No one gives credit to Leonard Bernstein who wrote the music.

This appears to be the episode of Dance in America that aired on PBS on February 5, 1988. Here is the LA Times review: It’s been years since the “Dance in America” series last presented either the New York City Ballet in works by George Balanchine or the Merce Cunningham ensemble in choreography by Cunningham. So why is PBS ignoring these inimitable companies tonight and bringing us an hour of second-hand Balanchine and Cunningham dancing by American Ballet Theatre (8 p.m. on Channel 24, 9 p.m. on Channels 28 and 15; Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 50)? The answer probably involves the availability (as dancer and host) of Mikhail Baryshnikov, who was briefly a member of City Ballet and, at 40, is still the biggest name in American dance. For star-struck viewers, that may be enough. ... Set to Vittorio Rieti’s arrangements of music by Bellini, “La Sonnambula” represents Balanchine’s meditation on the darker themes of Romantic ballet. The plot (involving a poet’s choice between an earthly, worthless love and an unattainable, dangerous vision) is familiar yet strange, and the choreography rich in allusion. The uneven performance finds Leslie Browne overwrought and unmusical as the Coquette, Alessandra Ferri oddly prosaic as the enigmatic Sleepwalker and Baryshnikov superficial as the doomed Poet: He dallies and dies as an uncomprehending innocent. Johan Renvall makes a deft Harlequin.

I love the music at around 20:00. I used to listen to this when I was a kid on my mom’s phonograph. Anything by Bernstein is magic!

I’m crazy about the ending. Suddenly the orchestra kicks back in, there’s a surprise resolution to the tonic, and the guys bounce off stage.

I loved this show as a 20-something attending NYC Ballet. I can just imagine those wildly excited audiences in 1944 drinking all that magic in.

Not a fan of MacMillan's dramballets (I like quite a few of his non-narrative works, but the Royal Ballet ignores them for some reason) however, I'd watch these remarkable artists in almost anything.

How wonderful! Thank you for posting this masterpiecem and with the incomparably sublime Baryshnikov and the lovely Leslie Brown!♥

Primera vez q veo esta obra, no sabía que wxistia

Los solos de los bailarines son esplendidis😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

Un verdadero magnifico ballet que marca quizas la ❤😂❤😂❤😂❤😂❤😂❤❤ epoca mas interessante de la creazione americana

Of course the whole thing is WOW!

Johan Renval: WOW!!!

Ferri is much, much, MUCH too corporeal and too earthy in every way. The opening bourree sequence is embarrassingly bad.

Superb! Thank you! LOVED seeing Ferri, Browne, and Baryshnikov...in La Sonombula. Now I am going to go listen to Montserrat Caballe sing Bellini's opera La Sonumbula...🌹

오후11교시

In che anno siamo ?! Giovanissima julie kent!

I saw this ballet when I was seventeen. It knocked me out. I have never seen anything that comes close.

Love the cigarette!

Fancy coming across this by chance after searching for something else and the day after Lyn Seymour has passed away. I read it would have been her birthday today 9/3. M ay she rest in peace. Thank you for uploading.

Nice to finally see this ballet. Some fun choreographic ideas of Balanchine to enjoy. However, I do find that the kissing and manipulating of the sleepwalker did not age well (much like the prince kissing Aurora).

I love this ballet. I love the dancing and music. I love jazz.

I have never seen this!!! OMG!!!!

I love the way Robbins captures masculine and feminine energy and nature without cheap effects. Real artistry here.

❤❤❤

MOLTO BRAVI a riportarci al clima dell'oneiria con i suoi equivoci e le sue sottese parvenze dentro un gioco bilico al tempo reale come in un sogno astante.Bighin GIULIO RENZO

What a fantastic Cast was assembled for this all not only great dancers but Great Actors and actresses too Seymour Park Connor Wall et al Macmillans Genius was not recognized in full at this time and some of the Royal Opersa House s Committee were totally opposed to his work However time has proved them totally wrong in this,

🙏😎

There is an opera by the same name with music of Bellini

the way Baryshnikov slowly steps back right as the music becomes fuller and deeper, it works so well.

An absolute masterpiece with wonderful music!!! Baryshnikov is fantastic, as he usually is🙏

This is obviously an ABT production after Misha had been with Balanchine's company and became director of ABT. So it's in the 80s. No, the candle is not a real flame. They use electricity, as the flame goes out at moments and then relights. The choreography left out a key moment where Misha lays down in front of the sleepwalker and she flitly steps over him without missing a beat. That they left out? And the NYCBallet dancers I've seen in this - Darci, Wendy Whelan, are much more the sleepwalker. I just think Alessandra Ferri is too human and a more wispy dancer is better. And Misha is held with wires in the last scene where he staggers in, stabbed and the sleepwalker carries him. She could otherwise never have lifted Misha. Oh, and the crying scene is left out, the Harlequin especially is not seen.

I do not understand why is this magnificent peace choreographed by Balanchine is not danced more often?

Strong lady!! She cradle carried the much larger man!

In my high school band, we had to perform the Danzón for a concert. Great Ballet but tbh the most boring piece I've ever played, but that's probably because I had like 35 consecutive measures of rest as a mallet player. Nonetheless, great to see where it came from

СПАСИБО!!!

1:28, 14:56, 27:55

Noting the cast, guessing this must be ABT, not NYCB (where Balanchine's company was). Embarrassed to say I kept nodding off watching this. A good soporific.

Thank you 🌹🌹🌹

I remember watching this on PBS when I was probably around 5 years old. I still remembered it after all this years. It's amazing to me that I managed to find it again. I remembered Joe Duell in it and watching him now is such a bittersweet pleasure. His dancing here brings me joy. So sad.

Wonderful "Bratfisch"!

Wonderful performed by Wall and Seymor!

It is wonderful. I love Misha. Terrific dancer and artist!!!

I have only been watching ballet videos for a couple of months. So glad I discovered this. The entire company are brilliant. I enjoyed immensely! Who is the ballerina with the candle? Thank you for sharing. Dallas Texas

21:08 simp

I love the moment when the two girls recognize eachother as friends. Robbins could convey so much without need for a single word of dialogue. :)

i had to rewatch the part where La Sonnambula walks in because i realized she does the WHOLE THING EN POINTE! HOLY SHIT! so beautiful. ;_; And that was a real candle the whole time eh? Wow. This was great.

Genius pas de deux`s between Mary and Rudolf and great dancers for this great and wild choreography.

Allessandra Ferri and Misha , what a duo

Fancy Free is my all-time favorite ballet! Stunning performances by every cast member!