Western Symphony (Balanchine 1990)

Here's an excellent TV broadcast from 1990 of the New York City Ballet 7 years after Balanchine's death, yet still looking like Balanchine's company..A few very, very, few minor changes, but nothing like what's happening today. Besides Rosemary Dunleavey being the ballet-mistress, the company still had Sara Leland, Susan Hendl, Christine Redpath, and Victor Castelli, all who had danced principal roles in many Balanchine ballets, on staff. I think that made a difference. Every principal here is just about...no, I take that back...they are ALL perfect! Melinda Roy, Jock Soto, Stephanie Saland, Robert LaFosse, Helene Alexopoulos, and Peter Boal, all really outdo themselves, and show how one can bring their own perfume to a role and still respect the choreography.

[@user-dl1yc8cb4l]

Nobody has eaten in days but damn It looks fabulous.

[@barbaradigiuseppe5815]

Watched this with absolute delight!

[@hae-jungaliciakoh18]

Yeah, now we're talking!!! --- the speed, the energy, the dynamics, and the finale!!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[@ricknelson1867]

Joyous. Thanks for posting.

[@trishkoran3293]

Wow! I’ve seen this ballet many times & this is above & beyond superb! It looks like a different ballet! Thanks so much for posting the gem!!!

[@asclepius3117]

Love it. It’s been a long time.

[@karenrynearson1250]

No one can compare with Karinska.

[@LaLaJonesG]

This might be THE PERFECT BALLET in my books!!!! It has EVERYTHING

[@giraud7070]

Vive la NYCB💞💐et Robert la fosse tres tres charmant💖🌹

[@user-dl1yc8cb4l]

Man this was a bit of a Golden period, Sorry, I am commenting in real time as I Watch.

[@hae-jungaliciakoh18]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@simaraft7373]

Thank you, delightful to see this. Sigh... nothing like this today. Also I wish the credits didn't roll so fast at the end. I needed to study it!

[@dncnkid]

Maybe in the minority here, but the piece doesn't make "sense" to me without the Scherzo section. When the 4th couple just appears in the Finale, I am just thinking "Who are they?" I can remember thinking that when I first saw this. Then years later when they posted the whole original (almost) cast on KZbin. I made sense. Also the slight differences in choreography for Diana Adams, Melissa Hayden, and Jaques D'Amboise really should be brought back, as they were such unique choreographic touches.

[@genlyai5055]

Not in the minority at all. Sadly, this was one of the several period when they have omitted the Scherzo. Certainly Lindy Roy, who danced the first movement here, was eminently capable of the beats and jumps in the Scherzo; Kyra Nichols often did the role and she was at the height of her powers. It's bizarre. Also, you are so right about the slight differences in choreo for Adams, Hayden, and d'Amboise.

[@user-dl1yc8cb4l]

OMG is that Aesha ?

[@susanbartlett-ye6476]

Is that Andrea Long and Damian Woetzel in the corps?

[@michaelcanestraro2849]

Is that La FooFoo?

[@user-dl1yc8cb4l]

WTF Is that Aesha ?