Balanchine at the Ballet
George Balanchine was one of the most important, influential choreographers of the 20th century, whose collaborations with Igor Stravinsky led to some of ballet’s most iconic scores.
Read more…- Mendelssohn Bartholdy • A Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music op. 61 MWV M 13 • Incidental Music op. 61 • No. 1 Scherzo. Allegro vivaceA Midsummer Night's Dream, Incidental Music op. 61 MWV M 13
Incidental Music op. 61 • No. 1 Scherzo. Allegro vivaceRhian Lois (Soprano), Keri Fuge (Soprano), Edward Gardner
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Youth ChorusJuly 2015, Birmingham, Town Hall - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau I (Prologue) • 1. Naissance d’ApollonApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau I (Prologue) • 1. Naissance d’ApollonSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 2. Variation d'ApollonApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 2. Variation d'ApollonSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 3. Pas d'action: Apollon et les trois MusesApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 3. Pas d'action: Apollon et les trois MusesSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 4. Variation de CalliopeApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 4. Variation de CalliopeSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 5. Variation de PolymnieApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 5. Variation de PolymnieSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 6. Variation de TerpsichoreApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 6. Variation de TerpsichoreSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 7. 2ième variation d'ApollonApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 7. 2ième variation d'ApollonSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 8. Pas de deuxApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 8. Pas de deuxSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 9. CodaApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 9. CodaSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Stravinsky • Apollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947) • Tableau II • 10. ApothéoseApollon musagète (1928, rev. 1947)
Tableau II • 10. ApothéoseSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony OrchestraLive2013 - 2014, London, Barbican Centre - Tchaikovsky • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in G major op. 44 TH 60 • III. Allegro con fuocoConcerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in G major op. 44 TH 60
III. Allegro con fuocoDenis Matsuev (Piano), Valery Gergiev
Mariinsky Orchestra2013, Saint Petersburg, Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory - Stravinsky • Danses concertantes for Orchestra • 1. Marche introductiveDanses concertantes for Orchestra
1. Marche introductiveSir Roger Norrington, Zürcher Kammerorchester℗ 2012 - Stravinsky • Danses concertantes for Orchestra • 2. Pas d'actionDanses concertantes for Orchestra
2. Pas d'actionSir Roger Norrington, Zürcher Kammerorchester℗ 2012 - Stravinsky • Danses concertantes for Orchestra • 3. Thème variéDanses concertantes for Orchestra
3. Thème variéSir Roger Norrington, Zürcher Kammerorchester℗ 2012 - Stravinsky • Danses concertantes for Orchestra • 4. Pas de deuxDanses concertantes for Orchestra
4. Pas de deuxSir Roger Norrington, Zürcher Kammerorchester℗ 2012 - Stravinsky • Danses concertantes for Orchestra • 5. Marche conclusiveDanses concertantes for Orchestra
5. Marche conclusiveSir Roger Norrington, Zürcher Kammerorchester℗ 2012 - Bizet • Symphony No. 1 in C major WD 33 • I. Allegro vivo
- Bizet • Symphony No. 1 in C major WD 33 • II. Adagio
- Bizet • Symphony No. 1 in C major WD 33 • III. Scherzo Allegro vivaceSymphony No. 1 in C major WD 33
III. Scherzo Allegro vivacePaavo Järvi, Orchestre de Paris℗ 2010 - Bizet • Symphony No. 1 in C major WD 33 • IV. Allegro vivace
- Chabrier • Bourrée fantasque (orchestral version) • Très animé et avec beaucoup d'entrainBourrée fantasque (orchestral version)
Très animé et avec beaucoup d'entrainHeinz Holliger, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR2010 - 2011 - Stravinsky • Agon (1957) • Part IV • 1. Pas-de-DeuxAgon (1957)
Part IV • 1. Pas-de-DeuxGustavo Gimeno, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg2017 - 2018, Luxembourg, Philharmonie Luxembourg - Stravinsky • Agon (1957) • Part IV • CodaAgon (1957)
Part IV • CodaGustavo Gimeno, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg2017 - 2018, Luxembourg, Philharmonie Luxembourg - Stravinsky • Agon (1957) • Part IV • 2. Four DuosAgon (1957)
Part IV • 2. Four DuosGustavo Gimeno, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg2017 - 2018, Luxembourg, Philharmonie Luxembourg - Stravinsky • Agon (1957) • Part IV • 3. Four TriosAgon (1957)
Part IV • 3. Four TriosGustavo Gimeno, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg2017 - 2018, Luxembourg, Philharmonie Luxembourg - Brahms • Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor op. 25 (Orchestral version by A. Schönberg) • IV. Rondo alla zingarese. PrestoPiano Quartet No. 1 in G minor op. 25 (Orchestral version by A. Schönberg)
IV. Rondo alla zingarese. PrestoSir Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker℗ 2011 - Fauré • Shylock, Suite op. 57 • 4. ÉpithalameShylock, Suite op. 57
4. ÉpithalameBenjamin Bruns (Tenor), Ivor Bolton
Sinfonieorchester Basel℗ 2018 - Fauré • Pelléas et Mélisande, Orchestral Suite op. 80 • 2. La FileusePelléas et Mélisande, Orchestral Suite op. 80
2. La FileuseOswald Sallaberger, Orchestre de l'Opera de Rouen Haute-Normandi℗ 2011 - Fauré • Pelléas et Mélisande, Orchestral Suite op. 80 • 3. SiciliennePelléas et Mélisande, Orchestral Suite op. 80
