LADP PERFORMS: RITUEL
Lincoln Center
10 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
Thursday October 9, 2025 | 7:30pm
Friday October 10, 2025 | 7:30pm
Saturday October 11, 2025 | 7:30pm
L.A. Dance Project, in collaboration with three of the world’s most prestigious philharmonic orchestras, brings Rituel to the New York Philharmonic this October as part of a performance series honoring the centenary of Pierre Boulez’s birth. Originally co-commissioned by the Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and L.A. Dance Project, the work premiered in Paris and most recently captivated audiences at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Boulez’s Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna—a tribute to his late friend and fellow composer—unfolds with intricate musical structures, woven seamlessly with Millepied’s striking choreography.
Critics have praised Rituel for its mesmerizing fusion of movement and music: “Six dancers from L.A. Dance Project, choreographed by Benjamin Millepied, whirled, dashed, froze, and then gathered together as if they were one organism, basically following the sustained and abrupt bursts of sound. The total effect was mesmerizing” (SF Classical Voice). Millepied’s dancers, described as “shredding the stage—in the best possible way” (Fjord Review), embody the complexity of Boulez’s sonically rich compositions, responding dynamically to the conductor’s cues.
Led by world-renowned conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, the program pairs Rituel with additional works by Bartók, further illuminating the interplay between Boulez’s serialist voice and the rhythmic, expressive intensity of Bartók’s compositions. Millepied’s choreography, performed by L.A. Dance Project, transforms the space, offering audiences a rare synthesis of musical invention and physical storytelling.
L.A. Dance Project’s participation in Rituel is made possible through the generous support of Van Cleef & Arpels.