New York City Ballet’s Winter 2018 Classic NYCB program presents work by three choreographers with very different styles including founding choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
Classic NYCB Ballets
Square Dance (Balanchine, 1957)
As an immigrant at a time when immigrants were more respected in our country, Balanchine loved all things American. In Square Dance he reconceived the American folk dance in his trademark neoclassic style. One element that translates easily is the lively spirit of the dance.
Balanchine set Square Dance to excerpts by Antonio Vivaldi and Arcangelo Corelli.
This is the 1976 revival version without the original square dance caller, with the orchestra in the pit instead of on stage, and an additional solo for the male principal.
Oltremare (Bigonzetti, 2008)
Mauro Bigonzetti is an Italian contemporary ballet choreographer who trained in the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, had a long relationship with Aterballeto (the premier Italian modern ballet company), and today is an internationally commissioned choreographer.
Oltremare is Bigonzetti’s third New York City Ballet. The title means “beyond the sea” and the ballet is about the immigrant experience. It is set to music by Bruno Moretti. There is a lot of dramatic acting in this rather unusual ballet.
Even imagining such a journey is dramatic. You say goodbye to your parents who you will probably never see again, take a long journey full of hope and fear, and then land in your new home without money, language, or skills. You suffer and prosper by figuring it out and working hard until there is nothing left, but faded memories.
When you think about it, we should be kinder to immigrants. They are courageous and driven people, whose energy built our country, and will continue to do so into the future.
The Four Seasons (Robbins, 1979)
Third-act ballets are part of Paris opera traditions. The beautiful dancers kept rich patrons glued in their seats.
Antonio Vivaldi composed his renowned The Four Seasons as a third-act ballet for the opera I Vespri Siciliani. In the libretto, Janus, the God of New Year, watches a series of dances by each of the seasons.
Founding choreographer Jerome Robbins based this ballet on Verdi’s notes. The score includes selections of ballet music from the operas I Lombardi and Il Trovatore.
Classic NYCB Performances
Friday, February 2 at 8 pm
Tuesday, February 6 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, February 7 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 10 at 2 pm
Classic NYCB Tickets
Tickets are $30 – $185
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