The national ballet of canada

releases cd of

the contract

 

April 28, 2003…Toronto, Ontario…The National Ballet of Canada today announced that it will release a CD of the music from James Kudelka’s ballet The Contract, composed by Michael Torke. The launch of the CD marks the first time that The National Ballet Orchestra has released a recording.  The Contract CD will be launched Wednesday, May 14 at 2 pm, at The Rosewater Supper Club.

 

Conducted by Music Director and Principal Conductor ORMSBY WILKINS, Michael Torke’s original score features soprano Jennie Such. Reviewing the opening night performance, The National Post wrote “Michael Torke’s commissioned score, was given a dazzling performance by the National Ballet Orchestra under conductor Ormsby Wilkins.” 

 

The Contract had its world premiere on May 4, 2002, as part of The National Ballet of Canada’s 50th anniversary season, and was James Kudelka’s first full length original narrative ballet. The libretto was written by ROBERT SIRMAN. The Ottawa Citizen wrote “A ballet that will stand for 50 years.”

 

The music of Michael Torke has been called "some of the most optimistic, joyful and thoroughly uplifting music to appear in recent years" (Gramophone). Torke has been hailed as "a master orchestrator whose shimmering timbral palette makes him the Ravel of his generation" (New York Times). Naxos has recently released a newly recorded orchestral CD of his works, including An American Abroad, and Rapture, Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra.

 

The CD will be available for purchase at The Ballet Boutique at The Hummingbird Centre while the ballet is in season.  The National Ballet of Canada’s Spring Season runs May 2nd to 15th with the world premiere of John Alleyne’s Tristan and Isolde and George Balanchine’s Jewels.

 

The Contract was made possible by the generous support of:

Sandra and Jim Pitblado*, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Walter Carsen, The Carolyn Sifton Foundation, Gretchen and Donald Ross*, Margaret and Jim Fleck*, The Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation, Colleen Carmichael, Gail Hutchison*, Phyllis and William Waters*, The Harbinger Foundation, Laidlaw Foundation, one anonymous donor.

 

*These individuals also generously supported the creation of the recording of the CD.

 

 

 

 

For more information, please contact:

Sally Szuster, Publicity Manager

sszuster@national.ballet.ca

Tel:  (416) 345-9686  ext. 302    Fax:  (416) 345-8323