Balanchine Catalogue Archive
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399. Orfeo ed Euridice 1975
Opera in Two Acts and Five Scenes by Christoph Willibald Gluck
DANCES OF SHEPHERDS AND SHEPHERDESSES; FURIES AND DEMONS; BLESSED SPIRITS
- Music
Willibald Gluck
- Choreography
George Balanchine, staged by Brigitte Thom
- Premiere
November 22, 1975, Chicago Lyric Opera. Danced by Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet. Conductor: Jean Fournet
- Cast
Corps de ballet
Performance Type
Ballet for Opera
See Also
-
*170. Orpheus and Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice),
345.Orpheus und Eurydike (Orfeo ed Euridice),
400. Chaconne
Note
Choreography based on Orpheus und Eurydike [345], with slight revisions by Balanchine.
Source Notes
Relationship to Chaconne clarified by Barbara Horgan
400. Chaconne 1976
- Music
Christoph Willibald Gluck (ballet music from Orfeo ed Euridice, produced 1762, with music from the Paris production of 1774)
- Choreography
George Balanchine, staged by Brigitte Thom
- Production
Lighting by Ronald Bates
- Premiere
January 22, 1976, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater. Conductor: Robert Irving
- Cast
Suzanne Farrell, Peter Martins;
PAS DE TROIS: Renee Estopinal, Wilhelmina Frankfurt, Jay Jolley;
PAS DE DEUX: Susan Hendl, Jean-Pierre Frohlich;
PAS DE CINQ: Elise Flagg; Bonita Borne, Elyse Borne, Laura Flagg, Nichol Hlinka;
PAS DE DEUX: Farrell, Martins;
CHACONNE: Farrell, Martins; Susan Pilarre, Marjorie Spohn, Tracy Bennett, Gerard Ebitz, corps de ballet
PAS DE TROIS: Renee Estopinal, Wilhelmina Frankfurt, Jay Jolley;
PAS DE DEUX: Susan Hendl, Jean-Pierre Frohlich;
PAS DE CINQ: Elise Flagg; Bonita Borne, Elyse Borne, Laura Flagg, Nichol Hlinka;
PAS DE DEUX: Farrell, Martins;
CHACONNE: Farrell, Martins; Susan Pilarre, Marjorie Spohn, Tracy Bennett, Gerard Ebitz, corps de ballet
Performance Type
Ballet
See Also
-
*170. Orpheus and Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice),
345. Orpheus und Eurydike (Orfeo ed Euridice),
399. Orfeo ed Euridice
Note
The finale of Gluck’s opera is in the form of a dance rather than song. This choreography, first performed in the 1963 Hamburg State Opera production of Orfeo ed Euridice [345], was somewhat altered for presentation as the ballet Chaconne and Balanchine added a new pas deux at the beginning for Farrell and Martins. Initially danced in practice clothes; costumes by Karinska were added in the spring of 1976.
Additional Productions
Revisions
Spring 1976, New York City Ballet: Opening ensemble added to ‘The Dance of the Blessed Spirits.’
Stagings
1978 Paris Opera Ballet
1983 Pacific Northwest Ballet (with San Francisco Ballet)
1983 San Francisco Ballet (with Pacific Northwest Ballet)
1986 Pacific Northwest Ballet
1989 Pacific Northwest Ballet
1992 Pacific Northwest Ballet
1994 Stuttgart Ballet
1995 Miami City Ballet
1996 Pacific Northwest Ballet
2001 Pacific Northwest Ballet
2003 Suzanne Farrell Ballet
2005 State Ballet of Georgia
2007 Cincinnati Ballet
2007 The Suzanne Farrell Ballet
2008 Ballet West
2011 Ballet West
2014 Tbilisi Ballet
2017 Ballet West
2017 Suzanne Farrell Ballet
2018 Boston Ballet
2019 National Ballet of Canada
2022 Boston Ballet
Recorded Performances
Videos/DVD
1995, Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Choreography by Balanchine (excerpts [1978]);
2001, Kultur, Peter Martins: A Dancer (PAS DE DEUX);
2004, Kultur, Balanchine (excerpts)
2001, Kultur, Peter Martins: A Dancer (PAS DE DEUX);
2004, Kultur, Balanchine (excerpts)
Film
1978, The Film Company, Peter Martins: A Dancer (PAS DE DEUX)
Television
1978 excerpts (PBS, Dance in America)
1978 (CBC [Montreal])
1983 excerpt (PBS, Gala of Stars)
1984 Faust (French television, TF1)
Source Notes
Balanchine, Arlene Croce, Nancy Goldner, Barbara Horgan
170. Orpheus and Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice) 1936
Opera in Two Acts and Four Scenes
- Music
Christoph Willibald Gluck (Orfeo ed Euridice, produced 1762, with ballet music from the Paris production of 1774). Libretto by Raniero da Calzabigi
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Production
Stage production conceived by George Balanchine and Pavel Tchelitchew. Scenery and costumes by Pavel Tchelitchew. Scenery painted by Joseph Novak
- Premiere
May 22, 1936, Metropolitan Opera, New York. Danced by American Ballet Ensemble. Conductor: Richard Hageman
- Cast
SINGERS: Orpheus, Anna Kaskas; Eurydice, Jeanne Pengelly; Amor, Maxine Stellman; and others. DANCERS: Orpheus, Lew Christensen; Eurydice, Daphne Vane; Amor, William Dollar; Shepherds and Nymphs, Furies and Ghosts from Hades, Heroes from Elysium, Followers of Orpheus, corps de ballet.
Act I: SCENE I. At the tomb of Eurydice. SCENE 2. Entrance to Hades.
Act II: SCENE I. The Elysian Fields. SCENE 2. The Gardens of the Temple of Love.
Act I: SCENE I. At the tomb of Eurydice. SCENE 2. Entrance to Hades.
Act II: SCENE I. The Elysian Fields. SCENE 2. The Gardens of the Temple of Love.
Performance Type
Opera
See Also
-
345. Orpheus und Eurydike (Orfeo ed Euridice),
399. Orfeo ed Euridice, 400. Chaconne
Note
An original production staged by Balanchine at the Metropolitan; the singers were invisible in the orchestra pit while the dancers performed the action on stage; atmospheric scenic effects ended with a vast night-sky of stars. The innovative and controversial production was presented only twice.
Balanchine reconceived and directed Orpheus and Eurydice for the Hamburgische Staatsoper in 1963; this all-new choreography.was performed in a new production of the Théâtre National de l’Opéra, Paris, in 1973 and the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1975 and forms the basis for the ballet Chaconne [400], first presented by the New York City Ballet in 1976.
Additional Productions
Other Versions
1963, Hamburgische Staatsoper.
Source Notes
Information about later productions provided by Balanchine, Barbara Horgan.
