APOLLO (1968 film)

Here is a film of Balanchine's early masterpiece, APOLLO, filmed in Montreal; with a very young Suzanne Farrell, Peter Martins, Marnee Morris, and Karin Von Aroldingen. Farrell was 22 years old here and Martins was 21. The gorgeous red head, Linda Merrill plays "Leto" Apollo's mother. Balanchine was very interested in her and gave her many leading roles in the company. She didn't stay too long unfortunately.

[@robertowarren7007]

Awesome...all young kids should see this

[@candidacarino669]

It's a beautiful performance and Martins is of course, quite stunning as 'Apollo'. Thank you @ John Clifford for this very nice video.

[@christophedevos3760]

Extremely interesting to see this, a treasure from the past: stunning dancers and of course absolute gorgeous music. Thanks for posting.

[@jamesreardon726]

The original Apollo, with the mother and sisters. Beautiful Balanchine - he's the best, collaborating with Stravinski.

[@acozzarin]

Thank you, once again, John, for bringing the magic of ballet to us via the magic of the internet. I'm reading the new book, "Mr. B.", and on the chapter about the ups and downs of the creation of "Apollon Musagete"--so wonderful to just bring up the original version (later, of course) to enjoy on the spot. What a masterpiece of music and expression of feeling with great nuance. And with artists I admired so much in my own budding ballet career!

[@MerynCadell]

Wow. What a treasure. So historic, in its time, for recreating this ballet from a twenty-four year old Balanchine, and historic again now to see its reproduction in 1968. Beautiful dancers. And the choreography- Imagine how it would have felt to see such a work! For some reason, one of the most affecting aspects for me is the creation of the long lines of ballet (and of Balanchine), and then the breaking of them - particularly the neck line. Wonderful.

[@alexandraconstantin4778]

Amazing to be able to finally see a young Farrell in this piece! And with the gorgeous ending. Thank you very much.

[@analuisajohnson2083]

Thank you for sharing John! The dancers trusted and loved Mr. B That is what I feel from watching the videos.

[@stevie68a]

I remember her from about 1967 at Lincoln Center. She was outstanding as well as Gloria Govern.

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Ottima la tenuta descrittiva della narratio e mirabili e d'intensa evocazione le positure figurali attuate nel balletto. BRAVISSIMI. BIGHIN GIULIO RENZO

[@user-vn7sj5ig8w]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing this video Mr Clifford!

[@wles196]

Hi, John, Thanks for this copy of the '68 Apollo. The video quality is so much better than what I had seen before. And what a brilliant cast. A request, if I may. I have wonderful memories of your Fantasies with Mazzo, Leland , Ludlow and Blum. If a film exists of this cast may I ask you to post it for us? And many, many thanks for all of the gems you have been giving us. Bill

[@mithrilmoon1]

Wonderful! Thank you x

[@katymcdermott2398]

Balanchine: “Oh I like that move. Let’s do it again....and again....and again. At this rate the choreo will be done in no time.” 5 seconds later.... “Oh I like that move..... let’s do it again....and again....and again”. “And you my dear are very lucky. You get to repeat this move 8 times.” “If it’s good, they wanna see it..... that’s my motto....”

[@silenusut]

Appreciated. The music gets to me

[@kendanziger8072]

Thanks so much.

[@susannevollmer2347]

Karin von Aroldingen performs outstanding: great and deep,

[@user-pc6xm4ly1u]

love her in this and all that I have seen. her is that castigate solo in Agon. fab too!!

[@DianaMoon11428]

What a cast. Was Linda Merrill the prettiest girl ever to dance in the City Ballet? I think so. Also: did the Leta character always have her hair loose?

[@jcliff26]

She had a gorgeous face, but in those years so did quite a few others, like Polly Shelton.

[@DianaMoon11428]

@@jcliff26 yes, there were many beauties. But Linda is in a class by herself. I never saw her dance. A little before my time.

[@ernestcastro6238]

John Clifford Was the girl who gave Peter Martins the lyre Renee Estopinal?

[@ernestcastro6238]

Mr. Cifford I just noticed I asked you that last year, excuse me.

[@unsatura]

great film... Karin is really one of a kind , never seen a ballerina so expressionist, great calliope.... and oopss ms. farrell tripped lol...

