Holberg Suite
Choreography: William Whitener
Music: Edvard Grieg
“Holberg Suite” was written in 1884 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ludvig Holberg-founder of Danish literature. Grieg called his composition From Holberg’s Time and chose to use musical forms that were contemporary with Holberg. The prelude to this charming suite is followed by three graceful classical dances including the Sarabande, Gavotte, and Musette. An emotional Air with strong Nordic coloring succeeds the dances. The suite concludes with a boisterous Rigaudon rather than the traditional dignified dances of later times. Grieg’s fusion of the old forms with the new Romantic vein of musical writing could be regarded as a forerunner to the neoclassical movement.
World Premiere: October 8, 1998, Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Theatre, Kansas City, Missouri