Organization

Admin

Choreography by

Choreographer (+2)

Kenneth MacMillan

Conductor

Robert Houssart

Costume designer

Costume designer (+3)

Jürgen Rose

Set designer

Lighting designer

Lighting designer (+1)

John B Read

Orchestra

The Orchester der Oper Zürich

Ballet

Ballet Zurich

Junior Ballett

Choreographer (+4)

Cathy Marston

Stage director

Jim French

Stage director (+3)

Patrick Kinmonth

Choreographer (+1)

Bryan Arias

Lighting designer (+2)

Lukas Marian

Costume designer (+1)

Bregje van Balen

Dramaturge

Michael Küster

Opernhaus

Opernhaus Zürich

Countertime
This three-part ballet evening delves into the world of the ‘50s and ‘60s with a wealth of interwoven references. Particularly in the USA, it was an era in which many of the social structures that had become entrenched in convention were broken down.
In Charles Webb’s 1963 novel The Graduate, a recent college graduate from a middle-class family gets involved with the attractive Mrs. Robinson, a married woman who belongs to his parents' circle of friends. But then he falls in love with her daughter, which leads to a scandal. The film adaptation of the book, starring Dustin Hoffman, has long held cult status. In her ballet version of Mrs. Robinson, which premiered in San Francisco in 2022, Cathy Marston tells the story from the perspective of the title character and makes an attempt at rehabilitation. Does Mrs. Robinson’s search for a change from her unfulfilling existence as a housewife end in alcohol, or is there a chance for a new life after all?
For the first time, the Ballett Zürich will dance a piece choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan. Born in Scotland, he was one of the leading choreographers of the 20th century. He directed the Royal Ballet London and the ballet of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In his 1966 Concerto, set to music from Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2, he infuses movements of concentrated simplicity with emotion. The pas de deux of the second movement in particular was celebrated as «a piece of pure choreographic poetry».
Leonard Bernstein made musical history with West Side Story, which premiered in 1957. Setting Shakespeare’ Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York was a stroke of genius. Instead of an old family quarrel, the explosive plot line now revolved around the rivalry between two youth gangs: the American-born Jets against the Sharks, who are immigrants from Puerto Rico. Bernstein later compiled highlights from the musical in the orchestral Symphonic Dances. Bryan Arias grew up in Puerto Rico and New York. His introduction to Bernstein’s music was via the Puerto Rican carnival, and together with the Ballett Zürich he creates a grand «fiesta de la vida y del amor».

Countertime. Concerto (MacMillan), Mrs. Robinson (Marston), Symphonic Dances (Arias)

Countertime. Concerto (MacMillan), Mrs. Robinson (Marston), Symphonic Dances (Arias)

Cast

Crew

Conductor
All programme

Stage director
Mrs Robinson

Set designer
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Set designer
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Set designer
Mrs Robinson

Costume designer
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Costume designer
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Costume designer
Mrs Robinson

Lighting designer
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Lighting designer
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Lighting designer
Mrs Robinson

Dramaturge
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Choreography by
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Choreography by
Mrs Robinson

Choreography by
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Instrumentation

Producer

Producer

Ensemble

Orchestra
All programme

Ballet or dance group
All programme

Co-Producer

Programme

About

Composer

Librettist

Description

Production synopsis

Countertime. Concerto (MacMillan), Mrs. Robinson (Marston), Symphonic Dances (Arias)

Cast

Crew

ConductorAll programme

Stage directorMrs Robinson

Set designerPiano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Set designerSymphonic Dances from West Side Story

Set designerMrs Robinson

Costume designerPiano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Costume designerSymphonic Dances from West Side Story

Costume designerMrs Robinson

Lighting designerPiano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Lighting designerSymphonic Dances from West Side Story

Lighting designerMrs Robinson

DramaturgeSymphonic Dances from West Side Story

Choreography byPiano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Choreography byMrs Robinson

Choreography bySymphonic Dances from West Side Story

Instrumentation

Producer

Producer

Ensemble

OrchestraAll programme

Ballet or dance groupAll programme

Co-Producer

Programme

About

Composer

Librettist

Description

Production synopsis

Conductor
All programme

Stage director
Mrs Robinson

Set designer
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Set designer
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Set designer
Mrs Robinson

Costume designer
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Costume designer
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Costume designer
Mrs Robinson

Lighting designer
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Lighting designer
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Lighting designer
Mrs Robinson

Dramaturge
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Choreography by
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Choreography by
Mrs Robinson

Choreography by
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Orchestra
All programme

Ballet or dance group
All programme