music

37th Annual The Nutcracker

December 7, 2018 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Lincoln Center Mainstage

Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7pm

Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 2pm and at 7pm

Sunday, December 9 at 1pm and at 6pm

Canyon Concert Ballet presents their 37th annual production of The Nutcracker ballet. With a dazzling score by Tchaikovsky performed by the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, this is a rare chance to see a classical ballet accompanied by a live, full orchestra in Fort Collins. This iconic holiday story is sure to please audiences of all ages with mystery, battles, and beautiful ballerinas in sparkling tutus.

Tickets are on sale at: https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-37th-annual

Bundle with The Little Mermaid and save! https://www.lctix.com/ccb-season-package

About The Nutcracker

“The Nutcracker” follows a young girl, Clara, through her adventures on Christmas Eve during a party visited by her mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer. Life size dolls and toy soldiers create an evening that grows even more fantastical as she falls asleep and witnesses toy soldiers battling mice and rats. A journey through the Land of Snow leads her to a world led by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, and filled with dancing candies and sweets performing for her and her soldier prince.

Birthday Parties at Canyon Concert Ballet!

October 23, 2018 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Celebrate your birthday with us!

Choose from the following packages:

Dance Birthday Party

This includes:

Studio rental for dancing and games for one hour.
30 minutes for food and drink in our Green Room.
Dance Instructor leading dances and games.
Clean up.

Cost: $75 for up to 10 little guests. $4 per extra child.

Dance Birthday Party Deluxe

This includes:

Studio rental for dancing and games for one hour.
30 minutes for food and drink in our Green Room.
Dance instructor leading dances and games.
Special guest appearance by a ballerina and 2 minute performance and photos with the ballerina.
Clean up.

Cost: $100 for up to 12 little guests. $4 per extra child.

For more information and reservation contact us by calling at 970-472-4156 or emailing us at info@ccballet.org

Canyon Concert Ballet Presents: 37th Annual The Nutcracker

October 22, 2018 by Canyon Concert Ballet

The Nutcracker follows a young girl, Clara, through her adventures on Christmas Eve during a party visited by her mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer. Life size dolls and toy soldiers create an evening that grows even more fantastical as she falls asleep and witnesses toy soldiers battling mice and rats. A journey through the Land of Snow leads her to a world led by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, and filled with dancing candies and sweets performing for her and her soldier prince.

“We are so excited to present The Nutcracker once again for the Northern Colorado community”, says executive director, Jenna Riedi, “And in addition to our usual fabulous weekend of performances, we are including two additional opportunities to enjoy and celebrate this amazing holiday tradition: an abbreviated Nutcracker for those looking for a shorter experience, and a Nutcracker Tea!”

Canyon Concert Ballet Presents: 37^th Annual The Nutcracker

Lincoln Center Main Stage

Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7pm
Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 2pm and at 7pm
Sunday, December 9 at 1pm and at 6pm

Tickets: $28 – $35

Tickets are on sale at: https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-37th-annual

Bundle with The Little Mermaid and save! https://www.lctix.com/ccb-season-package

In additional to the full production, Canyon Concert Ballet has added two exciting new opportunities around this fabulous holiday tradition:

Educational The Nutcracker Matinees

Lincoln Center Main Stage

Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11am and at 2pm

Tickets: $15 – $20

Experience The Nutcracker in one hour in these condensed matinee shows for the young and young at heart! These performances are perfect for young families, those who have never experienced a ballet production before, and anyone who would enjoy a shorter show that still tells the beautiful story of Clara and her Nutcracker! Please note, these shows will not feature the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are on sale at: https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-educational-matinee

Canyon Concert Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker Tea

Lincoln Center Columbine Room

Saturday, December 8 from 12:30-1:30pm

Tickets: $20 – $25

Enjoy an afternoon High Tea with music, photos with Nutcracker dancers, prize drawings, and of course and assortment of pastries, fruit, cakes, and wonderful teas provided by Happy Lucky’s Teahouse. Guests are encouraged to dress up and bring their favorite doll to join them. Bundle with The Nutcracker performance at 2pm for a discount!

Tickets are on sale at: https://www.lctix.com/nutcracker-tea

Bundle with The Nutcracker Ballet and save: https://tickets.lctix.com/BundlePurchase_Qty.asp?BundleID=71

Ballet & Beer: Collaboration with Larimer Chorale

October 7, 2018 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Singers from Larimer Chorale and pianist Alice Crawford will be performing the “Court of Love” from Carmina Burana at our Second Annual Ballet & Beer production on Thursday, October 11. We are so honored to partner with them! We sat down with Larimer Chorale Artistic Director, Michael Todd Krueger, to learn more about Carmina Burana, why it is a must experience, and some fun tidbits about him!

