Originally presented by the American Ballet, New York, 1935. At the invitation of Nelson A. Rockefeller, Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein formed American Ballet Caravan, bringing together members of the former American Ballet and of Ballet Caravan for a five-months tour of South America. Serenade was presented in repertory with other ballets, including Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial, Concerto Barocco, Divertimento, Errante, Apollo, The Bat, and Fantasia Brasileira.

Originally presented by Les Ballets 1933, Paris.

As in Schmidt von Lübeck’s poem, set by Schubert, a wanderer seeks lost love amid phantom dreams; she encounters figures of hope, despair, and memory in an atmosphere of dark shadow and diffused light. Scenic effects achieved by lighting and silks dramatized the actions of the dancers. In later productions, characters were identified as Woman in Green, Youths, Shadows, Angels, Revolutionaries, and others.