Johann Strauss the Younger, Franz Lehár, and Richard Strauss (as given below)
Choreography
George Balanchine
Production
Scenery by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, executed by Nolan Scenery Studios. Costumes by Karinska. Lighting by Ronald Bates
Premiere
June 23, 1977, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater. Conductor: Robert Irving. (Preview: Annual New York City Ballet Gala Benefit, June 15, with Jean-Pierre Bonnefous in the role later danced by Jorge Donn.)
Cast
TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS (J. Strauss, Op. 325, 1868): Karin von Aroldingen, Sean Lavery, 10 couples; VOICES OF SPRING (J. Strauss, Op. 410, 1885): Patricia McBride, Helgi Tomasson, 8 women; EXPLOSION POLKA (J. Strauss, Op. 43, ca. 1848): Sara Leland, Bart Cook, 3 couples; GOLD AND SILVER WALTZ (Lehár, 1905): Kay Mazzo, Peter Martins, 8 couples; FIRST SEQUENCE OF WALTZES FROM ‘DER ROSENKAVALIER’ (R. Strauss, arranged 1944): Suzanne Farrell, Jorge Donn (guest artist); von Aroldingen, Lavery; McBride, Tomasson; Leland, Cook; Mazzo, Martins; entire cast
Performance Type
Ballet
Note
Each waltz suggests a different mood. The first three take place in the Vienna Woods: a formal dance, wood spirits, a comic polka. The scenery evolves: The trees develop tendrils of decor to form the dancing-room of the ‘Merry Widow’ (GOLD AND SILVER WALTZ); in the finale, the roots of the trees become the chandeliers of a mirrored ballroom for WALTZES FROM ‘DER ROSENKAVALIER.’
Additional Productions
Revisions
New York City Ballet: GOLD AND SILVER WALTZ changed many times; minor revisions in VOICES OF SPRING.
Recorded Performances
Videos/DVD
1996, Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: The Balanchine Celebration, Part One (DER ROSENKAVALIER [1993])
1983 (PBS, “A New York City Ballet Tribute to George Balanchine”)
1993 excerpt (PBS, Dance in America, “The Balanchine Celebration”)
2004 excerpt (PBS, Live from Lincoln Center, “Balanchine 100”)
