The Terpsichore Gala XI's program, taking place on April 26, 2013 will mark a special highlight of the annual Ballet Festival Week. Apart from an encounter with international guest stars of the highest caliber, the evening will add further gems to the distinctly versatile repertory of the Bavarian State Ballet.

Frederick Ashton's Birthday Offering, with music by Alexander Glasunov, was created in 1956 as part of the 25 year anniversary celebration of the Sadler's Wells Ballet London (today the Royal Ballet). For this festive masterpiece, Ashton created 7 solos suited especially for the 7 reigning star ballerinas of the time, who were accompanied by 7 male partners. Concluding Birthday Offering is a pas de deux originally created for none other than Margot Fonteyn, the prima inter pares, and Michael Somes.

Birthday Offering will be a spectacular opportunity and artistic challenge for the soloists of the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich. Furthermore, this unmistakably English piece of repertory will give our local audience the chance to further their insight into the “Very British!?” theme of the past season.
Of course, the stars of the Bavarian State Ballet not to appear in Birthday Offering will shine in other selected works performed during the Gala.

Joining the Bavarian State Ballet will be distinguished international guests stars, some of whom our audiences have already embraced and will recognize from years past. Ekaterina Osmolkina and Maxim Zyuzin of the Mariinsky Theater St. Petersburg will participate in the Gala. The Dutch National Ballet sends four of its most prominent stars: Igone de Jongh, Anna Tsygankova, Jozef Varga and Alexander Zhembrovskyy. From Berlin come two audience favourites, Iana Salenko and Marian Walter.
And Chan Sotheavy Tin from the Royal Ballet of Kambodscha.