Le baiser de la fée

Le baiser de la fée
Choreographer Bronislava Nijinska
Music Igor Stravinsky
Premiere 27 November 1928
Paris
Original ballet company Ballets Russes
Genre Neoclassical ballet
Type classical ballet

Le baiser de la fée (The Fairy's Kiss) is a ballet in one act and four scenes composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1928 and revised in 1950 for George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's short story Iisjomfruen (English: The Ice-Maiden), the work is an homage to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, for the 35th anniversary of the composer's death. Stravinsky elaborated several melodies from early piano pieces and songs by Tchaikovsky in his score. A commission by Ida Rubinstein from 1927, the ballet was choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska and premiered in Paris on 27 November 1928.[1]

In 1937, Balanchine made a full-length ballet for his American Ballet, which premiered on 27 April, at the Old Metropolitan Opera House, New York City. His 1950 version premiered on 28 November, 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).

In 1960 Kenneth MacMillan choreographed his own version for The Royal Ballet.

Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée

The Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée is a concert suite for orchestra based on music from the ballet. Stravinsky arranged it in collaboration with Samuel Dushkin in 1934 and revised it in 1949. It has four movements:

Balanchine created an entirely new work for the City Ballet's Stravinsky Festival, using excerpts from the concert suite and the original ballet. The premiere took place on 21 June 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.

Casts

American Ballet

  • Kathryn Mullowny
  • Gisella Caccialanza
  • Leda Anchutina
  • Annabelle Lyon

New York City Ballet: Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée

Original cast: Stravinsky Festival 1972

NYCB revivals of Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée

Winter 1987

  • Robert La Fosse

Spring 2005

Winter 2006

Spring 2008

References

  1. ↑ IMSLP: List of works by Igor Stravinsky; Retrieved 6 April 2013

Sources

  • Playbill, New York City Ballet, Friday, June 20, 2008
  • Repertory Week, New York City Ballet, Spring Season, 2008 repertory, week 8

Reviews

External links