WESTFIELD – The Massachusetts-based American conductor Kevin Rhodes makes his Norwegian debut, when he conducts the Rudolf Nureyev production of Don Quixote at the Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Oslo on May 19 through June 10.
Don Quixote is set to the music of Ludwig Minkus, as arranged by John Lanchberry; Rudolf Nureyev choreographed the production after Marius Petipa. .Maestro Rhodes is no stranger to Don Quixote. He first conducted the new Dutch National Ballet production by Alexei Ratmansky, which was recorded live at the Amsterdam Music Theatre, and is available on DVD. Rhodes toured with this production to Beijing. He then conducted the Nureyev version of Don Quixote with the Vienna State Opera Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. The Vienna production was filmed for television, and has been aired extensively throughout the European Union. The Paris production, recorded live at the Bastille Opera House, was filmed for TV and cinema, and has been aired worldwide. Rhodes toured with that production to Tokyo.
Maestro Rhodes divides his time between his roles as Music Director for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts, and the Traverse Symphony in Michigan; he is celebrating his 16th season with both ensembles. He conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in Traverse on April 23, and in Springfield, MA on April 29. He has just renewed his contract in Michigan for another four seasons. He is also Principal Conductor for Boston’s Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra for his 7th season.
Last fall, Maestro Rhodes conducted an all-Balanchine program as part of the Paris Opera Ballet’s Homage to Violette Verdy. and the Nureyev production of Raymonda at the Vienna State Opera Ballet. A regular guest conductor at Europe’s top opera houses for over 20 years, this season he also returns to the Stuttgart Ballet to conduct Romeo and Juliet, on June 13 and 17, and the annual Nureyev Gala at the Vienna State Opera on June 28.
For details on the Norwegian Opera and Ballet production of Don Quixote:http://operaen.no/en/Performances/don-quixote/#sectionIntro
