dave Pierce, Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Music Direction for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.
Alberta Ballet’s Leonard Cohen creation follows along the lines of the company’s signature series of portrait ballets in which Artistic Director Jean Grand-Maitre produces contemporary ballet to the music of popular singer-songwriters.
“My work on the portrait ballets has shown me that there is no shortage of Canadian musical talent that speaks to the soul of Canadians.
I’m looking forward to creating an homage to Leonard Cohen at the Grandstand Show. It’s an exciting opportunity for Alberta Ballet to share in the celebration of Canadian talent that Dave Pierce is producing,” says GrandMaitre.
Previous portrait ballets have featured k. d. lang ( Balletlujah), Sarah McLachlan ( Fumbling Towards Ecstasy), Joni Mitchell (The Fiddle and the Drum) and Elton John (Love Lies Bleeding). Alberta Ballet opens its Gordon Lightfoot ballet, Our Canada, in Calgary on May 4. The company’s 2017-18 season will premiere a portrait ballet featuring the music of The Tragically Hip.
Along with Alberta Ballet, the TransAlta Grandstand Show will feature performances from The Young Canadians, Calgary’s adult choir Revv52, Inuit throat singers Cailyn DeGrandpe and Samantha Kigutaq and more.
For tickets to Alberta Ballet’s 16/17 season finale, Our Canada featuring the music of Gordon Lightfoot, visit www.albertaballet50. com.