369. Suite No. 3 (Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3) 1970
(from 1971 called TSCHAIKOVSKY SUITE NO. 3)
- Music
Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky (Suite No. 3 in G major, Op. 55, 1884)
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Production
Scenery and costumes by Nicolas Benois; costumes for TEMA CON VARIAZIONI later redesigned by Ben Benson. Lighting by Ronald Bates
- Premiere
December 3, 1970, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater. Conductor: Robert Irving
- Cast
ÉLÉGIE: Karin von Aroldingen, Anthony Blum, 6 women;
VALSE MÉLANCOLIQUE: Kay Mazzo, Conrad Ludlow, 6 women;
SCHERZO: Marnee Morris, John Clifford, 8 women;
TEMA CON VARIAZIONI: Gelsey Kirkland, Edward Villella, 4 demi-solo couples, 8 women, 8 men
VALSE MÉLANCOLIQUE: Kay Mazzo, Conrad Ludlow, 6 women;
SCHERZO: Marnee Morris, John Clifford, 8 women;
TEMA CON VARIAZIONI: Gelsey Kirkland, Edward Villella, 4 demi-solo couples, 8 women, 8 men
Performance Type
Ballet
Note
The first three movements take place in a darkened ballroom with the women’s dresses long and flowing, their hair unbound; in the first movement they are barefoot. In the final movement, TEMA CON VARIAZIONI, the stage brightens, the women appear in tutus and the men are dressed as cavaliers. In 1947, as Theme and Variations, this section was premiered as an independent work.
2005 Ballet de San Juan
2012 Ballets de San Juan
Recorded Performances
Videos/DVD
1998, Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Choreography by Balanchine (ÉLÉGIE [1979])
1979 Élégie (PBS, Dance in America)
Rosemary Dunleavy
