Music: By Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (Suite No. 4, Mozartiana, Op. 61, 1887; based on Mozart's Gigue in G major [K. 574], Minuet in D major [K. 355], the motet 'Ave, Verum Corpus' [K. 618], and variations on 'Les Hommes Pieusement' from Gluck's comic opera La Rencontre Imprévue [K. 455]).
Choreography: By George Balanchine.
Production: Forecurtain, scenery, and costumes by Christian Bérard.
Premiere: June 7, 1933, Les Ballets 1933, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Conductor: Maurice Abravanel.
Cast: GIGUE: Ludovic Matlinsky; MENUETTO: 6 women; PREGHIERA: Lucienne Kylberg; TEMA CON VARIAZIONI: Tamara Toumanova, Roman Jasinsky, corps de ballet; FINALE: Toumanova, Kylberg, Jasinsky, 7 women, 1 man.
Note: A suite of dances against
an Italianate backdrop, Mozartiana was one of six new ballets
created by Balanchine during the brief existence of Les Ballets 1933,
the company he formed with Boris Kochno, financed by Edward James. It
was performed in Paris and London with Les Sept Péchés
Capitaux, Les Songes, Fastes, L'Errante, Les Valses de Beethoven, and
other musical works without choreography. In 1981, Balanchine
choreographed a new ballet to Mozartiana for the New York City
Ballet Tchaikovsky Festival, changing the order of the movements to
place the PREGHIERA first.
See FESTIVALS DIRECTED BY BALANCHINE.
Revisions: 1935, American Ballet: Sections originally danced by Toumanova and Jasinsky differently apportioned, with single pas de deux for leading couple; pas de six in THEME AND VARIATIONS danced by six women (three in men's costumes). 1945, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo: Original form more closely followed, with two pas de deux for leading couple and more complicated choreography for the leading man; corps de ballet entirely women; one male soloist instead of two. 1956, Danilova Concert Company: Presented without PREGHIERA by cast of four dancers.
Other Versions: 1981, New York City Ballet.
Video/DVD: 2005, Zeitgeist Films, Ballets Russes (excerpt).
Archival Video: The George Balanchine Foundation Archive of Lost Choreography (TEMA CON VARIAZIONI: two pas de deux), 2003.
