Stravinsky Violin Concerto (ballet)

Background and production#

Balanchine first choreographed a work to Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in 1941 for the Wassily de Basil’s company Original Ballet Russe, titled Balustrade, with costumes and sets designed by Pavel Tchelitchew. In his previous Stravinsky ballets, Balanchine usually followed a plot. However, Balustrade is completely plotless, and was Balanchine’s response to the Violin Concerto. The ballet premiered on January 22, 1941 at Fifty-first Street Theatre, New York, with a cast led by Tamara Toumanova, Paul Petroff and Roman Jasinski. Stravinsky himself conducted while Samuel Dushkin played the violin. Balustrade had only been performed three times. However, Stravinsky called it “one of the most satisfactory visualisations of any of my works”. The festival featured 20 premieres, with the women in leotards and black footless tights, men in white T-shirts and black tights. Stravinsky Violin Concerto was regarded as one of the “masterworks” out of the festival. After Balanchine died, the world rights of Stravinsky Violin Concerto and five other ballets went to von Aroldingen.

Choreography#

Stravinsky Violin Concerto is Balanchine’s direct response to the music. dancing what Anderson called “lively, folk-flavoured steps, skipping on their heels and hopping to Stravinsky’s intricate rhythms”. Once the entire cast is onstage, the dancers “bursts into the finale”.

Performances#

Stravinsky Violin Concerto premiered on June 18, 1972 at the New York State Theater, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Boston Ballet.

Videography#

Stravinsky Violin Concerto was filmed for PBS’s 1977 Dance in America broadcast, with original cast members Mazzo, von Aroldingen and Martins reprising their roles, while the role made on Bonnefous was danced by Bart Cook. Balanchine adjusted the choreography for the cameras. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York City Ballet released a 2018 video recording of the finale of Stravinsky Violin Concerto, featuring Sterling Hyltin, Ask la Cour, Sara Mearns and Taylor Stanley, in his New York City debut of the role. A full recording of the ballet with the same cast was released online in March 2021.

External links#

• Stravinsky Violin Concerto on New York City Ballet’s website
• Stravinsky Violin Concerto on George Balanchine Foundation’s website