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''Scotch Symphony'' is a ballet choreographed by
George Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze;, Romanization of Georgian, : April 30, 1983) was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer, recognized as one of the most influential choreographers ...
to Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, "Scottish". The ballet is inspired by Scotland, and evokes the style of the romantic ballet era, particularly ''
La Sylphide ''La Sylphide'' (; ) is a romantic ballet in two acts. There were two versions of the ballet; the original choreographed by Filippo Taglioni in 1832, and a second version choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836. Bournonville's is the only ve ...
'', which is set in Scotland. ''Scotch Symphony'' was made for the
New York City Ballet New York City Ballet (NYCB) is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company. Léon Barzin was the company's fir ...
, and premiered on November 11, 1952, at the City Center of Music and Drama.


Choreography

The program for ''Scotch Symphony'' stated,
Balanchine ike Mendelssohnwishes to evoke the sweep and freshness, the brilliance and strength inherent in the
Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...
landscape. He has invented a classic ballet based on atmosphere and music, with an affectionate nod to the romantic tradition that made the hero of ''
La Sylphide ''La Sylphide'' (; ) is a romantic ballet in two acts. There were two versions of the ballet; the original choreographed by Filippo Taglioni in 1832, and a second version choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836. Bournonville's is the only ve ...
'' a Highlander.
The ballet is set to Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, "Scottish". Dance critic Richard Buckle described ''Scotch Symphony'' as "one of those Balanchine ballets ... that hover between romance and comedy or pastiche." Author Nancy Reynolds wrote, "Choreographically, the ballet contains many steps, gestures and poses allusive of the romantic era." She also noted the lead ballerina role "requires a high level of technique tempered by lightness, grace, and the quality of an otherworldly vision." Dancer Patricia Wilde noted that Balanchine asked the dancers to be on their toes to emulate Scottish highland dancing. The first movement features a girl and boys, all in kilts, along with a pas de trois and a solo for the girl. The second movement is an adagio danced by a ballerina and her partner. Though it is plotless, Balanchine wrote that it "represents ... the general mood and atmosphere of the romantic ballet as epitomized in such ballets as ''La Sylphide''." The third and final movement features the lead couple and the ensemble, in which the two lead dancers perform a pas de deux and variations, before the soloists and corps de ballet join them for the finale.


Development

In August 1952, while the
New York City Ballet New York City Ballet (NYCB) is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company. Léon Barzin was the company's fir ...
was performing at
Edinburgh Festival __NOTOC__ This is a list of Arts festival, arts and cultural festivals regularly taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland. The city has become known for its festivals since the establishment in 1947 of the Edinburgh International Festival and the ...
, towards the end of the company's first European tour,
George Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze;, Romanization of Georgian, : April 30, 1983) was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer, recognized as one of the most influential choreographers ...
attended the Searchlight Tattoo. Having enjoyed both the military tattoo and his visit to Scotland, and inspired by
bagpipe Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, No ...
and Scottish highland dance performances, Balanchine decided to make a Scottish-themed ballet. Development of the ballet began after the company returned to New York. He chose to set the ballet to Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, also inspired by a visit to Scotland, but removed the first movement, which Balanchine found to be "not appropriate for dance." He also decided to evoke ''La Sylphide'', "the first great romantic ballet", which features a Scottish setting.
Maria Tallchief Maria Tallchief, born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief ( "Two-Standards"; Osage language, Osage family name: , Osage script: ; January 24, 1925 – April 11, 2013), was an Osage Tribe, Osage and American ballerina. She was America's first major p ...
and
André Eglevsky André Eglevsky (21 December 19174 December 1977) was a Russian-born ballet dancer and teacher who studied in France and, from 1932, danced with Colonel W. de Basil's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo for several years, as well as other companies in ...
originated the two lead roles, while Patricia Wilde created the female role in the first movement, along Frank Hobi and Michael Maule as the two other dancers in the pas de trois. While working on the ballet, Balanchine and Tallchief were in the process of having their marriage annulled, though it had little impact on their artistic collaborations. Though Tallchief was known for her dazzling dancing style, her role in this ballet required more light and graceful techniques. Wilde believed that in emulating Scottish highland dance, the dancers became prone to injuries, including "terrible calf cramps and shin splints." Karinska designed the women's costumes while David Ffolkes designed the men's. Horace Armistead and
Jean Rosenthal Jean Rosenthal (born Eugenia Rosenthal; March 16, 1912May 1, 1969) is considered a pioneer in the field of Lighting Design, theatrical lighting design. She was born in New York City to Romanian-Jewish people, Jewish immigrants. northern.edu, ret ...
designed the set and lighting respectively.


Performances

''Scotch Symphony'' premiered on November 11, 1952, at the City Center of Music and Drama. In 1989, ''Scotch Symphony'', along with '' Theme and Variations'', became the first Balanchine ballets performed by the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, where he had danced in the 1920s as a student and young professional dancer before leaving for the West. Other ballet companies that performed the ballet include the
San Francisco Ballet San Francisco Ballet is the oldest ballet company in the United States, founded in 1933 as the San Francisco Opera Ballet under the leadership of ballet master Adolph Bolm. The company is currently based in the War Memorial Opera House, San Fra ...
, Washington Ballet,
Joffrey Ballet The Joffrey Ballet is an American dance company and training institution in Chicago, Illinois. The Joffrey regularly performs classical and contemporary ballets during its annual performance season at the Civic Opera House, including its annual ...
, Pennsylvania Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Kansas City Ballet. Students of the
School of American Ballet The School of American Ballet (SAB) is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the age of six, with professional voc ...
, the associate school of the New York City Ballet, performed the ballet as part of its annual workshop performance.


References

{{Reflist


External links


''Scotch Symphony''
on the New York City Ballet website
Symphony''
on the Balanchine Trust website 1952 ballets Ballets by George Balanchine Ballets to the music of Felix Mendelssohn New York City Ballet repertory