description Serenade Overview
Serenade, choreographed by George Balanchine in 1936, is a neoclassical ballet featuring a score by Ernest Bloch and depicting a pastoral scene with dancers representing shepherds, nymphs, and musicians.
help Serenade FAQ
What music is George Balanchine's Serenade set to?
Serenade is set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48. It is not set to Ernest Bloch, and the music's four-movement string-orchestra structure shapes the ballet.
Why is Serenade important in Balanchine's career?
Serenade is widely described as Balanchine's first major ballet made in America. It began in 1934 with students from the School of American Ballet, shortly after Balanchine arrived in the United States.
Does Serenade have a literal story?
It is not a plot ballet in the Swan Lake sense. Balanchine built the piece from classroom situations, entrances, falls, and group patterns, which gives it a mysterious emotional arc without a fixed narrative.
Which company is most associated with Serenade today?
New York City Ballet is strongly associated with Serenade because Balanchine co-founded the company in 1948. The ballet remains a core Balanchine repertory work for major classical companies.
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