In an interesting experiment this weekend, two of the city’s iconic arts organizations have joined forces. For the first time ever, the Joffrey Ballet is dancing at Symphony Center, accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Ravel’s Pavane for a Dead Princess provides a brief orchestral interlude before the dancers reappear in Commedia, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon to music from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella. The original ballet was composed in 1920 (for the legendary Russian impresario Sergei Diaghilev, with sets and costumes by Picasso), but it was inspired by, and sounds a lot like, music of the 18th century. Wheeldon has retained the commedia dell’arte theme of the work; his eight dancers, sometimes masked, are dressed as harlequins. But the choreography again eschews narrative, presenting a showcase of well-executed but discrete dances that, in spite of the ballet’s title, are not all that comic.
Through 6/1: 8 PM, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan, 312-294-3000, cso.org, $49-$253.
