This Martha Graham Dance Company’s New York season celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founder’s greatest masterpiece, Clytemnestra, with a five night engagement at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. It is a classic tale of love, betrayal and murder at the time of the Trojan War, re-imagined by America’s greatest choreographer through the eyes of Agamemnon’s queen, the all-powerful Clytemnestra.
Molon Lave Vineyards, a Virginia based winery, will be donating all of the wine to be served at the Martha Graham Gala. Philip Tsiaras, an international artist of Greek origin, created the special label and he recently hosted a wine reception to unveil his design in his downtown Manhattan home which was attended by people in the art, food and dance world.
When Clytemnestra premiered in 1958 it became an instant hit, so it’s no surprise that its 2008 revival has followed in its footsteps. It was the first contemporary choreodrama in two acts, plus a prologue and an epilogue and it has been recognized as a true 21st century masterpiece. The Martha Graham Dance Company is America’s oldest (established in 1926) and most celebrated and its founder is regarded as one of the most important pioneers of modern dance. As LaRue Allen, the Company’s Executive Director, said in an interview with NEO magazine, “the Greek component in the new production comes naturally, since Martha Graham was inspired for her work from the Hellenic antiquity.”
Performances of Clytemnestra will be on May 12th, 15th and 16th and performances of “Lamentation Variations,” “Sketches from Chronicle,” “Errand into the Maze” and “Maple Leaf Rag” will be on May 13th and 16th. Tickets range from $35 to $65 and are available at 212.352.3101 or www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu. For gala evening reservations on May 14th, phone number is 212-319-7566.
Demetrios Rhompotis contributed to this story.
According to Vassilis Grigoropoulos, Executive Director of ATTRACT Productions (Greece) that has joined Paul Szilard Productions in producing the play, “it will be the third step of a world tour that premiered in Athens last October, came to Washington in December and now to New York.” The Company will be performing two programs in addition to a special gala repertory on May 14th, honoring world-renowned impresario Paul Szilard. Paula Zahn will serve as honorary chair and Donna Hanover is the gala evening’s emcee.
