Le Baiser de la fée

Infobox Ballet
name = Le Baiser de la fée


image_size =
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choreographer = Bronislava Nijinska
composer = Igor Stravinsky
based_on =
premiere = 1928
place = Paris
ballet_company = Ballets Russes
characters =
set designer =
setting =
created for =
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 New York City Ballet. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's short story, "Sneedronninge" (English: ), 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.)

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 Russes
* 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. 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
*William Dollar

Stravinsky Festival

*Patricia McBride
*Bettijane Sills
*Carol Sumner
*Helgi Tomasson

Winter 1987

*Patricia McBride
*Robert La Fosse

Spring 2005

*Megan Fairchild
*Amanda Edge
*Dena Abergel
*Joaquín De Luz

Winter 2006

*Megan Fairchild
*Amanda Edge
*Carrie Lee Riggins
*Joaquín De Luz

Spring 2008

*Megan Fairchild
*Faye Arthurs
*Alina Dronova
*Joaquín De Luz

References

* "Playbill", New York City Ballet Friday, June 20, 2008

* "Repertory Week", New York City Ballet, Spring Season, 2008 repertory, week 8

External links

* [http://www.nycballet.com NYCB website]

* [http://www.balanchine.com George Balanchine Trust website]

* [http://www.balanchine.org George Balanchine Foundation website]

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/arts/dance/09whee.html "New York Times" review by Alastair Macaulay, February 9, 2008]

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/arts/dance/30ball.html "NY Times" review by Jennifer Dunning, May 30, 2006]

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/30/arts/dance/30dive.html "NY Times" review by Gia Kourlas, May 30, 2005]

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFDF1731F930A15752C1A961948260 "NY Times" review by Anna Kisselgoff, November 23, 1987]

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E5DA1338F930A25755C0A967948260 "NY Times" review by Anna Kisselgoff, June 13, 1981]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C12F63C5C12728DDDA90A94D9415B898BF1D3 "NY Times" review by Anna Kisselgoff, November 20, 1979]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F5061EFD3B551A7493C6A91789D85F408785F9 "NY Times" review by Anna Kisselgoff, February 4, 1974]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F6081FF83C5A137A93C0AB178DD85F468785F9 "NY Times" review by Clive Barnes, June 22, 1972]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40717F7345C107A93C4AB178AD95F458585F9 "NY Times" review by John Martin, November 26, 1951]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3061FF73D5D12738DDDA90B94DD405B878FF1D3 "Sunday New York Times" review by John Martin, May 30, 1937]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10911F635551B7588DDAB0894DD405B878FF1D3 "Sunday NY Times" review by John Martin, May 2, 1937]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30C10FD3B5E177A93CAAB178FD85F438385F9 "NY Times" review by John Martin, April 28, 1937]