Les Grands Ballets Canadiens presents

Kaguyahime, A Japanese Tale

Inspired by The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Kaguyahime invites you to explore the legends of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Kaguyahime, or Princess Kaguya, is the protagonist of a 10th-century Japanese folk tale that has inspired countless films, books, plays, cartoons, mangas and video games. It is also the title of a work by Japanese composer Maki Ishii, for which he asked Jiří Kylián to create a choreography in 1988. It was Kylián’s first full-scale narrative ballet – first performed by the Nederlands Dans Theater in 1988 and later re-staged by the Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris in 2010. Distilling the work to its essence, Kylián retained only the outlines of the plot. The moon princess’ exceptional beauty causes princes to line up at the door of the humble bamboo-cutter who took her in when she was a child. The ensuing rivalries soon turn to violence. Even the Emperor is determined to marry her. But Kaguyahime refuses them all and follows her soldier escorts back to her lunar world, a metaphor for the purity of spiritual essence that slips away from all those who attempt to grasp or fight for it.

Les Grands Ballets Pre-Show Talks
Beginning an hour before each performance, spectators are invited to pre-show talks. These exciting half-hour talks are a rare opportunity to gain insight on the work presented.  Each pre-show talk will be hosted by journalist Shelley Pomerance who will share anecdotes on the production’s creative process, inspiration, music and costumes. A great way to start the evening.

Purchase a ticket at the cost of $5 at Place des Arts ticket office counter. Admission is free for Les Grands Ballets subscribers. Please note that for individual ticket holders, both the performance ticket and the pre-show talk ticket will be required at the entrance.

For tickets and information: www.laplacedesarts.com 514-842-2112 or 1-866-842-2112

For more information on the 2015-2016 season, please visit: www.grandsballets.com

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