Concert Report

CC 1.3

To: Professor Thorman

From: Ekaterina Reich

Tuesday, January 19th

Concert Report

On Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 8:00 pm three most incredible short ballet stories took place in Koch Theatre of New York City. The whole performance was split into three parts with two intermissions. These stories were "Fancy Free", "Prodigal son", and "Firebird". Each of this acts are created by different composers and choreographers at different time periods and places. The music for "Fancy Free" is written by Leonard Bernstein, the dance is choreographed by Jerome Robbins. The scene is happening on the side street of New York City of 1944 and in the bar. Main characters are three sailors who love ladies and alcohol. The next production is on the biblical theme called "Prodigal Son" where libretto made by Boris Kochno, music by Sergei Prokofiev, and choreography by George Balanchine. The last act "Firebird" is a love fairy-tail with princess, wizard and Ivan who saves his love from the mean wizard with the help of Firebird. The production is choreographed by George Balanchine. Music is written by Igor Stravinsky. And scenery and costumes are designed by Mark Chagall. Conductor during the whole performance is Andrews Sill.

All of these Short Stories were the greatest hits of their times. "Fancy Free", for example, premiered with about twenty four curtain calls as described in Repertory Notes of Playbill. It also became a base story for a full-time musical called On the Town. It was the premier that made genius Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein famous and recognized. "Prodigal Son" was made in 1929, the year Sergey Diaghilev, the founder of Ballet Russes, died. This is the first ballet that brought international fame to choreographer George Balanchine. Full-length "Firebird" was a great debut in Ballet Russes for composer Igor Stravinsky. This ballet came to New York in 1949 when choreographer George Balanchine simplified the story and represented a much shorter version of it.

Overall experience from the ballet was very fun and interesting. This giant building of Koch Theatre, a lot of light, sparkles, and glamour were making the life better already. The live orchestra was making goose bumps on my skin. And ballet dancers as Joaquin de Luz who was a prodigal son and Ashley Bouder who performed as a firebird were really incredible and unbelievable. These people could transfer the plot without speaking or singing but just by their gracious movements.

The first production "Fancy Free" was very different from the image of the ballet that I had in mind. The dance was not about higher feelings or about well-known story. It was about sailors who like to get drunk, dance, and fight for ladies. The music was more Jazzy than Classic. Sometimes only, you could follow with ballet stands and jumps. But, in general, it was more look like a contemporary dance.

"Prodigal Son" is made on the biblical theme. The music, the dances were very dramatic. At the same time, I never expected to see in the biblical theme absolutely weird breaking dances of the drinking companions and Siren. These dances were supported by a very harsh kind of music. This production was in 3 acts: leaving home, traveling and meeting Siren, redemption and coming back home. Each of these acts had very different music themes. First had a very playful and fun music that represented the son's vision of life and his willing of travel. Second music set was very weird non-melodic brass-percussion music when son meets drinking bodies. The dances