Christopher Wheeldon is one of the most celebrated figures in contemporary ballet. He has created works for leading companies such as New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera and The Australian Ballet. The scope and originality of his work has won him an unrivaled international reputation, with several of his works acclaimed as modern masterpieces.

In 2007 Wheeldon caused a sensation by announcing the foundation of Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, a new ensemble fostering collaboration among choreographers, dancers, visual artists, designers and composers. With sell-out seasons in Vail, Colorado, Sadler’s Wells, London and New York City Center, Morphoses has quickly established itself as a major creative force in the dance world.

For its Sydney Festival season Morphoses presents two acclaimed works from Christopher Wheeldon: Commedia, his latest piece, a work for nine dancers set to Igor Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite which recently premiered in New York and London, and the profoundly beautiful Fools’ Paradise, both accompanied by a chamber orchestra. These will be joined by William Forsythe’s Slingerland Pas de Deux, tautly engineered to Gavin Bryars’ music for string quartet.*

Wheeldon has assembled an outstanding international troupe of 15 dancers from around the world, including Silja Schandorff, a principal of the Royal Danish Ballet, Australian Damian Smith, San Francisco Ballet principal, and The Australian Ballet principals Lucinda Dunn and Robert Curran.

MORPHOSES PROGRAM

COMMEDIA
Music Igor Stravinsky
Choreography Christopher Wheeldon
Costumes Isabel Toledo Set Design Ruben Toledo Costume Supervisor Angela Kostritzky
Accompanied by full Chamber Orchestra

SLINGERLAND PAS DE DEUX
Music Gavin Bryars
Choreography William Forsythe
Costumes William Forsythe Lighting William Forsythe
Accompanied by String Quartet

DISTANT CRIES
Music Tomaso Albinoni
Choreography Edwaard Liang
Costumes Marc Zappone Lighting Edwaard Liang
Accompanied by Chamber Orchestra

FOOLS' PARADISE
Music Joby Talbot
Choreography Christopher Wheeldon
Costume Narciso Rodriguez Lighting Penny Jacobus
Accompanied by full Chamber Orchestra

DANCERS
Aesha Ash, Céline Cassone, Andrew Crawford, Robert Curran, Matthew Dibble, Lucinda Dunn, Rory Hohenstein, Jonathan Jordan, Edwaard Liang, Silja Schandorff, Damian Smith, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Leanne Stojmenov, Matt Trent, Stephanie Williams.

ORCHESTRA
Sydney Festival Chamber Orchestra
By arrangement with String Source, Leah Zweck-Bain & Andrew Bain.
Conductor: Paul Kildea
Concert Master: Kirsty Hilton

Commedia:
Violin 1
Kirsty Hilton - Concertmaster
Emily Long
Joanne Toouli
Thomas Dethlefs

Violin 2
Emma West
Sally Cooper
Myee Clohessy
Thomas Dundas

Viola
Anne-Louise Commerford
Daniel Williams
James Eccles

Cello
Emma-Jane Murphy
Matthew Hoy
Charlotte Roberts

Double Bass
Andrew Meisel (Soloist)
Helen Cosgrove

Trumpet
Paul Goodchild

Trombone
Nigel Crocker

French Horn
Andrew Bain
Lisa Wynne-Allen

Flute
Bridget Bolliger
Kate Lawson

Oboe
David Papp
Stephanie Pitt

Bassoons
Andrew Barnes
Tony Grim

Piano/Harpsichord
Kate Golla

Harp
Jayne Hockley

Slingerland Pas De Deux:
Violin 1
Kirsty Hilton
Violin 2
Emma West

Viola
Anne-Louise Commerford

Cello
Emma-Jane Murphy

Distant Cries:
Oboe Soloist
David Papp

Violin 1
Kirsty Hilton
Emily Long
Joanne Toouli
Thomas Dethlefs

Violin 2
Emma West
Sally Cooper
Myee Clohessy
Thomas Dundas

Viola
Anne-Louise Commerford
Daniel Williams
James Eccles

Cello
Emma-Jane Murphy
Matthew Hoy
Charlotte Roberts

Double Bass
Andrew Meisel

Harpsichord
Kate Golla

Fools’ Paradise:
Violin 1
Kirsty Hilton
Emily Long
Joanne Toouli
Thomas Dethlefs

Violin 2
Emma West
Sally Cooper
Myee Clohessy
Thomas Dundas

Viola
Anne-Louise Commerford
Daniel Williams
James Eccles

Cello
Emma-Jane Murphy
Matthew Hoy
Charlotte Roberts

Double Bass
Andrew Meisel
Helen Cosgrove

Piano
Kate Golla

Harp
Jayne Hockley

www.stringsource.com.au

*Due to dancer availability, Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia (advertised in the Festival brochure) has been replaced with his latest work Commedia. 

