Theme and Variations (ballet)

This article is about George Balanchine's 1947 ballet. For Balanchine's 1966 ballet, see Variations (ballet). For Balanchine's 1982 revision of that ballet, see Variations for Orchestra (Balanchine). For the musical form, see Variation (music). For other uses, see Variation.

Theme and Variations is a ballet by George Balanchine to the final movement of Tschaikovsky's Suite No. 3 for Orchestra in G major, Op. 55 (1884). The premiere took place on 26 November 1947, with Ballet Theatre (shortly thereafter renamed American Ballet Theatre) at City Center of Music and Drama. The conductor was Benjamin Steinberg. Theme and Variations was conceived especially for Alicia Alonso and Igor Youskevitch. The City Ballet premiere occurred 5 February 1960, again at City Center. It was incorporated by Balanchine into his later Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3 as its fourth (and final) movement, now titled Tema con variazioni. Theme and Variations is still danced independently of the other three movements of Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3 by NYCB as well as other companies.

Casts

Original

NYCB revivals

2009 Saratoga Springs

first cast

second cast

  • Sterling Hyltin
  • Gonzalo Garcia

External links