New York City Ballet opens and closes its 2018 Spring Season with a Balanchine Black & White program.
Balanchine Black & White Ballets
Concerto Barocco (1941)
The two ballerinas become the two violins in Johan Sebastian Bach’s Concerto in D minor for Two Violins. The dance is a masterly blend of dancer and music.
Concerto Barocco premiered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1941. The exuberant excess of the Baroque is one of the roots of Brazilian modern and contemporary art. Could Balanchine have been thinking about that?
This ballet was on New York City Ballet’s very first program at New York City Center in 1948.
In 1951, Balanchine flipped the Baroque on its head by changing the original costumes to simple leotards and tights. The leotard ballets became a Balanchine signature.
Agon (1957)
Agon means “contest” in Greek. This was Stravinsky’s first 12-tone composition. Twelve dancers move in duos, trios, quartets and so on. It is considered the peak of the Balanchine – Stravinsky collaboration.
The movement is based on 17th-century French court dances.
The Four Temperaments (1946)
This ballet’s title refers to the medieval concept of four personality types: melancholic, sanguinic, phlegmatic, and choleric. The dance has nothing to do with it other than having four parts.
Balanchine Black & White Performances
Tuesday, April 24 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 28 at 2 pm
Wednesday, May 2 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, June 3 at 3 pm
Balanchine Black & White Tickets
Box Office
Monday: 10 am – 7:30 pm
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 8:30 pm
Sunday: 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
Phone
Center Charge: (212) 496-0600
Online
Visit the David H. Koch Theater
20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
(Columbus Ave at 63rd)
Subway
- (1) to 66th St – Lincoln Center
- (A) (C) or (B) (D) to 59th St – Columbus Circle
Bus
M5, M7, M10, M66, and M104
Car
There are entrances to Lincoln Center’s Parking Garage on Amsterdam Ave, 62nd St, and 65th St.
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