[@user-pc6xm4ly1u]

loveSuzannes trip :-). and agreed about Karin. wonderful. "Karin is a natural actress" Balanchine said of her. that European sensibility too. there is a video of a young Suzanne also in Concerto Barocco and Karin is in the corps and just lovely to see.

[@milesmontemore5060]

Thank you. Farrell is good, but does not erase memories of Diana Adams in 1960 (although ballet should NEVER be judged by a filmed performance). Peter Martins is hopelessly sloppy and ungainly as Apollo. Cheers.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I am not the only one who sees that. There is something about Peter Martins that misses, he does not seem to have the flight quality of other male dancers. His appearance is great even if his dancing misses.

[@user-pc6xm4ly1u]

@@user-mv9tt4st9k I find him too dry and flat. his son on the other hand I loved in this. but for me Jacques is the best

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

I dislike some of the music.

[@jcliff26]

Then don’t listen.

[@user-pc6xm4ly1u]

@@jcliff26 hahaha.

[@selenite1]

Wow, this channel is a treasure chest.

[@analuisajohnson2083]

The beginning is amazing... and is just the beginning ❤️

[@tkoran]

Thanks a million! Wonderful to see Suzanne & Peter in this before her defection!

[@brbwlk]

Thanks for post. I had been looking for young Suzanne Farrell videos.

[@ernestcastro6238]

What a beautiful cast.

[@dchaissejohnsier]

Suzanne!!!! ARTIST!!!!!!!

[@lessing17]

Suzanne Farrelle what a wonderfull divine dancer! And so so beautifull!

[@arugula_fan]

Incredible thank you

[@LeCanalBarbaraAnne]

Whatever is true about his real character, Peter was one of the only ones who could stand there at the end of Apollo and look toward Parnassus. Perhaps it was his coldness that let him express the power of movement in stillness. I don't know. In the 1970's, they got rid of the stairs, and he just stood there with a sun lit background as the curtain fell. This was the old version (so what), and the lighting director, well... Peter's solo before the Terpsichore pax de deux is wonderful. However, as others have mentioned, Suzanne is preternatural in this. You can even see her. She does defy description. 22 years old. Thank you for this gift. Thank you most kindly.

[@jcliff26]

Barbara Steinberg well...did you ever see d"Ambpise live?

[@LeCanalBarbaraAnne]

No, only on video. I saw Edward Villella in Prodigal Son. My father took me. I was going to mention Jacques d'Amboise. There is a video, which I have watched many, many times. He could stand there. Yes yes yes. I should have mentioned him. I apologize to the Gods of Ballet. I will take the correction that d'Amboise was the greatest Apollo.

[@jcliff26]

Jacques did it more the way it was intentionally created...a demi-character role, like Serge Lifar, who was not a great classical technician. When Peter joined Mr, B changed a few things to suit his more classical style...eventually cutting the birth scene entirely.

[@LeCanalBarbaraAnne]

Yes d'Amboise did the demi-character role. I mostly saw the ballet after 1975, when Suzanne came back to Balanchine, so I was looking at the video and not thinking historically. I never saw Serge Lifar.

[@LeCanalBarbaraAnne]

John Clifford Did Arthur Mitchell ever dance Apollo?

[@42abyz]

John Clifford, who are the three figures that enter after Apollo and the Muses ascend to Mount Parnassus? I saw Edward Villela in a performance of Apollo at Jacob's Pillow in the summer of 1968. The set was present, but the cast consisted only of Apollo and the three Muses. Is the version danced in this video the original choreography?

[@pfgilbert8944]

Isn't Linda Merrill Merrill Ashley's real name?

[@jcliff26]

PF Gilbert Yes. Good for you!

[@kimpoirier236]

... filmed in Montreal? That's interesting. Do you know where, by any chance? How involved was Balanchine in this filming?

[@jcliff26]

Kim Poirier Not sure which studio, but think he was very involved. The company filmed many things there in the 1960’s.

[@nan2kaye]

Who is the third ballerina after Farrell & von Arondingen?

[@karennorris5305]

The lovely Marnee Morris. From what I understand, Balanchine liked her very much as a dancer. She had a very tragic later life and passed away a few years ago.

[@ernestcastro6238]

Is that Renee Estopinal in the beginning of the ballet?

[@jcliff26]

Ernest Castro Yes it is.