EAT DRINK TALK ART
Fri 23 Jan - Christopher Wheeldon
Renowned choreographer Christopher Wheeldon (Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company) in conversation with arts writer and commentator Caroline Baum.
For more information on the Eat Drink Talk Art series, click here.

PHOTO: ERIN BAIANO

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“Christopher Wheeldon is one of the mot celebrated figures in contemporary ballet and a major creative force in the dance world. The scope and originality of his work has won him an unrivalled international reputation…” – Sydney Star Observer – 22 January

“…the best in UK dance…more.” – Guardian – 26 January

"Fresh, innovative, inventive: choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is revolutionising the world of ballet...more" - AXN

"Christopher Wheeldon makes ballets like David Linley makes furniture. Bespoke, top-of-the-range classics with a twist, and every one impeccably cut, grooved and jointed ... more" - Observer

"[Wheeldon] looks like a man determined to experiment with freedom." - The Guardian

"The first really interesting choreographer to turn up in American ballet after the death of George Balanchine, in 1983 ... more" - The New Yorker

“[Wheeldon is] the most in-demand choreographer in the world." - New York Times

"Highly energetic ... more" - The Star-Ledger

"Fresh, glorious and a reminder of why ballet-lovers are right to put so much faith in Wheeldon.” - The Daily Telegraph (UK)

“More than any of his contemporaries, Wheeldon, 35, has a gift for marking his ballets with kinetic signposts that capture a feeling deep within his chosen score ...more” - LA Times

"He [Wheeldon] would rather be known as an agent of change, bringing energy, sexiness and youthfulness to ballet, than be crowned as a saviour of the choreographic art...more" - SMH

“The scope and originality of his [Wheeldon's] work has won him an unrivaled international reputation, with several of his works acclaimed as modern masterpieces.” - Live Guide

"Christopher Wheeldon, one of the world's most in-demand choreographers, is reshaping the classical tradition... more" - The Australian

“THE lone summer highlight is Christopher Wheeldon's company Morphoses at the Sydney Festival in January...more” - The Australian

“With the lightest touch Mr. Wheeldon evokes the pathos and humor of the human condition as seen through the prism of the commedia dell’arte.”
The New York Times

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COMMENTS

Heather 10/12/08

This one looks like it will be amazing! Wheeldon is such an exciting choreographer!

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Sharee 07/01/09

Aesha Ash is my favorite dancer. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to see her perform here!

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Philip aka Oberon 20/01/09

Wheeldon & the MORPHOSES Company are a revelation...Aesha Ash, yes!! Go see them, whatever you do. The rep they are doing in Sydney is super - Edwaard Liang's DISTANT CRIES is pure poetry, and the Wheeldon ballets are witty (COMMEDIA) and wondrous (FOOLS PARADISE). Great music all round, too. Wish I was there!

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Susan Wheeldon 20/01/09

Hi Christopher We are planning a weekend in sydney this weekend and will be hopefully in your audience. As Wheeldons' are rare in Australia, it would be fabulous to meet you - if possible - sometime on the night. Mother is a bit frail but unfortunately cannot come to Sydney that night. Interestingly enough, on her side her neice is a choreographer with the Royal Ballet in London - Cally Feitingher. Susan

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stephanie 23/01/09

this seems totally awsome!

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Louise 23/01/09

My daughter took me to see the ballet last night, had a wonderful time. Its many years since I have been to a ballet, the last image of Fools Paradise will remain in my mind for a long time. Thank you.

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Panos Couros 24/01/09

I was really disappointed. For a very expensive ticket I had very bad seats and I felt the choreography was very bland - with the exception of the Forsythe piece. i think this show has been over hyped, because as contemporary dance goes I feel we have far more developed talent here in Australia. My friends and i, as well as everyone I spoke to that attended felt quite ripped off. Sydney Dance Company were doing much more interesting work 20 years ago. I hate being lied to by over stated marketing as i went on the strength of the blurb. Its a lot of money to waste, not to mention time.

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Celeste Fenichel 25/01/09

To all of you lucky people in Sydney--you have seven more opportunities to see Morphoses, Christopher Wheeldon's extraordinary company, performing at the Theatre Royal. If you have any interest in classical dance and how it is evolving for our times, Morphoses is a must. Even if you don't, go anyway, you will not be disappointed. It is a wonderful, uplifting night out.

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damian smith 25/01/09

hey auncle damian you were so good on stage the whole family is so proud of you

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