Liebeslieder Walzer (ballet)
Liebeslieder Walzer | |
---|---|
Choreographer | George Balanchine |
Music | Johannes Brahms |
Premiere | 12 November 1960 New York City Center |
Original ballet company | New York City Ballet |
Design | David Hays Barbara Karinska |
Genre | Neoclassical ballet |
Liebeslieder Walzer is a two-part neoclassical ballet choreographed by George Balanchine to Johannes Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52 and Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65, with original sets and lighting designed by David Hays, and costumes designed by Barbara Karinska. The ballet premiered on 12 November 1960 at the New York City Center, performed by the New York City Ballet.[1][2]
Structure and analysis
In the first part of Liebeslieder Walzer, which features 18 songs,[3] is set in a ballroom, with the women are dressed in satin ballroom dresses and heels, while the men wears tailcoats, dancing ballroom waltz.[4][5][6] Following a brief break with the curtains lowered,[1] the women switch to romantic tutus and pointe shoes,[5] while the men only take off the gloves. The doors are opened and showed the sky.[7] This section's style resemble classical ballet[5] The dancers eventually exit the stage,[8] before returning two by two,[9] in the costumes from the first half of the ballet,[10] and listen to the last song motionless.[11]
Throughout Liebeslieder Walzer, the four couples display different kinds of emotions and subtle behavior, which is regarded as the most difficult part for the dancers.
A soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor, a baritone and two pianists playing in four hands perform on stage left.[1][5][10] All of them are dressed in evening suits and ball gowns, identical to the ones worn by the dancers.[7][12]
Production
Music
Liebeslieder Walzer is set to Johannes Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52 and Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65,[2] 33 songs in total.[14] Apart from the final song, which is set to poetry by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, all the lyrics are taken from Georg Friedrich Daumer's poets.[3] Balanchine had said that he "had to do dances set to this music" despite its length.[11]
Designs
The original set, designed by David Hays, is a bourgeois salon. In 1984, a year after Balanchine died, New York City Ballet co-founder Lincoln Kirstein commissioned a new Rococo-inspired sets by David Mitchell, which were inspired by Nymphenburg Palace, where Balanchine had visited in 1971,[1][7][15] and was the sets Balanchine envisioned when he made the ballet.[7][16] Barbara Karinska designed the costumes.[1]
Original cast
- Diana Adams
- Melissa Hayden
- Jillana
- Violette Verdy
- Bill Carter
- Jonathan Watts
- Conrad Ludlow
- Nicholas Magallanes
- Louise Sherman
- Robert Irving
- Angeline Rasmussen
- Mitzi Wilson
- Frank Porretta
- Herbert Beattie
Revivals
Other companies that had danced Liebeslieder Walzer include Vienna State Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Ballett Zürich, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.[1]
Following Balanchine's death, the rights of the ballet was left to Karin von Aroldingen, who had danced Diana Adams's role and taught the ballet at Balanchine's request during his lifetime.[13]
In 2020, in response to
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Liebeslieder Walzer". Oxford Reference.
- ^ a b "Liebeslieder Walzer". New York City Ballet.
- ^ a b Kisselgoff, Anna (20 May 1984). "Dance View; Balanchine Infused Waltzes With Subtle Drama". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Macaulay, Alastair (2 October 2015). "Review: 'Liebeslieder Walzer' and 'Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3,' Balanchine Couples Baring Their Souls". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e Macaulay, Alastair (26 February 2019). "Balanchine's Dark Waltzes: Can Love Suffice?". The New York Times.
- ^ Macaulay, Alastair (21 May 2012). "Expressions of Love That Bridge Real and Ethereal Worlds". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d Kisselgoff, Anna (12 May 1984). "Dance: 'Liebeslieder; Restored By City Ballet". The New York Times.
- ^ Anderson, Jack (15 January 1999). "Dance Review; The Wonders of Waltzing, In Fantasy And Reality". The New York Times.
- ^ Dunning, Jennifer (3 May 2004). "Dance Review; Present Congratulates Past, Bowing to City Ballet Alumni". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e Martin, John (23 November 1960). "Ballet: Brahms' Waltzes". The New York Times.
- ^ ISBN 9780571260959.
- ^ a b Sulcas, Roslyn (19 May 2006). "All Balanchine and All Brahms at the New York City Ballet". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Taper, Bernard (5 January 1997). "Keepers of the Treasured Balanchine Flame". The New York Times.
- ^ Kaufman, Sarah (20 October 2008). "A Leap to Lift Spirits". The Washington Post.
- ^ Kisselgoff, Alastair (22 February 2000). "Ballet Review; An Evening of Spats, Whispers and Passion in the Drawing Room". The New York Times.
- ^ Reynolds, Nancy (1977). Repertory in Review.
- ^ a b c "335. Liebeslieder Walzer". The George Balanchine Foundation.
- ^ "New York City Ballet Announces Casting for Weeks One and Two of Their Digital Season". BroadwayWorld. 21 September 2020.