SUMMER GALA - METROPOLITAN CLASSICAL BALLET
Bass Performance Hall
Saturday, June 21st, 8:00 PM, 2008

Romeo and Juliet Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography by Paul Mejia

Great Classical Divertissements Staged by Alexander Vetrov with International guest artists

The Summer Gala will open with Romeo and Juliet. A fantasy overture composed by Tchaikovsky in 1869, it was one of three compositions inspired by Shakespeare. Paul Mejia became intrigued by all three of the overtures because of the musical impression of each story as a whole, in terms of their emotional and psychological impact, and challenged himself as a choreographer to bring them to life. Romeo and Juliet premiered in Guatemala in 1977. It was later performed by legendary ballerina Suzanne Farrell in New York City and has since been performed throughout Europe and the United States to great public and critical acclaim.

The evening will conclude with a selection of divertissements from the Classics, which will offer great bravura dancing that will showcase the strong artistic personalities of the Company dancers and guests.