CONCERTO BAROCCO
Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, B.W.V. 1043 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography George Balanchine

This work began as an exercise by Balanchine for the School of American Ballet and was performed by American Ballet Caravan on its historic tour of South America and later entered the repertory of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. In 1951 Balanchine permanently eliminated the original costumes and dressed the dancers in practice clothes, probably the first appearance of what has come to be regarded as a signature Balanchine costume for contemporary works. On October 11, 1948, Concerto Barocco was one of three ballets on the program at New York City Ballet's first performance.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was born into a family of musicians successful for over two centuries. Although later in his career he became most noted for his choral and other church-related compositions, he also left a large body of instrumental music for solo instruments and ensembles. While his popular reputation was eclipsed by the fame of his sons, he was revered by musicians and composers. Finally in the 19th century, Mendelssohn brought his music to public attention and he became recognized as one of the greatest of all composers.

(Average Length 18 min.)

Liebeslieder Walzer

Liebeslieder, Op. 52 (1869) and Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65 (1874) by Johannes Brahms Choreography George Balanchine

For this two-part ballet of waltzes for piano duet and vocal quartet set to poems by Friedrich Daumer and one, the last, set to a poem by Goethe, the dancers are joined on stage by the musicians and singers. All are dressed in period ballroom costumes. During the first set of 18 waltzes the four couples dance in interweaving combinations in an intimate, elegantly-appointed ballroom.

For these dances, the women wear dancing slippers. After a brief lowering of the curtain, the couples return to dance 14 waltzes, the women wearing ballet dresses and toe shoes. They leave the stage; returning in their original costumes, then pause to listen to the final waltz set to Goethe's words: "Now, Muses, enough! You try in vain to portray how misery and happiness alternate in a loving heart!"

Within the strict three-quarter beat personal and romantic associations between the couples are developed. Of Liebeslieder Walzer, Balanchine said: "In the first act, it is the real people who are dancing. In the second act, it is their souls."

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was born in Hamburg, Germany, and became popular as a pianist and conductor. Though living in the days of the romantic composers, his own work was always in the classical mold. He composed almost exclusively instrumental music, including four symphonies, concertos, and a wide variety of chamber music.

(Average Length Part One 26 min.Part Two 23 min.)

Glass Pieces
Rubric and Façades from Glassworks, excerpts from the opera Akhnaten by Philip Glass
Choreography Jerome Robbins

Philip Glass was born in Chicago in 1937, trained at the University of Chicago and studied composition with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti at the Juilliard School, as well as with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. In 1965 his style underwent a fundamental change, influenced by an interest in Indian music and work with the sitarist, Ravi Shankar. Since 1975 nearly all Glass's compositions have been written for dance, film or the theater. Mr. Glass tours extensively with the Philip Glass Ensemble.

(Average Length 24 min.)