The National capital will again play host to a premiere cultural event with the Ballets Russes: The Art of Costume exhibition opening at the National Gallery of Australia on 10 December, and Novotel Canberra is offering special ticket and accommodation packages to the event throughout summer.
Visit www.accorhotels.com/ACT and select the 'Summer Special Rate' to book the Novotel Canberra Ballets Russes: The Art of Costume package. Prices start from $188 per room per night, including full buffet breakfast and tickets to the exhibition for two people. Bookings must be made 7 days in advance and offer is valid for the duration of the exhibition until 20 March 2011.
Following the success of the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition, direct from the Musee d'Orsay earlier this year, the National Gallery has again been chosen to showcase a European cultural extravaganza. One of the world's richest collections of costumes from the famed Ballets Russes will be on display with 140 costumes from 34 productions between 1909 to 1939.
At the 29 May 1913 premiere of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes's Le sacre du printemps, the creative fusion of Igor Stravinsky's score, Vaslav Nijinsky's choreography and Nicholas Roerich's design exploded into the theatre. The orchestra had barely embarked upon Stravinsky's now-famous primitive, syncopated passages when the audience erupted into a riot. Shouting turned into fist fighting. The police had to be called. Stravinsky retreated backstage. Nijinsky continued bellowing counts to the dancers. Later, it was revealed that it had not only been the music that had set the audience off, but the choreography and the costumes. Afterwards, Diaghilev claimed that the scandal was just what he wanted.
Rich in both controversy and unique, ornate design, the Ballets Russes exhibition will delight both seasoned art and culture lovers or those who simply enjoy the beauty of design and performance.
Novotel Canberra completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment earlier this year including the addition of two new storeys - adding a further 89 rooms to the hotel's inventory, a restyling of all current rooms, new and vibrant public areas, an expanded and more inviting lobby and the brand new One Restaurant & Bar.
Novotel Canberra is the city's premier 4.5-star hotel and offers Canberra's best leisure facilities with a large indoor pool, spa, sauna and gym complex which is fully enclosed for the cooler winter months.
