Balanchine Catalogue Archive
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159. Manon 1936
Opera in Five Acts by Jules Massenet
- Music
Jules Massenet
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Premiere
January 10, 1936, Metropolitan Opera, New York. Conductor: Louis Hasselmans
Performance Type
Ballet for Opera
Note
Although choreographer and ballet cast are omitted from the printed program, reference in a review to ‘a blithe ballet divertissement’ indicates choreography by Balanchine for the American Ballet Ensemble. It may have occurred in Act III, Scene 1, COURS LA REINE.
122. Manon 1932
Opera in Four Acts by Jules Massenet
ACT III BALLET
- Music
Jules Massenet
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Premiere
February 28, 1932, Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Danced by Ballets [Russes] de Monte-Carlo. Conductor: Gabriel Grovlez
- Cast
Valentina Blinova, Léon Woizikowsky, 6 couples
Performance Type
Ballet for Opera
Source Notes
Choreography acknowledged by Balanchine
38. Carmen 1925
Opera in Four Acts by Georges Bizet
ACT II SEGUIDILLA
- Music
Georges Bizet
- Choreography
George Balanchine
- Premiere
January 25, 1925, Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Danced by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes
- Cast
4 couples
Performance Type
Ballet for Opera
Note
Diaghilev’s dancers were employed between ballet seasons as the resident company of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and his first assignments to Balanchine were opera divertissements. Balanchine has said that all choreography for operas in Monte Carlo during his tenure with Diaghilev was newly created by him; programs occasionally include no credits for choreography, and it may be that some dances by Nijinska, resident choreographer with Diaghilev at Monte Carlo in 1923 and 1924, remained during Balanchine’s early years. When choreography credits appear in the opera programs between 1925 and 1929, they are variously given as ‘Maître de ballet: Georges Balanchine,’ ‘Chorégraphie de Georges Balanchine,’ or ‘Ballet reglé par Georges Balanchine’; the significance of these differences is unknown.
Source Notes
Balanchine