3. SicilienneOswald Sallaberger, Orchestre de l'Opera de Rouen Haute-Normandi℗ 2011 - Stravinsky • Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra • I. PrestoCapriccio for Piano and Orchestra
I. PrestoAlexej Gorlatch (Piano), Alondra de la Parra
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin℗ 2015 - Stravinsky • Le Baiser de la fée (The Fairy's Kiss) (1928) • Scene 3 • Pas de deux: V. ScèneLe Baiser de la fée (The Fairy's Kiss) (1928)
Scene 3 • Pas de deux: V. ScèneOliver Knussen, The Cleveland Orchestra℗ 1997 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • I. Modéré, très francValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
I. Modéré, très francYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • II. Assez lent, avec une expression intenseValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
II. Assez lent, avec une expression intenseYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • III. ModéréValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
III. ModéréYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • IV. Assez animéValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
IV. Assez animéYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • V. Presque lent, dans un sentiment intimeValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
V. Presque lent, dans un sentiment intimeYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • VI. VifValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
VI. VifYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • VII. Moins vifValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
VII. Moins vifYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • Valses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra) • VIII. Épilogue. LentValses nobles et sentimentales M 61 (1912) (Version for Orchestra)
VIII. Épilogue. LentYannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest℗ 2009 - Ravel • La valse M 72 (1919-1920)La valse M 72 (1919-1920)Stéphane Denève, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR2013
- Rodgers • On Your Toes (1936): Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Act II)On Your Toes (1936): Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Act II)Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra℗ 1994
- Verdi • Don Carlos: Ballet Music (Act III) “La Pérégrina” • Don Carlos: Ballet Music (Act III) "La Pérégrina"Don Carlos: Ballet Music (Act III)
Don Carlos: Ballet Music (Act III) "La Pérégrina"José Serebrier, Bournemouth Symphony OrchestraMay 2011, Poole, The Lighthouse - Tchaikovsky • Serenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48 • I. Pezzo in forma di sonatina. Andante non troppo – Allegro moderatoSerenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48
I. Pezzo in forma di sonatina. Andante non troppo – Allegro moderatoNeeme Järvi, Göteborgs SymfonikerMarch 2005, Göteborg, Gothenburg Concert Hall - Tchaikovsky • Serenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48 • II. Valse. Moderato – Tempo di valseSerenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48
II. Valse. Moderato – Tempo di valseNeeme Järvi, Göteborgs SymfonikerMarch 2005, Göteborg, Gothenburg Concert Hall - Tchaikovsky • Serenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48 • IV. Finale. Tema Russo. Andante – Allegro con spiritoSerenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48
IV. Finale. Tema Russo. Andante – Allegro con spiritoNeeme Järvi, Göteborgs SymfonikerMarch 2005, Göteborg, Gothenburg Concert Hall - Tchaikovsky • Serenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48 • III. Élégie. Larghetto elegiacoSerenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48 TH 48
III. Élégie. Larghetto elegiacoNeeme Järvi, Göteborgs SymfonikerMarch 2005, Göteborg, Gothenburg Concert Hall - Balanchine • Valse Lente • I. Valse LenteValse Lente
I. Valse LenteLera Auerbach (Piano)January 2004, Tokyo, King Sekiguchi Studio Tokyo
Russian-born, Balanchine studied at the Imperial Ballet School in St Petersburg and later fused that training with the dance he encountered on Broadway to create his "neoclassical" style. Nobody has quite described the relationship between music and movement as wonderfully as Balanchine: "See the music, hear the dance."
His first collaboration with Stravinsky came in 1928 (Apollo) but there were many more, most notably Danses concertantes and Agon. But he set other composers too: Mendelssohn in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bizet in his joyous Symphony in C, even Verdi in his Ballet della regina.
"We are dancing on the edge of a volcano," wrote Maurice Ravel in his notes to his poème chorégraphique, La Valse. Sergei Diaghilev had commissioned it, but ultimately rejected Ravel’s music, describing it as brilliant, but "untheatrical". Balanchine's version, created for New York City Ballet in 1951, precedes it with the same composer's Valses nobles et sentimentales, a series of eight waltzes to set up the drama ahead.
Balanchine adored Tchaikovsky and used his music as the basis for dance works such as Ballet Imperial (the Second Piano Concerto), and his iconic Serenade, with its famous blue tutus which inspired the naming of the Balanchine Crater on Mercury! His most famous setting of Tchaikovsky was Diamonds (using four of the five movements from the "Polish" Symphony) which – along with Emeralds (Fauré’s incidental music for Shylock and Pelléas et Mélisande) and Rubies (Stravinsky’s Capriccio) – form his popular ballet, Jewels.
We close with a Valse lente, a charming miniature for piano. It was not choreographed by Balanchine, however… but was composed by him.