219. Song of Norway 1944
Operetta in Two Acts and Seven Scenes
- Music
Music by Edvard Grieg, adapted by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Book by Milton Lazarus from a play by Homer Curran (based on the life of Grieg). Orchestral and vocal arrangements by Arthur Kay
- Choreography
Choreography and vocal ensembles staged by George Balanchine
- Production
Produced by Edwin Lester. Book directed by Charles K. Freeman. Scenery by Lemuel Ayers. Costumes by Robert Davison. Scenery supervised by Carl Kent. Scenery built by Curran Productions and painted by Harry Dworkin and Fritz Kraencke; costumes executed by Walter J. Israel
- Premiere
June 12, 1944, Los Angeles and San Francisco Civic Light Operas, Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California. Conductor: Arthur Kay. Pianist: Rachel Chapman. (First New York performance, August 21, Imperial Theatre. Pianist: Louis Teicher.)
- Cast
Edvard Grieg, Walter Cassel (Lawrence Brooks, New York); Rikard Nordraak, Robert Shafer; Nina Hagerup, Helena Bliss; Count Peppi Le Loup, Sig Arno; Louisa Giovanni, Irra Petina; Maestro Pisoni, Charles Judels (Robert Bernard, New York); Freddy/Tito, Frederic Franklin; Adelina, Alexandra Danilova; and others. Dancing ensemble from Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo: 11 women, 11 men.
IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT (Act I, Scene 2): Music: Adapted from Spring Dance and Halling. Cast: Ruthanna Boris, Anna Istomina, Leon Danielian, Alexander Goudovitch, and others.
FREDDY AND HIS FIDDLE (Act I, Scene 2): Music: Adapted from Norwegian Dances, Op. 38, 1881. Cast: Einar, Kent Edwards; Sigrid, Janet Hamer; Freddy, Frederic Franklin; singers.
MARCH OF THE TROLLGERS (THE CAKE LOTTERY) (Act I, Scene 2): Music: Adapted from Mountaineers Song, Halling in C minor, and March of the Dwarfs. Cast: Singing and dancing ensemble.
CHOCOLATE PAS DE TROIS (Act II, Scene 2): Music: Adapted from Fra Monte Pindo, Op. 39, 1870, and Rigaudon from Holberg Suite, Op. 4, 1884. Cast: Tito, Franklin; His Employees, corps de ballet.
WALTZ ETERNAL (Act II, Scene 3): Music: Adapted from Waltz Caprice, Op. 37, 1883. Cast: Singers, Corps de ballet.
PEER GYNT BALLET (Act II, Scene 3): Music: Adapted from Peer Gynt Suites I and II, Opp. 46 and 55, 1876. Cast: Alexandra Danilova, Nathalie Krassovska, Danielian; corps de ballet. SOLVEIG’S SONG: Krassovska, Danielian; Mary Ellen Moylan, Maria Tallchief; female corps de ballet. HALL OF THE DOVRE KING: Male ensemble; ANITRA’S DANCE: Danilova. Dancers billed as The Ballet of the Teatro Reale.
THE SONG OF NORWAY (Act II, Scene 5): Music: Adapted from Piano Concerto in A minor, 1868. Cast: Maiden Norway, Danilova; Minstrel, Franklin; Poet, Nicholas Magallanes; corps de ballet.
Performance Type
Operetta
Note
The production featured the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo ensemble and its principal dancers, Danilova and Franklin. They were replaced after two weeks in New York, when the Ballet Russe began its 1944-45 season. The original production ran for 860 performances, making it the longest running of Balanchine?s musicals. The New York run (ending September 6, 1946), was followed by performances in Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington.
Additional Productions
Other Productions by Balanchine Companies
May 26, 1952, Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles. Although the choreography is credited to Balanchine and Aida Broadbent, Balanchine was not involved. April 24, 1962, Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles, then June 12, 1962, San Francisco Civic Light Opera Association, Curran Theater, San Francisco. Dances and musical numbers staged by Aida Broadbent after the Balanchine original, with uncredited contributions by Kenneth Johnson, the leading male dancer. For this production, Balanchine rechoreographed THE SONG OF NORWAY, except for the pas de deux choreographed by Johnson, which Balanchine retained.
Structure of dance numbers clarified by Alexandra Danilova, Maria Tallchief, Frederic Franklin; additional information provided by Janice Ross, Claude Conyers
