Swan Lake
Swan Lake, Op. 20 (1875-6) by Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky
Choreography George Balanchine

Originally designed by Cecil Beaton for the stage of the City Center of Music and Drama, and later reconceived by Rouben Ter-Arutunian for the larger stage of the New York Sate Theater in 1964, Balanchine's one-act version is based on Ivanov's choreography for Act II and uses music from both Acts II and IV (the lakeside acts) as well as a duet from Tschaikovsky's opera Ondine. In 1986, the production was entirely redesigned to dress the swan corps in black. The idea of black swans apparently started with Balanchine, who purchased 400 yards of black tarlatan before he died. The scenery, by Alain Vaes, is now an icy landscape instead of the traditional Gothic lakeside.

Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky (1840-1893) studied at the Conservatory in St. Petersburg, where Balanchine later studied piano in addition to his studies in dance. Tschaikovsky is one of the most popular and influential of all romantic composers. His work is expressive, melodic, grand in scale, with rich orchestrations. His output was prodigious and included chamber works, symphonies, concerti for various instruments, operas and works for the piano. His creations for the ballet, composed in close partnership with Marius Petipa, include Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty.

(Average Length 36 min.)

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.)

Les Noces

Les Noces (1923) by Igor Stravinsky
Choreography Jerome Robbins

Stravinsky music, a dramatic cantata, was first used in a ballet by Bronislava Nijinska, in a work created for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), born in Russia, is acknowledged as one of the great composers of the twentieth century. His work encompassed styles as diverse as Romanticism, Neoclassicism and Serialism. His ballets for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes included The Firebird, Petrushka, The Rite Of Spring, and Apollo. His music has been used in over thirty ballets originating with New York City Ballet from 1948 through 1987, including Danses Concertantes, Orpheus, The Cage, Agon, Monumentum pro Gesualdo, Rubies, Symphony in Three Movements, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Concerto for Two Solo Pianos, Suite from L'histoire du Soldat, Concertino, and Jeu De Cartes.

(Average Length 23 min.)