Announcements

Wild Wild West featuring Rodeo

4/24/2012

A Dazzling Collaboration between the Richmond Ballet and the Richmond Symphony!

This western-themed program, or Wild Wild West as we’ve called it, is a unique artistic collaboration combining well-known and much-loved ballet and symphony repertoire. It’s a not-to-be-missed tour-de-force experience never presented here before…it promises to be a rousing, adventurous good time with plenty of fast-paced dance and music.

Perhaps the most notable piece on the program is Rodeo, composed by Aaron Copland and choreographed by Agnes De Mille. Many will recognize the theme as the background music for the “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” advertising campaign and from The Simpsons episode “The Seemingly Never-Ending Story” (2006).

“Rodeo is a great masterpiece of time and place, of motion and music and of a love for the spirit of the American West,” reflects Richmond Symphony Music Director Steven Smith.

Richmond Ballet Artistic Director Stoner Winslett writes about Rodeo’s choreographer, “In addition to admiring [Agnes de Mille’s] choreography…her thinking has influenced me, and therefore the Richmond Ballet, greatly over the years.”

Other favorites on the program include:

• “Pops” Hoe-Down (music by Richard Hayman, choreography by Tara Penick and Cat Studdard)
• Overture to The Cowboys (music by John Williams)
• Prairie Morning from “Western Suite in Five Movements” (music by Elie Siegmeister)
• Runaway Horses (music by Philip Glass from Mishima, choreography by Chris Burnside)
• Finale from “Overture to Guillaume Tell” (music by Gioachino Rossini)
• Wolf’s Fiddle (music by Otto B. Goodenough)
• Suite from The Magnificent Seven (music by Elmer Bernstein)
• Sunrise from “Grand Canyon Suite” (music by Ferde Grofe)

The Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Ballet will present Wild Wild West featuring Rodeo on Friday, April 27 at 8pm and Saturday, April 28 at 2pm and 8pm at Richmond CenterStage. Tickets start at $18! Student tickets are $8 with additional discounts available for seniors and groups.

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