SERENADE NYCB 1973 (Tchaikovsky/Balanchine)

Here is the full ballet from the 1973 filming in Berlin...with the New York City Ballet under Balanchine's direction. There are many odd lighting choices and terrible edits/camera angles by the German directors that Balanchine wasn't pleased about, but he had no contractual controls. Even so...the tempi is correct and so is the style and mood. Kay Mazzo is the "Waltz" girl with Peter Matins as her partner. Karin Von Aroldingen is the "Dark Angel" and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux is her partner in the "Elegie." The "Russian" girl starts with Sara Leland, but Susan Hendl dances her role in the "Elegie" because of an injury during filming.

[@adelasussman3838]

I saw the NYCB perform this when I lived in NYC from '73 - '79. I had tears running down my cheeks at the sheer beauty of both the ballet and Tchaikovsky's very moving score! Balanchine's magnificent choreography and oh, that dramatic lift at the end - the ballet could not be a more perfect fit to this mesmerizing music!! Bravo to these dancers!! This ballet will go on forever as will George Balanchine!

[@atis9061]

NYCB’s speed is breathtaking. It’s amazing that these women can keep up with the pace of Balanchine. Ballet is woman. Thank you dancers 🥰✊🏻

[@fluffywuffykinsies]

It is truly amazing I agree. They're the absolute best.

[@GariGold]

The opening notes never fail to take my breath away. Thank you for posting this. This was “my era” to see the company,. All else tends to be somehow in comparison.

[@Queezinart]

Thank you so much for sharing this Mr. Clifford. It shows to me how timeless this masterpiece truly is.

[@user-vn7sj5ig8w]

It is just so wonderful! Thank you for posting this Mr Clifford! I love it!

[@fluffywuffykinsies]

Just. Breathtaking. Don't even know what else to say.

[@jamesthosbaker]

Thanks for sharing, John.

[@dennischiapello7243]

I can't thank you enough for this. Though I agree with your comments about lighting, editing, cuts, and so forth, for some reason I prefer this in some ways to the 1993, which seems just a little too clean, or perhaps less spontaneous. Maybe it's my nostalgia, having seen this on TV in '73. The director achieved some beautiful effects, despite his excesses. The golden light really sets this apart from the later video. I remember seeing Serenade when the Russian movement omitted the return of the Introduction from the first movement. I expected to see that here, but I guess the change was made longer ago than I thought. I do notice something that was later modified: early in the last movement, the male holds the two women's hands as they slowly sink to either side of him. Later versions have the women managing their descent more actively (and safely, I presume.)

[@jcliff26]

Yes. I agree with you. After Balanchine died everything got sterilized.

[@dennischiapello7243]

@@jcliff26 I remember when I saw the video they released of selections from Agon. Technically, it was beyond perfect, but I was really turned off by how the dancers seemed more like androids than humans with blood in their veins.

[@jcliff26]

@@dennischiapello7243 You mean the Berlin video? I thought the performances were excellent. Especially Allegra Kent and. Arthur Mitchell. Twenty years later in 1993 at the NYCB’s Balanchine Celebration I thought those excerpts weren’t so good.

[@dennischiapello7243]

@@jcliff26 No, it was the 1993 performance. But there was a taping of Agon in the Dance in America series when Balanchine was still alive, wasn't there? I remember that as being very good. I wonder what happened to that recording.

[@jcliff26]

@@dennischiapello7243 I think that one was just after Balanchine died but danced by mostly dancers he trained. If it’s the one with Mel Tomlinson and Heather Watts he may have been gone already. There is a full one I posted with mostly the original cast, except Violette Verdy replaced Melissa Hayden.

[@susannevollmer2347]

I remembered this ballett as boring and sentimentel. But this performance is so great danced: wow! magnificently! In a way it belongs to Ravels "la Valse"?

[@tkoran]

Such a masterpiece! Even the Germans’ lousy camera direction couldn’t ruin it (I believe the Bonnefous section was where the most harm was done 😢 - at least they filmed the final scene correctly). I love that you posted this, to show superb interpreters of the main roles, with correct timing & dancing, and all those Balanchine nuances performed beautifully. Thank you!!

[@seaofglass77]

Amazing John, just amazing. I finished Jaques' book just last night. What a life, to have worked with Balanchine.

[@MerynCadell]

Beyond beautiful! What an intricate and brilliant mind he had, your Mr. B.

[@kareneverett125]

CLASSIC BALANCHINE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, TIMELESS

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Ottima la figuralita ' nel balletto collettivo e la sensazione di motilità dell'occupazione dello spazio proscenico. OTTIMA l'enfatizzazione alla fine dell'esecutivita '.MOLTO bravi.Bighin GIULIO RENZO

[@pgluvp4e]

The blending of the movement and music is mathematically, exquisite! Thus visually, it is, indeed the work of art. This is one of my favorite choreographic dances ever accomplished by Balanchine. The precision of music and dance is phenomenal. If you were ever a ballet dancer or a musician you would know what I am talking about. Enjoy this wonderful interpretation of ballet with music!

[@theresa42213]

Most bestest ballet peice ....EVER!

[@wendychampness1901]

Thanks for this post. It’s wonderful to have it to accompany Toni Bentley’s “Serenade”.

[@cynthiafletcher9845]

The dancers have excellent timing and phrasing. It is a pleasure to watch this video. C💟💟

[@ernestcastro6238]

Thank you again, I am so excited you have no idea. This is a big deal for me.

[@billybeyond]

I think this is the only recording online. thank you! You wouldn' happen to have any recordings of Serenade from the mid eighties or early nineties, would you? I have been looking for that for literally 25 years. I worked there at NYCB in 1986.

[@jcliff26]

There’s the 1993, or thereabouts, recording with Darci, Maria, and Kyra, in my collection.

[@janeswavely621]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ericstith1345]

I notice that during the elegie their hair is not down in this video, why not? When did the women start doing that?

[@jcliff26]

Balanchine had them loosen their hair later. It was always kept up until the mid 70’s.

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

I'm confused in which movement the Russian girl appears, or if there are many Russian girls. Could you please explain me about it?

[@jcliff26]

One “Russian girl” but she dances throughout the whole ballet as do the other two leads. In this video Sara Leland does that part in the first 3 movements, but she hurt herself so Susan Hendl does that part in the 4th movement.

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

@@jcliff26 Thanks so much for answering, Mr Clifford. Could you tell me if each one of the four parts has a specific name?

[@jcliff26]

Annabella Escobar The sane as the score.

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

@@jcliff26 Thanks!!!

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

@@jcliff26 Just out of curiosity, why was this role named "The Russian Girl"?

[@djboo7779]

Dvořák is better.

[@jcliff26]

Who is that?

[@djboo7779]

John Clifford look it up

[@jcliff26]

Yeosang’s Chicken what “Dvorak?”

[@AndrewRudin]

Dvorak? Better than Tchaikowsky? In his dreams.