Le Tombeau de Couperin (ballet)
Le Tombeau de Couperin | |
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Choreographer | New York State Theater |
Original ballet company | New York City Ballet |
Design | Ronald Bates |
Genre | Neoclassical ballet |
Le Tombeau de Couperin is a ballet choreographed by
Choreography
Le Tombeau de Couperin features eight couples divided into two groups, called
Production
Balanchine decided that for French composer Maurice Ravel's centenary in 1975, the New York City Ballet would hold the Ravel Festival to honor him.[5] In the previous forty years, Balanchine had only made two ballets to Ravel's works.[4]: 319 However, he stated he always enjoyed his music and decided "it would be a good idea to celebrate this wonderful composer’s life and work by arranging new dances to as many scores as we could."[3]: 560 He decided to choreograph to Le Tombeau de Couperin, an orchestral score that was a tribute to both François Couperin and French music in general.[3]: 625
Balanchine uncharacteristically completed the ballet early on in the rehearsal period, then moved on to work on other ballets. Fearing the choreography would be forgotten before the ballet's premiere, ballet master Rosemary Dunleavy gathered the cast and "got it back together again." Balanchine kept delaying his participation in these rehearsals despite Dunleavy's persuation. When he finally went to a rehearsal, it was also the first time he watched the ballet from the beginning to end.[1]: 290 The dancers are dressed in practice clothes. The lighting of the ballet is designed by Ronald Bates.[4]: 324
Following Balanchine's death, Dunleavy inherited the rights to the ballet.[1]: 390
Original cast
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Source:[4]: 324
Performances
Le Tombeau de Couperin premiered on May 29, 1975, at the
Critical reception
Reviewing a performance months after the premiere,
References
- ^ ISBN 9780241121801.
- ^ Macaulay, Alastair (January 19, 2008). "Four Distinct Dream Worlds, Sharing the Same Language of Classical Ballet". New York Times.
- ^ ISBN 9780385113816.
- ^ ISBN 9780803773684.
- ^ a b Kisselgoff, Anna (March 11, 1975). "City Ballet Plans 14 Works for Ravel Fete". New York Times.
- ^ Dunning, Jennifer (June 11, 2004). "Ballet Review; A New Generation Marches to the Balanchine Drumbeat". New York Times.
- ^ Barnes, Clive (November 22, 1975). "Ballet: Simple and Dense". New York Times.
External links
- Le Tombeau de Couperin on the New York City Ballet's website
- Le Tombeau de Couperin on the George Balanchine Trust's website