Ballet Des Moines presents See the Music (Hear the Dance), a mesmerizing ballet performance featuring choreography by Artistic Director Tom Mattingly. The performance opens with a world premiere collaboration between Ballet Des Moines and the acclaimed Aizuri Quartet playing the haunting strains of Philip Glass’ String Quartet No. 5. Mattingly’s choreography wields an incredible collection of world-class artists to bring the soaring piece to life, showcasing the power of live music and movement, from delicate introspection to athletic crescendos.

The evening concludes with the Iowa premiere of Mattingly’s Four Seasons. Set to a captivating collection of piano etudes by German composer Goetz Oestlind performed live on stage by master pianist Douglas Jayd Burn. This four-part ballet evokes the passage of time and highlights the beauty of nature across the seasons.  The production features custom artwork projections by award winning theatrical designer Court Watson, taking inspiration from iconic Iowa foliage, fauna, and natural landmarks.

See the Music (Hear the Dance) is an extraordinary and immersive production, epitomizing the famous quote by the “father of American ballet” George Balanchine, who believed that dance was the visual embodiment of music.

Praised by The Washington Post for “astounding” and “captivating” performances that draw from its notable “meld of intellect, technique and emotions,” the Aizuri Quartet was named the recipient of the 2022 Cleveland Quartet Award by Chamber Music America, with other honors including the Grand Prize at the 2018 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition and top prizes at the 2017 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in Japan and the 2015 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition in London.