The Ranch

bernard

April 26th 2009 Idaho

Country meets classical

You hear the voice and it is unmistakably Patsy Cline, the deep-throated country diva who changed the tone of the genre in her day.

That voice will offer a rich tone for Ballet Idaho's dancers in "Sweet Dreams," a new ballet by Ballet Idaho artistic director Peter Anastos to be featured next weekend in the company's season-ending concert, "A Spring Collage of Classics."

When Anastos began thinking about this piece, he actually started with guitar concerti of Antonio Vivaldi, most known for his violin concerto "The Four Seasons." Then he decided to relate it to American guitar. That meant country and western - and for him that meant Patsy Cline.

"It's like they're talking to each other over 200 years," he said.

The piece is titled "Sweet Dreams," after one of Cline's biggest hits, which was released after her tragic death in a plane crash in 1963.

It is a series of duets that explore facets of romantic relationships. Using these seemingly disparate musical styles adds a tension and a timelessness to the piece, Anastos said.

He juxtaposes some of Cline's best-known - and some not-so-familiar - songs with Vivaldi's concerti that were originally composed for lute and mandolin. Now they are mostly played on guitar.

The result is seamless, he said, because of what connects them - melody, rhythm and "toe-tappin'," Anastos said.

"The Vivaldi concerti are actually catchy tunes. I can imagine people back in the 18th century listening to these and tapping their toes," he said.

The mix turned a somewhat typical ballet into something more, Anastos said.

"Adding Patsy Cline put it over the top. With her deep, rare, romantic voice she makes it sweet, fun and lively, everything a good ballet needs," he said.

The ballet is fun and playful at times, soft and dreamy at others. And expect a dose of humor, which is becoming Anastos' trademark.

This is the fourth and final concert for this Ballet Idaho, which is a reformed classical company that started in September 2008.

Most of what they've done this season is in the neo-classical style. The work in this concert leans more toward the contemporary side.

"This is the most contemporary work we've done so far," he said. For a new company of talented young classical dancers, it's a good challenge.

The rest of the program rounds out with ballet master Alex Ossadnik's staging of Igor Stravinsky's powerful 20th century masterpiece "Rite of Spring" and Anastos' elegant classical ballet to Maurice Ravel's jazz-inspired Piano Concerto in G Major.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/story/745168.html

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Bernard