Ballet of Armenia at MPO tonight

THE MALAYSIAN Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) kicks off February with its Ballet Festival, also held in conjunction with its 20th anniversary celebration, at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), KLCC, starting tonight.

This will be the MPO’s third ballet festival after its successful presentations in 2013 and 2016.

This year will see MPO collaborating with the Ballet of Armenia, considered one of the best ballet troupes in the former Soviet Union.

Founded in 1933, the company has showcased its brilliant artistry in Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

The festival will feature dance soloists Arman Grigoryan, Razmik Marukyan, Ruben Muradyan and Syuzanna Pirumyan, with choreography by Armen Grigoryan. The MPO will be led by Karen Durgaryan.

The first set, showcasing tonight and tomorrow night at 8.30pm and Sunday afternoon at 3pm, will present excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s famed masterpieces, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.

The second set is scheduled on Feb 9 and Feb 10 at 8.30pm, and Feb 11 at 3pm, in which MPO will present a selection of excerpts from two sensational scores composed by Russian artist Aram Khachaturian – Gayané and Spartacus.

The music is suffused with exhilarating dance patterns and reminiscent of Armenian folk music.

There will also be a ballet masterclass with the soloists from the Ballet of Armenia, organised by the MPO’s Education & Outreach Programme (Encounter), this coming Monday at 6.30pm at DFP.

Tickets are priced at RM30. For more, visit the MPO website.