Serenade is a milestone in the history of dance. It is the first original ballet George Balanchine created in America and is one of the signature works of New York City Ballet’s repertory. Balanchine began the ballet as a lesson in stage technique and worked unexpected rehearsal events into the choreography.
The program includes the best productions of the theatre, the main parts of which will be performed by famous dancers from around the world.
The spectators are waited by many pleasant surprises and a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the ballet traditions of a distant continent.
"Serenade"
Credits
Music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography by George Balanchine (1935) Staging: Francia Russell and Karin von Aroldingen Costume design: Karinska Original lighting design: Ronald Bates Lighting: Vladimir Lukasevich Lighting Adaptation for the Mariinsky II by Andrei Ponizovsky and Yegor Kartashov
World premiere: 1 March 1935, American Ballet, Adelphi Theatre, New York Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 30 April 1998, St Petersburg
Running time 35 minutes
The Ballet of George Balanchine Serenade is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® service standards established and provided by the Trust The Mariinsky Theatre would like to express its gratitude to Mrs Bettina von Siemens for her support in bringing the "Ballets of George Balanchine" project to life.
Age category 6+
"In the Night"
Credits
Music by Frédéric Chopin Choreography by Jerome Robbins (1970)
Staged by Ben Huys Costumes by Anthony Dowell Lighting by Jennifer Tipton Recreated by Nicole Pearce
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Prior to the appearance of this ballet in the Mariinsky Theatre repertoire, Russian audiences knew Jerome Robbins only as a hypostasis – Robbins-the-choreographer-of-musicals, Robbins-the-Broadway-triumph. Not for his “live” productions, of course, but rather for his film version of Westside Story, which caused a veritable furore in the cinemas of the Soviet Union. In 1992, the Mariinsky Theatre brought another Robbins to the country – Robbins the lyricist and the intellectual, one of the two leading figures at New York City Ballet. The man who took Chopin’s nocturnes and in 1970 created In the Night – a short ballet for three couples. Initially, they appear on stage in turn, while in the finale they all dance at the same time. Each of the couples offers their own version of the dialogue between man and woman – and, impeccably reproducing the choreographic scene, all the performers bring their own ideas of paired relationships to these dialogues. The good-natured coquetry and the claims of divine service, competing in the dazzle and the childlike thirst for trust – all different people, and so every time In the Night looks just that little bit different from the previous display. Anna Gordeyeva
World premiere: 29 January 1970, New York City Ballet, New York Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 18 March 1992 The premiere of the revival: 5 May 2009
Running time 25 minutes
Performed by permission of The Robbins Rights Trust
Age category 6+
"Push Comes to Shove"
Credits
Music by Joseph Lamb, Franz Joseph Haydn Choreography by Twyla Tharp Costume designer: Santo Loquasto Lighting designer: Jennifer Tipton Assistant choreographer: Elaine Kudo
World premiere: 9 January 1976, American Ballet Theatre, Uris Theater, New-York