Robbins Redux.In 1998 Jerome Robbins Noun 1. Jerome Robbins - United States choreographer who brought human emotion to classical ballet and spirited reality to Broadway musicals (1918-1998) Robbins died with a recording of Bach by his bedside. So it seems fitting that, for the first time in five years, New York City Ballet New York City Ballet, one of the foremost American dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded by Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine as the Ballet Society in 1946. has chosen to revive The Goldberg Variations, set to Bach's monumental piano score. The ballet (below, with Albert Evans and Wendy Whelan), has more than 40 dancers, is over one hour long, and will be set by original cast member and NYCB NYCB New York City Ballet NYCB New York Community Bank ballet mistress Christine Redpath, assisted by Jean-Pierre Frohlich. Redpath explains Robbins' fascination with Bach: "He wanted to challenge himself to do something Balanchinesque with formal classicism classicism, a term that, when applied generally, means clearness, elegance, symmetry, and repose produced by attention to traditional forms. It is sometimes synonymous with excellence or artistic quality of high distinction. , but with his own flavor." He went on from there to make several more ballets to Bach. What's the toughest part of staging a work of this magnitude? "Being accurate to what Jerry wanted--getting the texture and communal feeling of it. It's epic," says Redpath. For schedule, see www.nycballet.com. |
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