Press Release: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces 2025 New York City Ballet Season
January 26, 2025
Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces
2025 New York City Ballet Season
Residency highlighted by full-length story ballet Coppélia, Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons, George Balanchine’s Stravinsky Violin Concerto and Justin Peck’s new work Mystic Familiar
NEW Accessible ticket promotions exclusive to NYCB at SPAC including:
“Kids in Free” extended to 16 years old; $40 under 40 amphitheater tickets, and $99 Family Four Packs
Saratoga Springs, NY (January 26, 2025) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announces its 2025 NEW YORK CITY BALLET (NYCB) season from July 9-12 as part of its 59th season in Saratoga. The residency will feature full-length story ballet Coppélia, which held its world premiere at SPAC in 1974; Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons, an audience favorite set to Verdi’s vibrant melodies; George Balanchine’s masterpiece Stravinsky Violin Concerto and Justin Peck’s newest work for NYCB, Mystic Familiar, which will have its world premiere as part of NYCB’s 2025 Winter Season. Called “the foremost creative ballet troupe in the world” by The New York Times, New York City Ballet will bring its roster of more than 90 dancers under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, led by Music Director Andrew Litton.
“As we approach our 60th anniversary, our historic partnership with New York City Ballet continues to be a remarkable source of pride and inspiration. Nowhere else in the world outside of New York City does the full company of dancers and musicians present a robust week of repertoire, every single year. SPAC is unique and incredibly fortunate to be able to bring these world-class artists to our community,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “From the accessible and beloved story ballet Coppélia… to masterworks by Balanchine and Robbins… to the fresh and exciting premiere by Justin Peck, there is something for everyone.”
Returning for the first time since 2019 is Coppélia, the delightful tale of a mad inventor and the life-like doll he creates. Called “story ballet done to perfection” by The New York Times, Coppélia is considered one of the greatest comic ballets of the 19th Century and has remained one of the best-loved classical works in the ballet repertory. The lavish production, featuring scenery and costumes by Rouben Ter-Artunian, additional costumes by Karinska, and lighting by Mark Stanley, is slated for four performances as part of the season. Featuring a large cast of children, including many from the Capital Region, Coppélia was commissioned by SPAC and held its world premiere in Saratoga in 1974.
Highlighting the season are two performances dedicated to works by Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine and NYCB Resident Choreographer Justin Peck. The program opens with The Four Seasons by Robbins, an audience favorite set to Verdi’s vibrant score. Returning to SPAC for the first time since 2017 is Stravinsky Violin Concerto, one of Balanchine’s signature works featuring two of his most ingenious pas de deux.
Closing the program is the SPAC premiere of Justin Peck’s Mystic Familiar, his 25th work for New York City Ballet. Mystic Familiar is set to an original score by composer, recording artist and performer Dan Deacon, who also provided the score for Peck’s heralded 2017 ballet The Times Are Racing. The set design will feature a backdrop by the Los Angeles-based visual artist Eamon Ore-Giron, whose work was featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial. The costumes will be designed by fashion designer and co-founder of Opening Ceremony Humberto Leon, who has previously worked with Peck on costumes for The Times Are Racing and several other projects; with lighting design by frequent Peck collaborator Brandon Stirling Baker.
In an effort to increase access to these performances, SPAC also announced that it has launched new promotional ticket offers exclusive to the New York City Ballet residency. As part of this initiative, SPAC has revealed a new “$40 under 40” ticket offer, inviting individuals up to 40 years old to enjoy $40 tickets inside the amphitheater. To make access to world-class performance more affordable for families, SPAC has introduced two special promotions including a new Family Four Pack, including four amphitheater seats for $99, and an expansion of its “Kids in Free” program. The program, which currently allows children 12 and under free access on the lawn with an accompanying adult and 50% off amphitheater tickets will extend to children ages 16 and under for New York City Ballet performances. Visit the Ways to Save page on spac.org for all offers, discounts and exclusions.
“Saratoga, with its enthusiastic audiences and welcoming community, has always been such special place to perform and we are thrilled to be returning to our summer home for our 59th consecutive year. We are especially excited to bring SPAC audiences this season’s repertory, featuring timeless classics from our founding choreographers Balanchine and Robbins, as well as groundbreaking new work from our prolific Resident Choreographer, Justin Peck,” said New York City Ballet Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan. “Bringing Coppélia back to Saratoga, where it premiered more than 50 years ago, will be a particular highlight. This whimsical and demanding ballet truly showcases the vitality of our current generation of dancers, and with dozens of young students joining the Company on stage for each performance, these shows are not to be missed.”
Tickets will be available beginning on January 30 at 10 a.m. for members (tiered by level) and on February 7 at 10 a.m. for the general public. Visit spac.org for details.
NEW YORK CITY BALLET: JULY 9 – 12
Coppélia
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 @ 7:30PM
THURSDAY, JULY 10 @ 7:30PM
FRIDAY, JULY 11 @ 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JULY 12 @ 2:00PM
Choreography by: George Balanchine & Alexandra Danilova, after Petipa
Music by: Léo Delibes
Robbins, Balanchine & Peck
FRIDAY, JULY 11 @ 2:00PM
SATURDAY, JULY 12 @ 7:30PM
The Four Seasons
Choreography by: Jerome Robbins
Music by: Giuseppe Verdi
Stravinsky Violin Concerto
Choreography by: George Balanchine
Music by: Igor Stravinsky
Mystic Familiar*
Choreography by: Justin Peck
Music by: Dan Deacon
*indicates SPAC premiere
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts. SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies in the world, was founded in 1948 by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine and arts patron Lincoln Kirstein, and quickly became world-renowned for its athletic and contemporary style. Jerome Robbins joined NYCB the following year and, with Balanchine, helped to build its extraordinary repertory. Today, in its 75th anniversary year, NYCB continues to be inspired by its founders who envisioned an authentically American expression of ballet with a company that reflects the rich cultural diversity of our city and nation. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford, Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, and Executive Director Katherine Brown, NYCB remains dedicated to its primary objectives: to preserve the ballets, dance aesthetic, and standards of excellence created and established by its founders; to develop new work that draws on the talents of contemporary choreographers and composers and speaks to the time in which it is made; and to make ballet accessible to the widest possible public through touring, education programs, the creative use of media, and other outreach efforts.