The Four Temperaments (ballet)
The Four Temperaments is a ballet made by New York City Ballet co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine to music he commissioned from Paul Hindemith (the latter's eponymous 1940 music for string orchestra and piano) for the opening program of Ballet Society, immediate forerunner of City Ballet. The première took place on Wednesday, November 20th, 1946, at the Central High School of Needle Trades, New York City, with mise en scène by Kurt Seligmann and lighting by Jean Rosenthal. Leon Barzin conducted and the pianist was Nicholas Kopeikine. The City Ballet première was held in 1951 in practice clothes and without scenery; in 1964 it received new lighting at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, by David Hays. NYCB principal dancer Albert Evans chose to include The Four Temperaments in his farewell performance, Sunday, June 20th, 2010.
Casts
original
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- Theme
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- Beatrice Tompkins
- Elise Reiman
- Gisella Caccialanza
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- First variation: Melancholic
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- 4 women
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- Second variation: Sanguinic
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- 4 women
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- Third variation: Phlegmatic
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- 4 women
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- Fourth variation: Choleric
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NYCB revivals
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- First variation: Melancholic
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- Second variation: Sanquinic'
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- Third variation: Phlegmatic
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- Fourth variation: Choleric
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- First variation: Melancholic
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- Second variation: Sanquinic
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- Third variation: Phlegmatic
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- Fourth variation: Choleric
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- First variation: Melancholic
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- Second variation: Sanguinic
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- Third variation: Phlegmatic
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- Fourth variation: Choleric
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- First variation: Melancholic
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- Second variation: Sanguinic
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- Third variation: Phlegmatic
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- Fourth variation: Choleric
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notes
- ^ first time in rôle
Filmography
- 1989, Seahorse Films, Dancing for Mr.B. (excerpts from 1947 Ballet Society rehearsal).
Videography and DVD
- 1995 Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Dancing for Mr.B, excerpts from the 1947 Ballet Society rehearsal
- 1995 Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Choreography by Balanchine, 1977
- 2004 Kultur, Balanchine, excerpt from Melancholich
Television
- 1962 Dutch television
- 1963 NBC, excerpt
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- 1964 CBC Montreal, L'Heure du Concert
- 1977 PBS, Dance in America
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- 1984 PBS, Dance in America: Balanchine
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See also
Reviews
External links
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