Inaugural Festival Features Principals, Soloists From Colorado Ballet And
Felberg Chamber Virtuosi Led By NMSO’s David Felberg
 
Albuquerque, NM - Tickets go one sale tomorrow, Friday, June 1, for the
inaugural Ballet Pro Musica Festival, to be held Tuesday through Sunday,
Ju1y 31-August 5, 2007 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The
Festival presents a new, unique experience in the performing arts: a
partnership of virtuoso musicians and virtuoso dancers from celebrated
national companies in a marriage of chamber music to classical dance.
 
      This is the first summer festival in America devoted exclusively to
this new category, Chamber Music Ballet, with dance and chamber music
masterpieces performed live. The inaugural Festival will feature principals
and soloists from the nationally recognized, Denver-based Colorado Ballet,
along with the Felberg Chamber Virtuosi led by New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
Associate Concertmaster and violinist David Felberg, presenting works
choreographed by Alex Ossadnik, Peter Anastos and Jessica Lang to the music
of Johann Strauss, Robert Schumann and Frederic Chopin. Performances are
Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, August 5 at 2 p.m.
 
     Also on the Festival schedule are:
 
·        Two master dance classes on Tuesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 2
with Ballet Pro Musica’s Principal Choreographer Peter Anastos (Advanced
Level) and Colorado Ballet’s Artistic Director Gil Boggs (Intermediate
Level);
 
·        A Patrons’ Premiere Night Patio Dinner and lecture preceding the
August 3rd opening performance
 
·        Two “Champagne Symposiums” (“Classical Composers and Dance” and
“Metropolitan Opera Ballerinas and Anthony Tudor”) on August 4 & 5, with
former UNM Theatre & Dance Dept. Chair Judith Bennahum serving as
educational advisor/moderator.
 
      Ballet Pro Musica’s General Director Henry Holth, who co-founded the
Festival with choreographers Ossadnik and Anastos, is a veteran, nationally
known ballet company executive. He says that he chose Albuquerque as the
organization and Festival’s permanent home after doing considerable
research. “Albuquerque has an arts-friendly population with a high
educational achievement level and a burgeoning regional economy. It’s a
perfect fit.”
 
      Holth has persuaded some well-known funding sources to support his
vision: Ballet Pro Musica Festival has received financial backing from the
New Mexico State Legislature, the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Gorham
Charitable Foundation and the Hancock Family Foundation - as well as private
individuals and businesses.
 
      Ticket prices for the three performances are $25, 37, 48, and $55. The
price of the Patrons’ Premiere Night Patio Dinner, $125 per person, includes
a performance ticket, dinner, lecture, and $50 tax-deductible donation. The
Saturday, August 2nd Champagne Symposium is $35 per person, while the
Sunday, August 3rd Symposium is $45 (the Symposiums include champagne, hors
d’oeuvres and panel discussion). Symposium-performance packages are also
available for $75 (Saturday) and $85 (Sunday). Tickets for the Master
Classes are $25 per person per event.
 
      Tickets for the performances and/or Champagne Symposia are available
through Ticketmaster, 505.883.7800, or www.balletpromusica.org. Those who
are interested in attending the Patrons’ Premiere Night Patio Dinner and/or
the Master Classes should call Ballet Pro Musica, 505.352.1281. For other
information, contact the National Hispanic Center Box Office, 505.724.4771.