Suzanne Farrell and George Balanchine in the "Vision Scene" DON QUIXOTE

[@photographedemode]

Thanks for posting this. So great to see historic clip of them dancing together.

[@user-vn7sj5ig8w]

Thank you so so much for posting this video of Balanchine and Farrell. I have never seen Farrell dance live on stage. I always wanted to see videos of her dances. I would love to have been there! Every time I see her dance, she just has this ethereal quality when she is on stage. It is an awesome sight to see! :) You are so lucky Mr Clifford to have been part of this great company!

[@lynnreider6179]

How magical and powerful this is. I couldn't look away!

[@barbaralemere5183]

They take my breath away when I see this. Suzanne is in her element in this role. She is a vision. Thanks so much for posting this John, if you have more from this ballet I would love to see it. I heard that the critics didn't like the music because they were expecting the Minkus version. I think this is more interesting by far.

[@jcliff26]

I posted a lot on here. Can't you find it?

[@jcliff26]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/emeZamdtdsR1pqM

[@photographedemode]

true, some of your clips are hard to find, maybe because of privacy settings? Thanks for posting though and your commentary, based on the fact that you were an insider and top dancer with the NYCB and very much appreciated by Balanchine, your comments are treasures in themselves.

[@noblesetsentimentales]

I highly doubt New York critics were expecting a Minkus-like score from Balanchine when he'd been putting on ballets with scores by such composers as Stravinsky, Hindemith and Ives for 2 decades by the time of this _Don Q_ premiere.

[@jcliff26]

thesleepingsoter Probably not, but this music got panned anyway. It was pretty dark except for the “Dulcinea” bits and 3rd Act “Dream Scene,” which I found quite lovely.

[@2Chua]

Wonderful, historic footage, thank you! I did see Ms. Farrell perform as a member of Béjart's Ballet du XXe Siècle. And while she was an extraordinary dancer, the NYCB during the 1970's had a host of amazing dancers (Kyra Nichols, Violette Verdy, Patricia MCBride, Sara Leland, etc. not to mention the legendary d'Amboise, Villella, and Clifford :-)

[@jcliff26]

2Chuas And dont forget Allegra Kent and Kay Mazzo.

[@kathymyers7279]

WOW. Never ever thought I'd get to see this infamous scene. Thankyou so much. What a blessing.

[@lindaclark9925]

She is superb ...so is he.

[@nan2kaye]

OMG ..... thank you!!!

[@michellelekas211]

Do not you wish that performance recording technology was a bit better then? This was not 1910 but 1965.

[@feedthebirdstuppenceabag]

Lol for real

[@ernestcastro6238]

John Clifford A dream come true, thank you.

[@susannevollmer2347]

I would like to see the whole! !!!!!!!

[@jcliff26]

I posted more sections on KZbin but not the whole ballet.

[@susannevollmer2347]

@@jcliff26 Thank you mr. Clifford answering so quick! I only knew 2 clips

[@susannevollmer2347]

I saw them Very strange the court (I beleave) video.

[@Linda-iw7bk]

Would love to find a photo or vid clip of Suzanne on the cart in Don Quixote with her hands held low like the Blessed Virgin Mary in humble supplication, she mentioned it at length in her autobio Holding Onto the Air

[@jcliff26]

Linda I think you can find that. Google it.

[@minissa2009]

Was the music something original for this or a pastiche of numerous composers? More, more!

[@jcliff26]

minissa2009 Original. I posted complete “Dream Scene” Pas

[@jan-christinejohnson8852]

Long-hair young freshness Suzanne Farrell of the 1960s.

[@maryangeladouglas]

I truly dislike Mr. Balanchine's limp interpretation of Don Quixote but Suzanne Farrell is of course, lovely and beyond impeccable in her dancing.

[@jcliff26]

You’d need to see what happens right before this to understand what you call “limp interpretation.”

[@maryangeladouglas]

@@jcliff26 Don't get me wrong;I deeply appreciate your posting this. But regardless of the preceding choreography I would still dislike this particular scene because I am referring to the actual novel by Cervantes. In my opinion OF THAT NOVEL , i.e. DON QUIXOTE as envisioned not by Balanchine, but by Cervantes which I have reread over a lifetime I find no justification in portraying Don Quixote in this way at any moment. Perhaps he was delusional, but he had immaculate fortitude. I also recognize the ballet is not just Cervantes vision, but Balanchine/s. Even so, I still feel Balanchine did a disservice at least in this scene by interpreting DQ's character in this way. Even beaten to a pulp Cervantes character was indomitable. Even when made a figure of fun and ridicule in the royal court. Cervantes Don Quixote is frail but not in his soul. He outlasts time and all its attendant suffering in his soul. This, Balanchine DOES NOT convey. I do want to ask you if it is possible to view the entire ballet anywhere? I had heard that only fragments remained of the production with Balanchine and Farrell. It would be wonderful to see the whole thing.

[@jcliff26]

maryangeladouglas Possibly What is in the novel cannot be adequately expressed in dance terms? This scene happens immediately after the Don has been physically abused by the Court. He has a vision of Dulcinea who comforts him. In Balanchine’s version; after his scene he has the battle with the windmill who he thinks is a giant, so it’s clear his spirit is still indomitable even though his body is giving out. Literary works MUST be adapted for dance, and one can’t please everybody.

[@maryangeladouglas]

@@jcliff26 I agree with you translating one art form into another is difficult, almost impossible. I do overall feel Balanchine and Suzanne Farrell both were geniuses as much as Cervantes. And I love practically everything else I've ever seen of Balnchine's choreography. It's just this one scene that is disappointing to me and I can't change that feeling, intuition inside myself no matter how many justified artistic, aesthetic theories or viewpoints to the contrary I might read. I just still feel the same way. But you make very good points and thank you for making me think about it even more deeply.

[@jcliff26]

maryangeladouglas Right after this, when he gets a pie in the face, the curtain comes down. It’s the end of the 2nd Act. Balanchine was a big lover of the Cervantes novel and interpreted his way. That’s all it is. One artist interpreting another.

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

I don't think that this ballet was really a success, am I right?

[@jcliff26]

Not really. Some lovely sections but music a problem.

[@AnnabellaEdeL]

Yeaaaa!

[@simaraft7373]

I just don’t like to see George Balanchine or the Don in such groveling poses. And the music does suck. Suzanne is lovely of course but too young to bring any depth to dulcinea- even if the choreography allowed it. I guess I just don’t like this ballet!

[@jcliff26]

It is dramatically correct to have the "Don" groveling at the feet of his ideal vison...especially after he has been beaten and humiliated by the "Royals."

[@simaraft7373]

Still... me no like Mr. B groveling. Especially with overtones of his personal life

[@Marta44339]

Infinite thanks to you for posting this. I've read about it and have never seen more than a few seconds. Yes, there is something naked about the whole scene. I feel almost as if I'm watching something I shouldn't because it seems so personal. Overtones or not, it's a fantastic glimpse. True that Farrell is not yet a mature dancer but still, she's magnificent.

[@jcliff26]

Marta I agree this is a very personal statement...which makes it more touching. Real life on the stage. One doesn’t see that often. I’ll post more later.

[@barbaral.h.1717]

I don't like the music at all.

[@jcliff26]

Well that’s what makes the world go round I guess. I love this melody. So sad and evocative.