August 5, 2011

$15 Orchestra seating / FREE Mezzanine and Lawn seating courtesy of The Wortham Foundation and Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts (tickets not required for free seating)  

Gates: 7 p.m.

Preferred parking is available at all Ticketmaster locations for $5 plus service charge.

Houston Ballet presents a mix-repertory program including three very dynamic ballets by three of the top choreographers in the industry. Contemporary Masters represents an amazing collection in a single program.

Jorma Elo's "ONE/end/ONE" was created for Houston Ballet dancers by this celebrated Finnish choreographer. Elo has created pieces for American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet and New York City Ballet, and is currently the resident choreographer at Boston Ballet.

Jiri Kylian's "Falling Angels" is part of his black-and-white ballets featuring eight female dancers dressed in black leotards. The first movement is set to "Drumming" composed by Steve Reich and is based on ceremonial ritual music from Ghana in West Africa. The ballet showcases a combination of classical lines and sharp percussive movements.

Christopher Wheeldon's "Rush" is anchored around a dazzling pas de deux and features two principals, four soloists and a corps de ballet of 10 dancers. The work is set to Bohuslav Martinu's "Sinfonietta La Jolla" for chamber orchestra and piano. Pre-concert activities in the Fidelity Investments Plaza begin at 7 p.m.

This event is sponsored in part by CultureMap.

All shows, especially opening acts, are tentative and subject to change without notice.