The novel tells the story of the beautiful Callirhoe with whom Chaereas has fallen deeply in love. This doesn’t go over too well with others who had their eyes on her so they conspire to fill Chaereas with doubt about her fidelity to him. An abusive encounter with Chaereas leads to what many presume to be her death, but in reality was just a coma. Other suitors pursue her even though her death did not end her marriage. Like many women of that time, she was granted no particular power over her own destiny. But she had one thing that still holds power over people today, beauty combined with brains.

Of Love and Rage was choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. He’s a Russian born dancer-turned-choreographer who has worked with the Bolshoi Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet and multiple other companies.

With Of Love and Rage he has choreographed his 17th ballet for American Ballet Theatre. He says in the press release for this world premiere that, “I am fascinated by the topic of forgiveness. This is a story about how anger and jealousy tear two people apart – two people who are madly in love. Forgiveness is the only way they can reunite, and forgiveness requires strength.”

Ratmansky has selected the music of Aram Khachaturian, as arranged by Philip Feeney, for the ballet. That music will be played live at these performances by the Pacific Symphony.

The announced casting for Of Love and Rage is as follows:

Thursday, March 5th and the matinee on Saturday, March 7th:

Callirhoe – Catherine Hurlin
Chaereas – Aran Bell
Dionysius – James Whiteside
Mithridates – Cory Stearns
King of Babylon – Roman Zhurbin
Queen of Babylon – Devon Teuscher

Friday, March 6th and Sunday, March 8th

Callirhoe – Christine Shevchenko
Chaereas – Thomas Forster
Dionysius – Blaine Hoven
Mithridates – Alexandre Hammoudi
King of Babylon – Keith Roberts
Queen of Babylon – Katherine Williams

Saturday, March 7th evening performance:

Callirhoe – Hee Seo
Chaereas – Calvin Royal III
Dionysius – Joo Won Ahn
Mithridates – Cory Stearns
King of Babylon – Roman Zhurbin
Queen of Babylon – Devon Teuscher

Of Love and Rage will have its New York Premiere June 2nd – June 6th during the company’s 2020 Metropolitan Opera House season.

The ballet runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

For tickets go here.

Photo: Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell in Of Love and Rage (Photo by Erin Baiano/Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre)

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