Richard Strauss (concert suite, ca. 1917). Libretto after Molière
Choreography
George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. COOKS DANCE by Peter Martins (uncredited). Assistant to the Choreographers: Susan Hendl
Production
Scenery and costumes designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. Costumes executed by Karinska. Lighting by Gilbert Hemsley, Jr.
Premiere
April 8, 1979, New York City Opera, New York State Theater. Corps de ballet composed of students of the School of American Ballet. Conductor: Cal Stewart Kellogg
Cast
Lucile, Patricia McBride; M. Jourdain, Jean-Pierre Bonnefous; Cléonte, Rudolf Nureyev; DIVERTISSEMENT: Darla Hoover, Michael Puleo, six women; Maid; 6 Lackeys; 4 Cooks; 2 Attendants to Cléonte
Performance Type
Ballet
See Also
*131. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, 221. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, 414. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Performed with Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas.
Additional Productions
Revisions
1980, New York City Ballet: Although choreography was credited to Balanchine alone, substantial portions of Robbins’s work remained. Several dancing passages for Cléonte removed, replaced by mime passages for Cléonte and Lucile.
Other Versions
1932, Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo. 1944, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
Richard Strauss (concert suite, ca. 1917). Libretto after Molière
Choreography
George Balanchine
Production
Scenery and costumes by Eugene Berman. Scenery executed by E. B. Dunkel Studios; costumes executed by Karinska, Inc.
Premiere
September 23, 1944, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, City Center of Music and Drama, New York. Conductor: Emanuel Balaban
Cast
Cléonte, Nicholas Magallanes; Coviel, His Valet, Peter Deign; M. Jourdain, Michel Katcharoff; Lucile, His Daughter, Nathalie Krassovska; Nicola, Her Maid, Vida Brown; 4 Ladies in Waiting; 4 Blackamoors.
DIVERTISSEMENTS: Fencers, 2 men; PAS DE SEPT: Mary Ellen Moylan, 6 women; HARLEQUINADE: Ruthanna Boris, Leon Danielian, Nikita Talin; DANSE INDIENNE: Maria Tallchief, Yurek Lazowski; PAS DE DEUX D’AMOUR: Krassovska, Magallanes
Performance Type
Ballet
See Also
*131. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, 410. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, 414. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Richard Strauss (concert suite, ca. 1917). Book by Sobeka [Boris Kochno] after Molière
Choreography
George Balanchine
Production
Curtain, scenery, and costumes by Alexandre Benois. Curtain executed by Georges Geerts; scenery executed by Prince A. Schervashidze; costumes executed by Karinska, Paris
Premiere
May 3, 1932, Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo, Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Conductor: Paul Paray
Cast
Cléonte, David Lichine; Covielle, His Valet, Jasht Dolotine; Two Gypsy Tailors; Monsieur Jourdain, le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Marian Ladré; His Retinue, 4 women, 2 men; Cléonte’s Friends Disguised as Slaves, 4 men; Lucille, Tamara Toumanova; Nicole, Her Servant, Eleanora Marra; BALLET GIVEN BY M. JOURDAIN IN HONOR OF THE SON OF THE GRAND TURK: Valentina Blinova, 6 women; TURKISH DIVERTISSEMENT: I. Olga Morosova, Yurek Shabelevsky, Léonide Katchourovsky; II. Natalie Strakhova, Metek [Mezeslav] Borovsky; III. Acrobats, Roman Jasinsky, 3 women.
Performance Type
Ballet
See Also
221. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, *410. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, 414. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
1.Cléonte disguises himself as the son of the Grand Turk. 2.Cléonte enters the house of Monsieur Jourdain. 3. Dance of Cléonte and his friends disguised as slaves. 4. Ballet given by Monsieur Jourdain in honor of the son of the Grand Turk. 5. Entrance of Lucille, accompanied by her servant Nicole. 6. Turkish ceremony to ennoble Monsieur Jourdain. 7. Turkish Divertissement. 8. Lucille, not recognizing Cléonte, attempts to flee. 9. Betrothal of Lucille to Cléonte, who removes his disguise.
Additional Productions
Other Versions
1944, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. 1979, New York City Opera. According to Balanchine, each of the three versions was completely different. (In 1980, a revision of the New York City Opera production entered the repertory of the New York City Ballet.)
