Shall We Dance?

The past couple of years during the holidays, I've embedded several songs from the two of my favorite holiday music albums, Christmas Goes Baroque and its sequel, both arranged and conducted by Peter Breiner.

I just got news that the talented Mr. Breiner has written an opera, Slovenske Tance (Slovak Dances), which will be having its premiere on February 19.  The bad news is that it will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia, so unless you're in the neighborhood or traveling there for the winter, you're out of luck.  Though I'm sure the intention is that it will be performed elsewhere around the world.  For the premiere, though, it will be performed by the Ballet and Orchestra of the Slovak National Theatre.

​For those unable to make it, here's Mr. Breiner at the keyboard with some of his music, which sounds wonderful.  You'll have to imagine on your own the choreography by Natálie Horečná.

If you're interested in more about the ballet and this production --

Trinásť tancov orchestrálnej suity slovenského skladateľa a hudobníka žijúceho v New Yorku Petra Breinera má základ v slovenských ľudových piesňach – ako podobné suity iných skladateľov – Bartóka, Dvořáka, Brahmsa, Beethovena, Kodályho, Borodina atď. Metamorfované mnohými vrstvami Breinerovho hudobného jazyka obsahujú prvky džezu, folklóru a improvizácie. Hudba, inšpirovaná šestnástimi ľudovými piesňami najmä z východoslovenského regiónu, je plná farebných kontrastov, energie, nezvyčajných inštrumentácií a humoru.
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Inscenovanú verziu suity uvádzame v choreografii a réžii mladej slovenskej choreografky, ktorá sa už s úspechom etablovala v Európe – – Natálie Horečnej. Jej súčasná choreografia, ovplyvnená impulzmi zo sveta, obohatí slovenské tance o nový, moderný tanečný rozmer.

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Okay, thanks to the magic of Google Translate, here's what that above is saying.  You'll have to forgive the computer-generated syntax -- which also changed the choreographer's last name instead to "frantic".  However, I've tried to clean up as much as I could.  But I admit to being stumped with "metamorphic".  I've left that as is, but I'm going to guess it relates to Mr. Breiner's music having different styles --

Thirteen Dance Ensemble Orchestral Suite Slovak by composer and musician living in New York, Peter Breiner is based on Slovak folk songs - like suites from other composers - Bartok, Dvorak, Brahms, Beethoven, Kodaly, Borodina etc.  Metamorphic Breinerová has many layers of musical language containing elements of jazz, folk and improvisation. The music is inspired by sixteen folk songs mainly from Eastern Slovakia, it is full of contrasts of color, energy, humor and unusual instrumentation.

We present a staged version of the Suite, choreographed and directed by young Slovak choreographer who has already successfully established herself in Europe - - Natalie Horečnej. Her contemporary choreography, influenced by impulses from the world, enriches the new Slovak dance, in a modern dance dimension.