World-Renowned Bolshoi Ballet Lights up U.S. Cinema Screens with 2016-17 Season Direct from Moscow
Fathom Events, BY Experience and Pathé Live Present Seven Performances from Russia’s Premier Ballet Company Beginning October 2016
DENVER – July 11, 2016 – The Bolshoi Ballet is back on the big screen in full splendor with the 2016-17 Bolshoi Ballet Cinema Series in U.S. cinemas nationwide. With seven breathtaking shows between October 2016 and April 2017, audiences will experience timeless classics, productions signature to the Bolshoi and an evening dedicated to modern choreography. With an impressive new season, the Bolshoi continues to prove that it is one of the world’s foremost ballet companies.
The new exclusive to cinema series begins in the lively Roaring 20s with The Golden Age on October 16, followed by Alexei Ratmanksy’s brilliant comedic smash The Bright Stream on November 6 and the beloved holiday classic The Nutcracker, choreographed by the legendary Yuri Grigorovich, on December 18. Kicking off 2017 is the resplendent fairytale The Sleeping Beauty on January 22, followed by prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova starring in Swan Lake on February 5, a triple bill featuring some of today’s masters of contemporary works: A Contemporary Evening on March 19 and concluding the season is the Bolshoi’s brand-new production based on the tragic Russian literary masterpiece, A Hero of Our Time on April 9.
Tickets for the “2016-17 Bolshoi Ballet Cinema Series” can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 400 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
“”It is absolutely wonderful that Bolshoi Ballet lovers in North America have the unique chance to see our productions through direct transmissions to cinemas, said Makhar Vaziev, Artistic Director of Bolshoi Ballet. “With our performances beamed live to the viewers in cinemas, audiences are able to experience a truly genuine feeling of ‘being in the moment’ with the Bolshoi dancers and inside our auditorium, and I am thrilled that our work and our artists will be seen thousands of miles from Moscow to North American cinemas for the 2016-17 Season.”
“The productions of the Bolshoi Ballet, an admired and lauded company globally, belong on the big screen,” said Julie Borchard-Young Co-President BY Experience. “We are thrilled to distribute the Bolshoi Ballet to hundreds of cinemas across North America, so ballet fans can experience their inspirational performances, up close on the big screen, right in their own communities.”
“Fathom is honored to present our third season of the Bolshoi Ballet in cinemas,” said Fathom Events Vice President of Programming Kymberli Frueh. “These world-class artists and choreographers never disappoint and continually deserve to be celebrated on the big screen.”
The Golden Age (2016) – Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 12:55 p.m. ET & PT / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT
In a seaside town where business and mafia are flourishing, The Golden Age cabaret is the favorite nightly haunt of dancers, bandits and young revelers, where the young fisherman Boris falls in love with Rita, a beautiful dancer, but also the friend of a local gangster. A satire of Europe during the Roaring 20s, The Golden Age makes for an original, colorful and dazzling show with its jazzy score and music-hall atmosphere. This ballet that can only be seen at the Bolshoi features mad rhythms, vigorous chase scenes and decadent cabaret numbers. With its passionate love story featuring beautiful duets between Boris and Rita, the Bolshoi dancers plunge into every stylized step and gesture magnificently.
New production: recorded live earlier that day on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow
The Bright Stream (2016) – Sunday, November, 6th, 2016 at 12:55 p.m. local time
During the harvest festival at a collective farm, a visiting dance troupe reunites a ballerina with her childhood friend Zina. In order to teach her unfaithful husband a lesson, Zina, the ballerina and the ballerina’s husband decide to swap roles for the evening. Alexei Ratmansky invokes the genius of Shostakovich’s score at the Bolshoi, creating a laugh-out-loud masterpiece with its bits of slapstick comedy, hilarious deceptions, false identities including Principal Dancer Ruslan Skvortsov dressed as a sylph and its many colorful characters! The Bolshoi bursts with vivid life and bright spirits in Ratmansky’s brilliantly choreographed smash.
Content was captured live on April 29, 2012
The Nutcracker (2016) – Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 12:55 p.m. local time
On Christmas Eve, Marie’s wooden nutcracker doll transforms into a beautiful prince who takes her on a magical journey. Before they leave, they must confront the Mouse King whose army is threatening Marie. Christmas would not be complete without the enchanting tale of young Marie and her Nutcracker prince! Danced by the Bolshoi’s principals, E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairytale staged by Russian ballet master Yuri Grigorovich will transport children and adults alike to a world of magic and wonder for the holiday season.
Content was captured live on December 21, 2014
The Sleeping Beauty (2017) – Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. ET & PT / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT
On her 16th birthday, a curse by the evil Carabosse causes the beautiful Princess Aurora to fall into a deep slumber for 100 years and only the kiss of a prince could awaken her. In this resplendent and magical classic, the Bolshoi dancers take us on a dream-like journey through this classic fairytale complete with jewel fairies, a magical kingdom, a youthful princess and a handsome prince in this purest style of classical ballet. The Bolshoi’s sumptuous staging with its luxurious sets and costumes gives life to Perrault’s fairytale unlike any other.