You have directed the Larimer Chorale in “Carmina Burana” quite a few times over the years. What makes Carmina a regular part of your repertoire?

Audiences love the energized, pulsating rhythms of the piece. Many of the movements slowly build to raucous conclusions and the audience is caught up in that inertia! It’s so exciting!

What does it feel like to stand in front of your 120 person chorus while you are directing Carmina?

It’s an amazing feeling … the power of all of those voices … each unique and wonderful in their own way. It’s one of the best jobs anyone could have!

What is your favorite section of Carmina – if you had to choose?

It’s hard to choose. Probably, No. 10 – Were diu werlt alle min: “If all the world were mine from the sea to the Rhine, I would do without it if the Queen of England would lie in my arms. Hey!” It’s so incredibly joyful and serves as the finale to Part I … I love it.

Aside from Carmina, what is your favorite piece to direct?

I have a real fondness for Brahms so I would answer Brahms Requiem.

What is your favorite restaurant in Fort Collins?

Coopersmith’s. I love their beer and their pub food AND their desserts! For a more traditional restaurant, I really like Blue Agave.

More about Michael Todd Krueger:

After a distinguished career teaching at the college and university levels, Michael Todd Krueger has dedicated himself to the cause of the adult, avocational singer. He currently serves as conductor and artistic director of the Larimer Chorale, music director of Voices West (formerly Littleton Chorale) and as minister of music at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Arvada. Through his work with these choruses, he is known for his healthy, inspiring and unique approach to singing for adults

Dr. Krueger earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Luther College and the Master of Music degree in trumpet performance and jazz studies from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley (UNC). He subsequently earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting and vocal studies from the University of Illinois. He has served on the music faculties of Ithaca College, Morningside College, Millikin University, and the University of Wyoming.

Dr. Krueger is a former resident member of the Grammy Award-winning Robert Shaw Festival Singers. He has also performed with the Grammy-nominated UNC Axidentals Vocal Jazz Sextet directed by the legendary jazz educator, Gene Aitken. He has conducted all-state, honor choir, and choral festival performances for singers of all ages throughout North and South America and Europe and has led numerous concert tours to the many cultural centers of Europe.

Ballet & Beer Inspirations: French Ballet

October 2, 2018 by Canyon Concert Ballet

The history of the development of ballet as a French court dance form is well known. What may be a lesser known is the fact that this history is completely inter-meshed with the history of the expected behavior of the king’s courtiers, whose everyday lives where regulated in the most extreme ways. The grip of these imposed rituals was unyielding — from clothing, to language, to food, to where one should sit or stand. One courtier once quipped, “The austerities of a convent are nothing compared the the austerities of etiquette to which the King’s courtiers are subjected.” It is during this time period – the 17th century particularly – that we see the use of two French words come into popularity: comportement and étiquette. Together they paint a picture of the historical beginnings of ballet as prescribed personal bearing, carriage, and behavior. During the reign of King Louis XIV, behaving wrongly was at the peril of one’s life!

It is precisely because of this imposed etiquette that classical ballet is the graceful, pristine, and codified art form it is today. However, this aspect of its development is only part of the story. As soon as ballet moved away from the strictures of the court and into the theaters of Paris, dance masters and choreographers saw the potential of ballet to do more than entertain audiences with its scrolling, court dance floor patterns and light footwork. They knew they could use the form to tell stories. By the mid-1700s French ballet master Jean Georges Noverre, for example, sought to make ballets that used expressive, dramatic movement that would reveal the relationships between characters and convey a narrative. So while classical ballet narratives are largely dominated by sylphs, princesses, sorcerers, and the nobility, they are also about peasants and the working class, and express the full range of human emotion, including struggle, loss, joy, failure, success, family, uncertainty, and laughter.

In Canyon Concert Ballet’s 2nd Annual Ballet & Beer, artistic director Alicia Laumann, is using the program to showcase some of these more human, less lofty, and hopefully funny scenarios often found in ballet. Don Quixote (the Tavern Scene) for instance, tells the story of Basilio, the town barber, and his working class girlfriend, Kitri, who must join forces with their friends to trick Kitri’s dad into letting them get married. Also in the program, the danced poetic excerpts from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana (sung by members of the Larimer Chorale), depict the earthy pleasures of nature, love, and lust. The Lyric will host this surprising and curated event. With only 2 shows, you won’t want to miss this night out on the town! Tickets are available on the Lyric’s website.

Article by Alicia Laumann