A scene from the ballet Carmen Suite performed by HBSO dancers. Photo courtesy of HBSO

HCM CITY The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will stage contemporary and classical ballets choreographed by Vietnamese and international artists at the HCM City Opera House on November 14.

The show will open with an extended version of contemporary ballet Falling Angels choreographed by Nguyễn Phúc Hùng, a graduate in choreography from the Fontys Dance Academy in the Netherlands and general director in charge of HBSO's programmes.

The dance, which reveals the challenges faced by Việt Nam's LGBT community in today's society, received a warm welcome from audiences when it premiered last year.

The work will feature performances from dancers Đỗ Hoàng Khang Ninh and Sùng A Lùng.

Lùng, who won the Gold Medal at the 2016 National Young Choreographer Talent Competition, provided the concept for the dance.

“The original Falling Angels was too short to clarify the meaning and concept of problems of being homosexual. Therefore, the extended version premiering on November 14 will make the dance more transparent,” said Nguyễn Minh Tân, deputy head of the HBSO Performing Arts Department.

After the intermission will be a presentation of the classical ballet Carmen Suite, created in 1967 by Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso to music by Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin.

The ballet is based on French composer Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, depicting the tragedy of Carmen, a fiery gypsy, who falls in love with Don José.

Carmen Suite was staged by People’s Artist Kim Quy, one of the country’s leading choreographers and vice president of the Việt Nam Dance Artists’ Association, for HBSO in 2015.

The dance features Nguyễn Thu Trang Trang as Carmen, Hồ Phi Điệp as Don José, and the HBSO dancers.

The concert will begin at 8pm at 7 Lam Sơn Square at the Opera House in District 1. Tickets are available at the venue and at www.ticketbox.vn. VNS