description Ballo della Regina Overview
“Ballo della Regina,” choreographed by George Balanchine in 1947, is a neoclassical ballet set to music by Igor Stravinsky, depicting a lavish Venetian masquerade ball with intricate partnering and rapid ensemble movements.
help Ballo della Regina FAQ
What music does Balanchine use in Ballo della Regina?
The score is Giuseppe Verdi's ballet music from Don Carlos, not music by Stravinsky. Balanchine drew primarily from the opera's Act III divertissement.
When and for whom was Ballo della Regina created?
New York City Ballet premiered it in 1978 with Merrill Ashley and Robert Weiss. Balanchine tailored the exceptionally fast ballerina role to Ashley's speed and precision.
Does Ballo della Regina depict a Venetian masquerade?
No. It is essentially plotless, although its blue visual world and source music allude to a fisherman searching for a perfect pearl.
Why is the ballerina role considered so difficult?
It demands rapid footwork, crisp changes of direction, and sustained clarity at high speed. The lead woman is surrounded by four soloist women and a larger female ensemble.
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