Very Bolshoi in character, Paganini is rarely seen by American audiences.

Metropolitan Classical Ballet is proud to announce Alexei Melentiev, distinguished pianist from the Bolshoi in Moscow, will perform with the Company for the last production of the 2004 – 2005 season at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth on Saturday, June 11th at 8:00 PM. Mr. Melentiev will play Sergei Rachmaninov’s intense and moving Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, for the ballet, Paganini.

Mr. Melentiev, born in Russia, began his education at the age of four. He graduated from the Central Special Music School for gifted and talented children. In 1983 he entered Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and in 1991 he graduated with honors. Since his graduation, he has been working for the Bolshoi Theatre, and he has toured in the United States and other countries.

Mr. Melentiev has performed as Concert Meister for many renowned artists, such as Maya Plisetskaya and Nina Ananiashvili. In 1996 he was awarded Concert Meister in open Ballet competition in Russia. In 1997 he was awarded Concert Meister in the International Competition of Ballet. In 2004 he was awarded Concert Meister of Ballet, which was presented by the Staff Department of the Bolshoi Theater.

Paganini revolves around Niccolò Paganini, the great musical genius who revolutionized the art of violin playing. Originally choreographed by Mikhail Fokine in 1939, it is a 1960 revival by Leonid Lavrovsky, who dominated Russian ballet for much of this century. Very Bolshoi in character, Paganini is rarely seen by American audiences.

The evening will also include two other distinctive and challenging works: George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son which will be staged by Paul Mejia and Marius Petipa’s Paquita which will be staged by Alexander Vetrov. The Texas Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Metropolitan Classical Ballet’s music director, Ron Spigelman, will accompany the performance.