Casting has been announced!

Not performed by San Francisco Ballet in over ten years, Rudolf Nureyev's Raymonda Act III, remains one of the most elegant, refined, and challenging ballets in the classical Russian tradition. The program also includes the return of SF Ballet Choreographer in Residence Yuri Possokhov’s RAkU, set to an original score by SF Ballet Orchestra member Shinji Eshima, and hailed as "a gripping, virtuoso piece" by the San Francisco Examiner. The program concludes with Guide to Strange Places, a world premiere by Ashley Page, currently artistic director of Scottish Ballet.

The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra recording of RAkU is now available on CD
With music composed by bassist Shinji Eshima for the orchestra and conducted by SF Ballet Music Director & Principal Conductor Martin West, the CD was recorded at the famed George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio in Marin.

Purchase the RAkU CD in the Ballet Shop at the Opera House.

To learn more about the music of RAkU, and the Orchestra, read Eshima’s blog.

The 2011 world premiere of RAkU was made possible by Lead Sponsors Yurie and Carl Pascarella, and Athena and Timothy Blackburn, and Sponsors Stephen and Margaret Gill, and H. B. and Lucille Horn Foundation. The 2012 world premiere of Guide to Strange Places is made possible by Lead Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. James N. Sullivan.