The three-part ballet evening "Playlist" begins with "Serenade" by George Balanchine: When the dancers in floor-length white tulle dresses move in strict geometrical formations to Tchaikovsky’s "Serenade for Strings", this choreography from 1935 breathes the atmosphere of the ballet blanc of classical narrative ballet. The work broke new ground in its abstract neo-classical style, opening up fresh forms of expression.

This is followed by "Plot Point" by the Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, whose work from 2010 is being performed for the first time at the Semperoper. To Bernard Herrmann’s film music for "Psycho" (1960), complemented with a soundtrack by Owen Belton, she explores what narration in dance can look like today. And in a surprising way, she takes us full circle back to ballet blanc and Balanchine’s "Serenade". William Forsythe’s "Playlist" from 2019 forms the thrilling conclusion to this evening of dance. A worth successor to Balanchine in terms of innovative power and originality, the choreographer juxtaposes the physical vocabulary of (neo-)classical dance with an entire playlist of R&B, soul and jazz songs. With great humour and energy, he catapults the world of classical ballet headlong into the present day.

The world premiere of a new work by one of the most revered choreographers working today. Created especially for 12 male dancers of English National Ballet, this is his first creation for a UK ballet company in over 20 years. Playlist is set to neo-soul and house music.

"Plot Point"
The middle section of this mixed bill, which also gives its title to the series, is presented by Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite who is making her choreographic debut at the Semperoper with "Plot Point". Driven by the idea of the "plot point", Ms Pite now brings a contemporary ballet creation to the stage, "Plot Point" (2010). Here the choreographer is chiefly concerned with the narrative possibilities of music, its ability to portray a pictorial storyboard: through extreme movements that challenge the body to its utmost elasticity, Ms Pite contrasts single-colored, doll-like "types" with multi-layered "characters" whose aliveness is rendered visual through colorful costumes and rich dramatic diversity. The starting point for "Plot Point" is Bernard Herrmann’s film score for "Psycho" (1960), from which audiences certainly recall the "razor-sharp", squeaking string chords from the famous shower scene.

"Serenade"
The first part of the evening will be George Balanchine's symphonic ballet "Serenade" (1935), whose title is taken from its music by Peter I. Tchaikovsky, the four-movement Serenade for Strings in C major, op. 48. As a choreography for the students of the School of American Ballet, which Balanchine co-founded, and as his first ballet created in the USA, "Serenade" still represents a significant point in his oeuvre, whose fascination continues to this day. Although Mr Balanchine’s choreography is not a narrative work, it cannot be considered completely abstract, since it involves certain constellations of relationships and emotional tensions between the dancers. "Serenade" presents the ensemble in blue costumes with a matching set design and represents a homage to the "white ballets" of French-Russian Romanticism. This impression is also reinforced by the ballerinas in their long, light-colored tulle skirts and pointe shoes.