Nicolas Le Riche announces the Royal Swedish Opera Ballet Season 2018/19

Paving the way for pioneering alliances and unparalleled masterpieces

Nicolas Le Riche, the newly appointed Director of the Swedish Royal Ballet, today announced the 2018/19 season featuring classics and new works by international talents and dance icons such as Jiří Kylián, Serge Lifar and Angelin Preljocaj.

The season offers more than 60 performances, 4 of which with the Royal Orchestra, 4 new choreographers to the company, 9 ballets, 6 different programs and 3 creations.

Le Riche introduces a season that ultimately reflects his vision of classical ballet and contemporary dance as facets of the same art form; dance.

The season opens with Marcia Haydée's version of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. After that a unique evening composed of three international choreographers will unravel. First off is the renowned choreographer Angelin Preljocaj who has been commissioned to re-create the piece Annunciation. Followed by the promising newcomer Lukas Timulak who will set up an innovative visual number exclusively for the Royal Swedish Ballet. Finally, the legendary choreographer Jiří Kylián will bring life to Wings of Wax.

Le Riche said,

This epic triple bill will mark the first of many pioneering alliances and singular masterpieces to come.

The festive season offers an occasion for audiences to follow the adventures of Petter and Lotta in the popular Swedish version of Nutcracker by Pär Isberg.

Later on, Serge Lifar's Suite en blanc will appear alongside choreographer Jérémie Bélingard, who will produce a new piece for the company. This commissioned work, just like Lifar's ballet, will embrace the skills of the company's dancers and unfold during the creative process alongside the orchestra.

Wim Vandekeybus' mythological piece PUUR will return in April 2019. The piece will embody “the antagonistic theme of genocide with savage energy, gruesome violence and pulsating human flesh”.

The season will round off with a new full-length ballet created by choreographer Jiří Bubeníček. This new classic, narrative piece will draw inspiration from Kafka's dystopian themes and will involve the entire ensemble and orchestra.

The upcoming season will incorporate works of both established and promising choreographers for all audiences, both national and international. Le Riche stated his intention:

I believe in a repertoire that reflects the diversity in dance today besides solacing the unequivocal potential of the company. There has never been a time when dance has been so many-faceted and our company has a pivotal role to play in shaping today's dance. The Royal Swedish Ballet will not only celebrate its vigorous heritage but also new works and choreography.

During the entire season audiences will be able to get a glimpse behind the scenes and dancers at work in A day in a dancer's life and at numerous open rehearsals. The new programme will also include in depth meetings and talks with choreographers to give insight into the dynamic creative processes and distinctive techniques of each piece.

New season 2018/19

Sleeping Beauty Marcia Haydée / September 2018
A timeless elegant interpretation of a classic fairy tale.

Annonciation Angelin Preljocaj / New work Lukas Timulak / Wings of Wax Jiří Kylián / November 2018
Triple bill featuring new pieces.

The Nutcracker / Pär Isberg / December 2018
A personal interpretation of the classic tale – with a Swedish twist.

Suite en blanc Serge Lifar / New work Jérémie Bélingard / February 2019
Double bill spanning from Lifar's classical piece from 1943 to today by transforming into a cutting edge modern piece by Bélingard.

PUUR Wim Vandekeybus / April 2019
A relentless and universal story of genocide.

New work Jiří Bubeníček / May 2019
A new full-length ballet commissioned exclusively for the Royal Swedish Ballet.

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.