CLASSICAL SEASON
New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra highlight 2019 SPAC lineup
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced its 2019 classical season, welcoming home the New York City Ballet and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
SPAC calls the just-released season schedule a vibrant, eclectic 2019 line-up, marked by SPAC premieres of iconic works of the classical repertoire and new, innovative pieces by living composers and choreographers.
The season will kick off with New York City Ballet’s five- day residency from July 16 to 20.
It will feature four distinct programs including the story ballet Coppélia, which was premiered at SPAC, an evening dedicated to Balanchine and Tschaikovsky, and a program showcasing fourSPAC premieres by 21st century choreographers, highlighted by Kyle Abraham’s The Runaway, which fuses modern and classical technique and an eclectic soundtrack mixing composer Nico Muhly, singer James Blake, and hip-hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West.
The annual New York City Ballet Gala, on Saturday, July 20, will showcase George Balanchine’s Apollo, Christopher Wheeldon’s This Bitter Earth and a new piece by NYCB Resident Choreographer and Soloist Justin Peck.
“Our beloved resident company, New York City Ballet, will perform four distinct programs spanning the great, iconic ballets of Balanchine with the music of Tschaikovsky … to a new showcase of works by 21st century cho- reographers never before seen at SPAC … to the story ballet Coppélia, which was originally premiered at SPAC and will feature a cast of local children… and finally our ballet Gala celebrating Apollo and his muses,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in a press release. “Whether you are a Balanchine lover or enjoy adventurous new works, you will find something thrilling and exceptional during this season.”
Following the ballet company’s stay, The Philadelphia Orchestra will take the SPAC stage from July 31 to Aug. 17.
This three-week residency will be highlighted by 19 SPAC premieres ranging from classical masterpieces to innovative premieres, marking a record number of pieces that have never before been performed on SPAC’s stage.
Back by popular demand will be SPAC’s Cinema Series, meant to delight audiences of all ages as the orchestra accompanies, live to picture, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert;