Bolshoi Ballet's 2013 QPAC Season Announces Casting for LE CORSAIRE and THE BRIGHT STREAM, May 30-June 9

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) will welcome Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet in an exclusive season in Brisbane in 2013. It has been almost two decades since this world renowned ballet company has performed in Australia. The Bolshoi Ballet season comprises 12 performances in QPAC's Lyric Theatre from 30 May to 9 June.

The company will present two works never before seen in Australia, the spectacular 19th Century classic Le Corsaire and The Bright Stream, the first revival of this light-hearted ballet since 1935.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said the Bolshoi Ballet announcement follows on from the success of The Hamburg Season, the first in the QPAC International Series.

"We are delighted to launch the details of our next International Series event which we are sure will be received with much excitement by ballet lovers Australia wide," he said. "The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the oldest and largest ballet companies in the world. Requiring little introduction, the Bolshoi is known the world over for its colourful and bold style. We look forward to welcoming the company for an exclusive season in Brisbane. In addition to on stage performances, the Bolshoi season will feature a program of classes, talks and related activities curated by QPAC and industry experts to offer deeper insights into the company, the works and the genre of classical ballet."

The company brings with it two magnificent ballets, one representative of the 19th century imperial Russian classical tradition and the second a masterwork from the 20th century.

Le Corsaire is a swashbuckling, romantic tale of pirates, slaves and intrigue and is typical of the exotic and ambitious ballets created during the Tsarist era. It is also one of the most spectacular (and expensive!) productions ever staged by the Bolshoi and is a showcase of the company's talent.

The Bright Stream, features an original score written by one of the most celebrated composers of the 20^th century, Dmitri Shostakovich. A comedic rural romp that incorporates dazzling Cossack and other ethnic dances as well as a hilarious cross-dressing spoof of classical ballet, The Bright Stream will charm, delight and surprise Australian ballet lovers.

The Bolshoi Ballet was founded in 1776 and is based in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. The large company is synonymous with grandeur and boasts over two hundred dancers who are renowned for their brilliant physicality.

In October 2011 the Bolshoi Theatre reopened after a six year renovation project costing over eight hundred million dollars. When the curtain went up the audience saw a brilliant new company with a renewed energy and sensational young talent. It was as if with this glittering scarlet and gold theatre, the physical embodiment of Russia's cultural pride was born anew.

The Bolshoi Ballet season is the second in the QPAC International Series, a joint initiative by QPAC and Events Queensland. To waitlist go to qpac.com.au or phone 136 246. Tickets are now on sale.

Le Corsaire will open on Thursday, May 30 at 7.00pm. Regular Schedule: Friday 31 May 7.30pm; Saturday 1 June 1.30pm & 7.30pm; Sunday 2 June 3.00pm; Tuesday 4 June 7.30pm; and Wednesday 5 June 1.30pm & 7.30pm.

The Bright Stream is set to open on Friday 7 June at 7.30pm. Regular Schedule: Saturday 8 June 1.30pm & 7.30pm; Sunday 9 June 3.00pm.

For bookings and ticket prices, go to qpac.com.au or phone 136 246 N S L A.

Le Corsaire, a ballet in three acts, premiered on June 21, 2007. It will be presented at QPAC with two intervals. Running time: 3 hours 35 minutes. Libretto by Jules Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier edited by Marius Petipa. Choreography: Marius Petipa. Revival: Alexei Ratmansky, Yuri Burlaka. New Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky. Designer: Boris Kaminsky. Costume Designer: Elena Zaitseva. Music Director: Pavel Klinichev. Lighting Designer: Damir Ismagilov. Use is made in the production of music by Leo Delibes, Cesare Pugni, Pyotr von Oldenburg, Riccardo Drigo, Albert Zabel, Julius Gerber. Music dramaturgy conception - Yuri Burlaka. Score restored by Alexander Troitsky. The original score by Adolphe Adam/Leo Delibes for Le Corsaire has been made available by L'Opera national de Paris from the archives of La Bibliotheque nationale de France. The choreographic notation has been made available by the Harvard University Theatre Collection. Evgeny Ponomaryov's costume sketches (1899) used in the production have been made available by the St. Petersburg State Theatre Library. © 2000-2011 The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia.

Le Corsaire CAST LIST

The Bright Stream, a comic ballet in two acts, premiered on April 18, 2003. It will be presented at QPAC with one interval. Running time: 2 hours 5 minutes. Libretto by Adrian Piotrovsky and Fyodor Lopukhov. Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky. Designer: Boris Messerer. Music Director: Pavel Sorokin. Lighting Designer: Alexander Rubtsov. © 2000-