Le Baiser de la fée
Encyclopedia
Le baiser de la fée is a ballet
in one act and four scenes composed by Igor Stravinsky
in 1928 and revised in 1950 for George Balanchine
and New York City Ballet
. Based on Hans Christian Andersen
's short story, Iisjomfruen (English: The Ice Maiden), it is an homage to Tchaikovsky, making use of several melodies from his early works. Stravinsky elaborated melodies from early piano pieces and songs by Tchaikovsky. Ida Rubinstein
commissioned the work and Bronislava Nijinska
choreographed the 1928 Paris premiere.
Balanchine made a full-length ballet to the music on his American Ballet
. The premiere took place April 27, 1937, at the Old Metropolitan Opera House
, New York City. The NYCB premiere was November 28, 1950, at City Center of Music and Drama
, New York, at which time it was presented under the English translation of the title, The Fairy's Kiss (the original French title has since been restored.)
Balanchine created an entirely new work for City Ballet's Stravinsky Festival using excerpts from the concert suite and the original ballet. The premiere was June 21, 1972, at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center
. In 1974, Balanchine incorporated Tchaikovsky's "None but the Lonely Heart" for a new pas de deux.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
in one act and four scenes composed by Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
in 1928 and revised in 1950 for George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
and New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
. Based on Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's short story, Iisjomfruen (English: The Ice Maiden), it is an homage to Tchaikovsky, making use of several melodies from his early works. Stravinsky elaborated melodies from early piano pieces and songs by Tchaikovsky. Ida Rubinstein
Ida Rubinstein
Ida Lvovna Rubinstein was a Russian ballerina, actress, patron and Belle Époque figure.- Early life :Born in Kharkov, or possibly St. Petersburg,p408 into a wealthy Jewish family, Rubinstein was orphaned at an early age. She had, by the standard of Russian ballet, little formal training. Tutored...
commissioned the work and Bronislava Nijinska
Bronislava Nijinska
Bronislava Nijinska - February 22, 1972)) was a Russian dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Polish descent.Nijinska was born in Minsk, the third child of the Polish dancers Tomasz and Eleonora Nijinska . Her brother was Vaslav Nijinsky...
choreographed the 1928 Paris premiere.
Balanchine made a full-length ballet to the music on his American Ballet
American Ballet
The American Ballet was the first professional ballet company George Balanchine created in the United States. The company was founded with the help of Lincoln Kirstein and Edward Mortimer Morris Warburg, managed by Alexander Merovitch and populated by students of Kirstein and Balanchine's School of...
. The premiere took place April 27, 1937, at the Old Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, New York City. The NYCB premiere was November 28, 1950, at City Center of Music and Drama
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
, New York, at which time it was presented under the English translation of the title, The Fairy's Kiss (the original French title has since been restored.)
Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée
The Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée is a concert suite for orchestra of music from the ballet in 4 movements that Stravinsky arranged in 1934 and revised in 1949; the 4 movements are:- I. Sinfonia
- II. Danses suisses
- III. Scherzo
- IV. Pas de deux
Balanchine created an entirely new work for City Ballet's Stravinsky Festival using excerpts from the concert suite and the original ballet. The premiere was June 21, 1972, at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
. In 1974, Balanchine incorporated Tchaikovsky's "None but the Lonely Heart" for a new pas de deux.
American Ballet
- Kathryn Mullowny
- Gisella Caccialanza
- Leda Anchutina
- Annabelle LyonAnnabelle Lyon (dancer)Annabelle Lyon was raised in Memphis, where father Max ran a chain of grocery stores...
- William DollarWilliam DollarWilliam Dollar was an American ballet dancer born in St. Louis but he was reared in East St. Louis, Illinois. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Dollar lived at 491 North 22nd Street and operated a grocery store and meat market in East St. Louis.William studied with George Balanchine, Michel...
Original cast: Stravinsky Festival 1972
- Patricia McBridePatricia McBridePatricia McBride is a ballerina who spent nearly 30 years dancing with the New York City Ballet....
- Bettijane SillsBettijane SillsBettijane Sills had a long career in theater and as a soloist in the New York City Ballet. During her career, she danced for both George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins....
- Carol Sumner
- Helgi Tomasson
Winter 1987
- Patricia McBridePatricia McBridePatricia McBride is a ballerina who spent nearly 30 years dancing with the New York City Ballet....
- Robert La Fosse
Spring 2005
- Megan FairchildMegan FairchildMegan Fairchild is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. She studied at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was born, and later on attended the School of American Ballet as a boarding student. She went to high school at the Professional Children's School. ...
- Amanda Edge
- Dena Abergel
- Joaquín De LuzJoaquin de LuzJoaquín De Luz formerly with the American Ballet Theater , is currently a Principal Dancer with the New York City Ballet .-Background:...
Winter 2006
- Megan FairchildMegan FairchildMegan Fairchild is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. She studied at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was born, and later on attended the School of American Ballet as a boarding student. She went to high school at the Professional Children's School. ...
- Amanda Edge
- Carrie Lee RigginsCarrie Lee RigginsCarrie Lee Riggins is a ballerina dancing with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company; she formerly danced for New York City Ballet having trained at their affiliated School of American Ballet.- External links : **...
- Joaquín De LuzJoaquin de LuzJoaquín De Luz formerly with the American Ballet Theater , is currently a Principal Dancer with the New York City Ballet .-Background:...
Spring 2008
- Megan FairchildMegan FairchildMegan Fairchild is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. She studied at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was born, and later on attended the School of American Ballet as a boarding student. She went to high school at the Professional Children's School. ...
- Faye Arthurs
- Alina Dronova
- Joaquín De LuzJoaquin de LuzJoaquín De Luz formerly with the American Ballet Theater , is currently a Principal Dancer with the New York City Ballet .-Background:...
Reviews
- NY Times by Alastair MacaulayAlastair MacaulayAlastair Macaulay is a dance critic for the New York Times. He was previously chief dance critic at The Times Literary Supplement and chief theater critic of the Financial Times, both of London...
, February 9, 2008 - NY Times by Jennifer DunningJennifer DunningJennifer Dunning is a writer and critic for the New York Times on the subjects of dance and ballet. She is the author of the 1985 But First a School: The First Fifty Years of the School of American Ballet, the 1996 Alvin Ailey, a Life in Dance and the 1997 Great Performances: A...
, May 30, 2006 - NY Times by Gia Kourlas, May 30, 2005
- NY Times by Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, November 23, 1987 - NY Times by Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, June 13, 1981 - NY Times by Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, November 20, 1979
- NY Times by Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, February 4, 1974 - NY Times by Clive BarnesClive Barnes (critic)Clive Alexander Barnes, CBE was a British-born American writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977 he was the dance and theater critic for the New York Times, the most powerful position he had held, since its theater critics' reviews historically have had great influence on the success or failure of...
, June 22, 1972 - NY Times by John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
, November 26, 1951 - Sunday New York Times by John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
, May 30, 1937 - Sunday NY Times by John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
, May 2, 1937 - NY Times by John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
, April 28, 1937