Timeless themes of redemption and unrequited love underscore an evening of contrasting dream states. The extravagance of The Dream, adapted from A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, featuring Frederick Ashton's whimsical choreography meets the powerful realism of Prodigal Son which showcases Balanchine's most daring choreography.
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn, Sergei Prokofiev
The Dream with George Balanchine's Prodigal Son.
Frederick Ashton’s glorious take on Shakespeare’s timeless and hilarious comedy will dazzle Philadelphia audiences. The quarrelsome lovers Oberon and Titania, dancing fairies, a braying donkey, and Mendelssohn’s incandescent music make for a magical evening. This dream world is paired with the powerful realism of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, which showcases some of Balanchine’s most daring choreography, set to equally daring music by Prokofiev and astonishing sets by the great painter, Georges Rouault.