286. Caracole 1952
- Music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Divertimento No. 15 in B-flat major, K. 287, second minuet [fifth movement] and andante from sixth movement omitted)
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Production
Costumes by Christian Bérard (based on his designs for Mozartiana [134]). Lighting by Jean Rosenthal
- Premiere
February 19, 1952, New York City Ballet, City Center of Music and Drama, New York. Conductor: Leon Barzin
- Cast
Diana Adams, Melissa Hayden, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Maria Tallchief, Patricia Wilde, André Eglevsky, Nicholas Magallanes, Jerome Robbins, 8 women
ALLEGRO; THEME AND VARIATIONS; MINUET; ANDANTE; FINALE
Performance Type
Ballet
Note
The French title denotes a form of turning or circling, and is used as a term in horsemanship. Its use here was possibly inspired by the ballerinas’ plumed headdresses; the ‘horses’ in the Preghiera section of the original Mozartiana also wore plumes. The ballet is an intricate work set to music for which Balanchine expressed special admiration. The ballet was remounted (with identical or near identical choreography) as Divertimento No. 15 in 1956.
Identical choreography of Caracole and Divertimento No. 15 affirmed by Diana Adams, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Jerome Robbins, Maria Tallchief. According to Patricia Wilde the choreography of the Andante in Divertimento No. 15 differed somewhat from that in Caracole.
