To celebrate a decade of QPAC International Series performances, Queensland will exclusively welcome back the world-famous dance company that kicked the Series off in 2009, the Paris Opera Ballet.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said it was fantastic to have the iconic company back in Queensland for exclusive performances from 1 to 19 July 2020.
“The Paris Opera Ballet has visited Queensland only once before in 2009, when it launched the first ever QPAC International Series,” Minister Enoch said.
“The QPAC International Series has presented some of the world’s leading performing arts companies over the last ten years, and it’s great that we can celebrate this success with the company that was there at the beginning.”
The Paris Opera Ballet will present an Opening Gala, ahead of Rudolf Nureyev’s signature Swan Lake and a mixed bill of contemporary works in Parisienne Soirée.
“This is a rare chance for Queenslanders to see this prestigious company live on stage, accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra,” Minister Enoch said.
“They will also be able to connect with Paris Opera Ballet’s exclusive visit to our state, through a range of activities including public conversations, exhibitions, community participation projects and more.”
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said welcoming back one of the world’s most historically renowned ballet companies for an exclusive season in Brisbane would pump $5 million into Queensland’s economy.
“Events like this are a huge boon for our tourism industry,” she said.
“We look forward to welcoming this prestigious ballet company to Queensland, which will attract high-value tourists from overseas and interstate,” Ms Jones said.
“Since 2009, the QPAC International Series has attracted the world’s finest companies to perform exclusively in Brisbane, including the Royal Ballet, Teatro alla Scala and last year’s Bolshoi Ballet, contributing nearly $33 million to our tourism economy.
“Securing the Paris Opera Ballet through will continue to build on this success and add to an epic line-up of cultural events for Queensland in 2020, including Richard Wagner’s operatic masterpiece ‘The Ring’.
“Attracting this level of international talent exclusively to Queensland cements our state’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination. “Over the last five years we’ve more than doubled the value of Queensland’s event’s calendar. It continues to grow and next year will generate $880 million for our state.”
Paris Opera Ballet is the world’s first-ever national ballet company and is considered to be the birthplace of classical dance.
QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said it had been 10 years since Paris Opera Ballet appeared at the inaugural QPAC International Series in 2009.
“This season has been a long time coming, but worth the wait. We will present an extensive program on and off the stage that showcases the remarkable depth of the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet and engages audiences in the very best of French culture,” Mr Kotzas said.
“The 2020 QPAC International Series will also include a program of events curated in collaboration with Paris Opera Ballet to expand the audience’s experience with the company and the productions it will present.”