New production: recorded live earlier that day on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow
Swan Lake (2017) – Sunday, February 5, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. local time
At moonlight on the banks of a mysterious lake, Prince Siegfried meets the bewitched swan-woman Odette. Completely spellbound by her beauty, he swears his faithfulness to her. However, the Prince realizes too late that fate has another plan for him. A ballet of ultimate beauty and a score of unparalleled perfection born at the Bolshoi in 1877. In the dual role of white swan Odette and her rival black swan Odile, prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova exudes both vulnerability and cunning through superb technical mastery, alongside the powerful and emotional Siegfried, Denis Rodkin. Including breathtaking scenes with the Bolshoi’s corps de ballet, this is classical ballet at its finest.
Content was captured live on January 25, 2015
A Contemporary Evening (2017) – Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. ET & PT / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT / 9:55 a.m. PT
For one evening, the Bolshoi takes on a new challenge with audacity in Hans Van Manen’s Frank Bridge Variations, Sol León and Paul Lightfoot’s Short Time Together and Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons. This encounter between some of the best dancers in the world and masters of contemporary choreography results in an outstanding synthesis of bringing Van Manen’s formal beauty, León and Lightfoot’s intensity, and Ratmansky’s witty brilliance to a new level.
New production: recorded live earlier that day on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow
A Hero of Our Time (2017) – Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 12:55 p.m. ET & PT / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT
Pechorin, a young officer, embarks on a journey across the majestic mountains of the Caucasus, on a path set by his passionate encounters. Disillusioned and careless, he inflicts pain upon himself and the women around him – “Give me everything, it is still not enough.” The story, based on the larger-than-life hero Pechorin, is adapted from Mikhail Lermontov’s literary masterpiece in three separate stories recounting his heartbreaking betrayals. Is Pechorin a real hero? Or is he a man like any other? This brand new production by choreographer Yuri Possokhov is a tragic poetic journey that can only be seen at the Bolshoi.
New production: recorded live earlier that day on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow
-30-
For artwork/photos related to “2016-17 Bolshoi Ballet Cinema Series,” visit the Fathom Events press site.
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions such as the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live’s Hamlet, sporting events like FS1 Presents USA v Mexico, concerts with Roger Waters and One Direction, the TCM Presents classic film series and faith-based events such as The Drop Box and Four Blood Moons. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 885 locations and 1,348 screens in 181 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
About BY Experience
BY Experience kicked off the digital revolution of live events to movie theaters and other locations globally with David Bowie’s 2003 Reality album launch and since then, over 30 million tickets have been sold worldwide for cinema events BY Experience has distributed globally. Current cinema series credits: Distribution Representative, The Met: Live in HD (Worldwide; since 2006), the UK’s National Theatre Live (Ex-UK; since 2009), Bolshoi Ballet (North America; since 2014). TED 2016: Opening Night (Worldwide; February 2016), Women of Faith: An Amazing Joyful Journey (North America; February 2016). BY Experience has executive produced and/or distributed several diverse programs for cinema including numerous rock concerts, radio programs, fine art exhibits other special content events. In 2015, BY Experience began partnering with major motion picture studios on national theatrical re-releases of classic and in some cases fully restored films. In March 2015, the company distributed Universal Pictures’ 30th anniversary screenings of the seminal John Hughes film “The Breakfast Club.” Theatrical re- releases in 2015 also included “My Fair Lady” (50th), “Oklahoma!” (60th) and “Fantasia” (75th). BY Experience distributes to over 75 countries, to over 2,500 movie screens. www.byexperience.net.
About Pathé Live
Pathé Live, a fully owned subsidiary of the Gaumont Pathé group, is a market leader in the global distribution of event cinema, distributing a wide variety of content such as operas, ballets, rock and pop concerts, gaming tournaments, film premieres, fashion shows and art exhibitions to the Pathé Live Cinema Network. Through this network they have created impactful marketing campaigns reaching audiences across 60 territories. Pathe Live’s events in cinemas are distributed live in HD with 5.1 Dolby sound via satellite broadcast or recorded in 2K, 3D or 4K. Pathé Live introduced event cinema in France and their network of exhibition partners, from multiplex cinemas to independent cinemas and non-traditional cinema venues, provides full coverage across the country.
Pathé Live has released since its inception over 200 events in cinemas and it is notably the exclusive distribution partner of New York’s Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series in cinemas across France, Switzerland, Morocco and Lebanon. Furthermore, Pathé Live is the exclusive producer and the worldwide distributor of the Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema Series. These performances from the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, which are produced and financed by Pathé Live, are reaching over 1600 cinemas across 60 countries.
