Balanchine Catalogue Archive
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416. The Spellbound Child/L'Enfant et les Sortilèges 1981
Made for Television
- Music
Maurice Ravel (1920-25). Lyric fantasy in two parts based on a poem by Colette (translated by Catherine Wolff)
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Production
Produced by Emile Ardolino and Judy Kinberg. Conceived for television and with choreography by George Balanchine, in collaboration with Kermit Love. Directed by Emile Ardolino. Design concept, puppets, models, and costumes by Kermit Love. Supervising Designer: David Mitchell. Lighting by Ralph Holmes
- Premiere
First telecast: May 25, 1981, Dance in America, PBS. Danced by New York City Ballet, students from the School of American Ballet, and others. Conductor of New York City Ballet orchestra: Manuel Rosenthal. Singers off-camera
- Cast
Boy, Christopher Byars; Mother; Armchair; Lady Chair, 2 women; Clock; Teapot; Chinese Cup; Fire, Karin von Aroldingen; 5 Shepherds; 5 Shepherdesses; 2 Cats; Wounded Tree; Dragonflies, 4 women; Bats, 2 women, 1 man; Moths, 6 women; 2 Frogs; 2 Owls; Toads, 8 boys
Performance Type
Television
See Also
-
*48. L'Enfant et les Sortilèges,
235. The Spellbound Child (L'Enfant et les Sortilèges),
390. L'Enfant et les Sortilèges
Note
Created for television, this production used elements of the 1975 staging and employed special effects, including animation for certain parts of the narrative.
Additional Productions
Other Versions
1925, Opéra de Monte-Carlo (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, danced by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes).
1946, Ballet Society (The Spellbound Child [L’Enfant et les Sortilèges]).
1975, New York City Ballet (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Ravel Festival)
1946, Ballet Society (The Spellbound Child [L’Enfant et les Sortilèges]).
1975, New York City Ballet (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Ravel Festival)
Recorded Performances
Television
1981 (PBS, Dance in America)
235. The Spellbound Child (L'Enfant et les Sortilèges) 1946
Lyric Fantasy in Two Parts
- Music
Maurice Ravel (1920-25). Libretto by Colette (translated by Lincoln Kirstein and Jane Barzin)
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Production
Scenery and costumes by Aline Bernstein. Costumes executed by Karinska. Lighting by Jean Rosenthal
- Premiere
November 20, 1946, Ballet Society, Central High School of Needle Trades, New York. Conductor: Leon Barzin
- Cast
Each role was performed by a singer off stage and a dancer on stage. Child (sung and danced), Joseph Connolly; His Mother; Armchair; Bergère; Clock; Tea Pot; Chinese Cup; Fire, Elise Reiman; 2 Shepherdesses; 2 Shepherds; Princess, Tanaquil Le Clercq; Teacher Arithmetic; 10 Numbers; Black Cat, William Dollar; White Cat, Georgia Hiden; Big Frog; 4 Little Frogs; Tree (sung only); 7 Dragonflies; Nightingale; Bat; Squirrel; Little Squirrel; Owl.
Performance Type
Opera-Ballet
See Also
-
*48. L'Enfant et les Sortilèges,
390. L'Enfant et les Sortilèges,
416. The Spellbound Child/L'Enfant et les Sortilèges
Note
Presented with The Four Temperaments on the initial program of Ballet Society, the membership-supported non-profit organization formed by Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein.
Additional Productions
Other Versions
1925, Opéra de Monte-Carlo (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, danced by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes).
1975, New York City Ballet (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Ravel Festival).
1981, for the PBS television series Dance in America (The Spellbound Child/L’Enfant et les Sortilèges).
1975, New York City Ballet (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Ravel Festival).
1981, for the PBS television series Dance in America (The Spellbound Child/L’Enfant et les Sortilèges).
48. L'Enfant et les Sortilèges 1925
Lyric Fantasy in Two Parts
- Music
Maurice Ravel (1920-25). Libretto by Colette
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Production
Directed by Raoul Gunsbourg. Scenery by Alphonse Visconti. Costumes by Georgette Vialet.
- Premiere
March 21, 1925, Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Danced by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Conductor: Victor de Sabata.
- Cast
Singers and dancers appeared together on stage. Individual dancers were listed for the first time in the program for February 15, 1926:
ACT I: Shepherds and Shepherdesses, Alexandra Danilova, Constantin Tcherkas, 2 couples; Ashes, Alicia Markova; 3 Sheep; Goat; Dog.
ACT II: Butterflies, Danilova, Tcherkas, 2 women; 4 Squirrels; 4 Dragonflies; 5 Frogs. Sung parts included The Child, 2 Cats, Easy Chair, Princess, Mother, Nightingale, Fire, Chinese Cup, Dragonfly, Bat, Squirrel, Shepherd and Shepherdess, Teacher Arithmetic, Clock, Armchair, Teapot, Tree, Frog, 3 Beasts, Owl.
ACT I: Shepherds and Shepherdesses, Alexandra Danilova, Constantin Tcherkas, 2 couples; Ashes, Alicia Markova; 3 Sheep; Goat; Dog.
ACT II: Butterflies, Danilova, Tcherkas, 2 women; 4 Squirrels; 4 Dragonflies; 5 Frogs. Sung parts included The Child, 2 Cats, Easy Chair, Princess, Mother, Nightingale, Fire, Chinese Cup, Dragonfly, Bat, Squirrel, Shepherd and Shepherdess, Teacher Arithmetic, Clock, Armchair, Teapot, Tree, Frog, 3 Beasts, Owl.
Performance Type
Opera-Ballet
See Also
-
235. The Spellbound Child (L'Enfant et les Sortilèges),
390. L'Enfant et les Sortilèges,
416. The Spellbound Child/L'Enfant et les Sortilèges
Note
A naughty child, confined to his room, smashes the teapot, mistreats his pet squirrel, tears the wallpaper, assaults the fireplace, the clock, his school books. The objects come to life, assert themselves, rebuke him. Transported into a magic garden, the child is confronted by animals and trees that in the past have suffered from his cruelties; they attack him. During the fray a small squirrel is injured; moved to compassion, the child dresses its wound. The animals are astonished; when in despair the child cries out for his mother, they assist him, and lead him to her. World premiere and Balanchine’s first major assignment from Diaghilev. There were three later Balanchine productions of this work; the 1981 version, conceived for television, used elements from the 1975 production.
Additional Productions
Other Versions
1946, Ballet Society (The Spellbound Child [L’Enfant et les Sortilèges]).
1975, New York City Ballet (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Ravel Festival).
1981, for the PBS television series Dance in America (The Spellbound Child / L’Enfant et les Sortilèges).
1975, New York City Ballet (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Ravel Festival).
1981, for the PBS television series Dance in America (The Spellbound Child / L’Enfant et les Sortilèges).
Source Notes
Balanchine
