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Chaconne

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description Chaconne Overview

Chaconne is a one-act ballet by George Balanchine composed in 1957. It draws heavily from Gluck’s opera Orfeo ed Euridice, utilizing its famous chaconne theme. The work is recognized for its demanding partnering and the composer's deliberate use of string orchestration to generate intense rhythmic drive. It’s primarily intended for advanced ballet companies seeking a technically challenging neoclassical piece with a strong narrative connection to classical music.

help Chaconne FAQ

When did Balanchine create Chaconne?

Chaconne premiered as a standalone New York City Ballet work in 1976. Some of its choreography originated in Balanchine's 1963 Hamburg staging of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.

What music is used in Chaconne?

The ballet uses dance music from Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice. It is not a 1957 composition and does not use music written by Balanchine.

What is a chaconne in musical terms?

A chaconne is a variation form traditionally built over a recurring bass phrase or harmonic pattern. Gluck uses one to create the festive conclusion that gives Balanchine's ballet its title.

Does Chaconne retell the story of Orpheus and Eurydice?

No, the standalone ballet is pure dance rather than a narrative account of Orpheus entering the underworld. Its 27 dancers move from a lyrical opening pas de deux into formal divertissements and a courtly finale.

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