288. Scotch Symphony 1952

Felix Mendelssohn (Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, ‘Scotch,’ 1842 [first movement omitted])

George Balanchine

Scenery by Horace Armistead; painted by Scenic Studios. Women’s costumes by Karinska. Men’s costumes by David Ffolkes. Lighting by Jean Rosenthal

November 11, 1952, New York City Ballet; City Center of Music and Drama, New York. Conductor: Leon Barzin

Maria Tallchief, André Eglevsky; Patricia Wilde; 8 couples

Performance Type

Ballet

Video Archives Recording

George Balanchine Foundation Interpreters Archive (pas de deux), 1997, (variations) 2017

Note

An homage to Scotland in the form of a classical ballet, with allusions to the sylph of Romantic ballet. The daring throw of the ballerina by four men into the arms of the highlander, simulating the flight by wires of the Romantic age, was later eliminated in favor of placing her in his arms.

Stagings

1962   New England Civic (in 1964 became Boston Ballet)
1963   Paris Opera Ballet
1964   Ballett der Bayerischen Staatsoper (Munich)
1965   Pennsylvania Ballet
1965   Teatro alla Scala (Milan)
1966   San Francisco Ballet
1967   Joffrey Ballet
1971   Geneva Ballet (Grand Theatre de Geneve [Ballet])
1971   Ballett der Hamburgischen Staatsoper
1973   Ballet de San Juan
1973   Ballet West
1975   Teatro alla Scala (Milan)
1976   Pacific Northwest Ballet
1978   Milwaukee Ballet
1978   Washington Ballet
1979   Milwaukee Ballet
1980   Los Angeles Ballet
1980   Washington Ballet
1981   Atlanta Ballet
1981   Pennsylvania Ballet
1982   Ballet de San Juan
1982   Ballet de l’Opera du Rhin (Strasbourg, France)
1982   Ballett der Deutschen Oper am Rhein (Dusseldorf)
1982   Minnesota Dance Theater
1982   North Carolina Dance Theatre
1983   Kansas City Ballet
1984   Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1984   Washington Ballet
1985   Tulsa Ballet Theatre
1986   Ballet du Nord (France)
1986   Cincinnati Ballet
1986   Milwaukee Ballet
1987   Ballet de San Juan
1987   Municipal Theatre of Berne
1987   Texas Ballet (formerly Fort Worth Dallas Ballet)
1988   Ballet du Nord (France
1988   Miami City Ballet
1988   Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1988   Star Dancers Ballet Company (Japan)
1989   Kirov Ballet
1989   Texas Ballet (formerly Fort Worth Dallas Ballet)
1990   Ballet du Nord (France)
1990   Miami City Ballet
1990   The Scottish Ballet
1990   Star Dancers Ballet Company (Japan)
1991   North Carolina Dance Theatre
1992   Pennsylvania Ballet
1992   Sacramento Ballet
1993   Banff Center (Alberta, Canada)
1993   Miami City Ballet
1994   Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse
1995   Ballett der Bayerischen Staatsoper (Munich)
1995   Nashville City Ballet
1995   Pennsylvania Ballet
1995   Texas Ballet (formerly Fort Worth Dallas Ballet)
1996   Cincinnati Ballet
1996   Kansas City Ballet
1997   Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse
1997   Ballett der Hamburgischen Staatsoper
1997   Miami City Ballet
1997   Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1997   Star Dancers Ballet Company (Japan)
2002   Pennsylvania Ballet
2002   Sacramento Ballet
2006   Star Dancers Ballet Company
2007   Sacramento Ballet
2009   Metropolitan Classical Ballet
2009   Maryinsky Ballet (Kirov)
2011   Ballet du Capitole of Toulouse
2011   Miami City Ballet
2012   San Francisco Ballet
2013   Star Dancers Ballet Company
2014   Mariinsky Theatre
2017   Guangzhou Ballet
2022 Star Dancers Ballet Company

Recorded Performances

Videos/DVD

2003, VAI, The Art of Maria Tallchief (excerpt from pas de deux [1959]);
2004, Kultur, Balanchine (excerpt from pas de deux [1959]);
2005, Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Dancing for Mr. B (excerpt from pas de deux [1959])

Film

1989, Seahorse Films, Dancing for Mr. B (excerpt from pas de deux)

Television

1959 (NBC, Bell Telephone Hour)