The art of love: Celebrate your Valentine with ballet, opera and Aretha Franklin
Few things go together like romance and ballet. With a repertoire of passionate works, a night at the ballet seems like more than enough for a Valentine’s weekend date. Well, and dinner before or after the show.
The Lexington Ballet hasn’t stopped there though.
This weekend’s “Love Stories” performance is part of the troupe’s 50th Anniversary celebration, and for the momentous occasion, it will feature a noteworthy native Lexingtonian musician and a star of the ballet world.
Ben Sollee, who is known to many for his critically acclaimed albums and has a burgeoning career as a film composer, will debut two new works in the performance with support from his band Kentucky Native.
“We have incorporated community members with stories and voices blending into Ben’s soundtracking layered with his live performance, by the community for the community,” Lexington Ballet executive director Mia Isaac said.
In addition to Sollee, the program will include a performance and new work by Eric Trope, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who has worked with top dancers and dance companies around the country including the Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and New York City Ballet. Trope’s contributions to the show will also be world premieres.
“I am thrilled to bring this to the stage for Lexington Ballet and this community in my inaugural season,” Isaac said.
The Valentine’s weekend performance also features one of the timeless love stories of stage and page: “Romeo & Juliet” in the mid-20th century ballet adaptation with music by Sergei Prokofiev.
“Love Stories” will be presented at the Lexington Opera House, 401 West Short Street, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available at lexingtonoperahouse.com or by calling 859-233-3535.
Valentine’s night with soul
With actual Valentine’s Day plopped smack dab in the middle of the week, the celebration can be stretched well beyond the weekend. The Lexington Philharmonic is offering a Valentine’s night performance of “Feel the Love! The Voices of Soul,” spotlighting the music of Aretha Franklin. Discussing the season back in September, Philharmonic Music Director Mélisse Brunet mused that in presenting a Valentine’s concert, she wasn’t just programming for a date night.
“I really wanted to celebrate Valentine’s, but not just for couples,” she said. “Often, when you’re single, Valentine’s is going to be the night you don’t go out. But this is an event to have a good time together ... to come and enjoy good music together.
“I did this show already for another Valentine’s, and people were dancing in the aisles.”
The show is at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Lexington Opera House. That is a school night, and the Philharmonic says they expect the show to be around 90 minutes including an intermission. Visit lexphil.org or call 859-233-4226 for tickets.
For all you star-crossed lovers out there
The Leeds Center for the Arts, 37 North Main Street in Winchester, will bring Valentine’s revelry full circle, particularly if you are feeling a bit too Romeo & Juliet, at its Star-Crossed Lovers Ball at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17. The event features everything from music and other performances to a bourbon tasting and fine Clark County cuisine to romantic astrology readings, tarot card readings, and relationship advice — may be good to hold the advice until after you get those readings. To get complete information and tickets to the ball, visit leedscenter.org.
For opera lovers
After all that love, we end with a tale that kinda turns the whole concept on its head. The University of Kentucky Opera Theatre presents the classic Mozart opera “Don Giovani” about a notorious philanderer who goes through several women in this opera alone but ... well, let’s just say the full title of the show is translated as “The Rake Punished.” The title character ain’t so great, but the opera is still regarded as a masterpiece more than 230 years after its premiere. The UK Opera has already presented some notable productions of this show. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24, and 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Lexington Opera House. Visit lexingtonoperahouse.com or call 859-233-3535 for tickets.
