Issue link: http://floodesign.uberflip.com/i/727458
RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY (UK) WITH THE Shanghai Quartet AND Jason Ridgway, PIANO CHOREOGRAPHER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Richard Alston ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER Martin Lawrance American Premiere STRONGHOLD CHOREOGRAPHY Martin Lawrance MUSIC Julia Wolfe American Premiere MAZUR CHOREOGRAPHY Richard Alston MUSIC Frédéric Chopin PERFORMED BY Jason Ridgway, PIANO World Premiere CHACONY CHOREOGRAPHY Richard Alston MUSIC Benjamin Britten AND Henry Purcell PERFORMED BY THE Shanghai Quartet Purcell Chacony commissioned by Aldeburgh Music and DanceEast for Britten Dances at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh. Britten Chacony commissioned by Peak Performances @ Montclair State University. American Premiere AN ITALIAN IN MADRID CHOREOGRAPHY Richard Alston MUSIC Domenico Scarlatti PERFORMED BY Jason Ridgway, PIANO An Italian in Madrid was commissioned by Sadler's Wells with production support from The Point Eastleigh. DATES February 2 & 3 @ 7:30 p.m. February 4 @ 8:00 p.m. February 5 @ 3:00 p.m. RUNNING TIME 125 minutes, including two intermissions Richard Alston Photo: Hugo Glendinning R ichard Alston, considered one of the most musical choreographers working today, makes a dazzling return to Peak Performances with new dances set to glorious music from four centuries. His An Italian in Madrid, dubbed "a multifaceted choreographic jewel" at its London premiere, features a romantic story set to Scarlatti's sonatas. In Mazur Alston explores the "melodic beauty and exquisite ache" of Chopin's mazurkas. RADC associate choreographer Martin Lawrance makes his New York–area choreographic debut with Stronghold, set to Julia Wolfe's driving piece for eight double basses. The pièce de résistance is Chacony, a brand new Alston work set to the music of Purcell and Britten. According to Alston, "Purcell's marvellously vigorous Chacony is rich and warm, ceremoniously swaying through its complex variations. Britten's own Chacony, a loving tribute to Purcell, treads a darker ground, full of shadows and anguish, but through the darkness there emerges triumphant resolution—bold repeated chords in the major key asserting the resilience of the humanity." —The Guardian (UK) Sneak Peek Thursday, February 2 @ 6:00 p.m. Join us for good conversation and good food as artists, writers, and thinkers offer insight and a behind-the-scenes peek into Richard Alston Dance Company's performance. Guest to be announced. Free and open to the public. Engage! www.peakperfs.org 29