| Le Baiser de la fée | |
|---|---|
| Choreographer | Bronislava Nijinska |
| Music | Igor Stravinsky |
| Premiere | 27 November 1928 Paris |
| Original ballet company | Ballets Russes |
| Genre | Neoclassical ballet |
| Type | classical ballet |
Le Baiser de la fée (The Fairy's Kiss) is a ballet in one act and four scenes composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1928 and revised in 1950 for George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's short story Isjomfruen (English: The Ice-Maiden), the work is an homage to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, for the 35th anniversary of the composer's death. Stravinsky elaborated several melodies from early piano pieces and songs by Tchaikovsky in his score. A commission by Ida Rubinstein from 1927, the ballet was choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska and premiered in Paris on 27 November 1928.[1]
In 1937, Balanchine made a full-length ballet for his American Ballet, which premiered on 27 April, at the Old Metropolitan Opera House, New York City. His 1950 version premiered on 28 November, at City Center of Music and Drama, New York, at which time it was presented under the English translation of the title, The Fairy's Kiss (the original French title has since been restored).
In 1960 Kenneth MacMillan choreographed his own version for The Royal Ballet.
Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée
The Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée is a concert suite for orchestra based on music from the ballet. Stravinsky arranged it in collaboration with Samuel Dushkin in 1934 and revised it in 1949. It has four movements:
- Sinfonia
- Danses suisses
- Scherzo (Au moulin)
- Pas de deux
- Adagio
- Variation
- Coda
In 1932 Samuel Dushkin and the composer produced a version for violin and piano, using the same title. Another episode from the ballet was arranged for violin and piano by Dushkin with the title Ballad. However, the latter only received the composer’s assent in 1947 after the French violinist Jeanne Gautier put forward an arrangement.
In his conversations with Robert Craft, Stravinsky did not specify which Tchaikovsky pieces he drew upon,[2] but "Danses suisses" quotes one of the more easily identifiable Tchaikovsky themes, the "Humoresque" from Two Pieces, Opus 10 (1871).[3]
Balanchine created an entirely new work for the City Ballet's Stravinsky Festival, using excerpts from the concert suite and the original ballet. The premiere took place on 21 June 1972, at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center. In 1974, Balanchine incorporated Tchaikovsky's "None but the Lonely Heart" for a new pas de deux.
Casts
American Ballet
- Kathryn Mullowny
- Gisella Caccialanza
- Leda Anchutina
- Annabelle Lyon
- William Dollar
New York City Ballet: Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée
Original cast: Stravinsky Festival 1972
- Patricia McBride
- Bettijane Sills
- Carol Sumner
- Helgi Tomasson
NYCB revivals of Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée
Winter 1987
- Patricia McBride
- Robert La Fosse
Spring 2005
- Megan Fairchild
- Amanda Edge
- Dena Abergel
- Joaquín De Luz
Winter 2006
- Megan Fairchild
- Amanda Edge
- Carrie Lee Riggins
- Joaquín De Luz
Spring 2008
- Megan Fairchild
- Faye Arthurs
- Alina Dronova
- Joaquín De Luz
References
- ^ IMSLP: List of works by Igor Stravinsky; Retrieved 6 April 2013
- ^ Craft, Robert (2002). Memories and Commentaries. London: Faber and Faber. p. 167. ISBN 0-571-21163-1.
- ^ Judd, Timothy (January 24, 2020). ""The Fairy's Kiss": Stravinsky's Musical Homage to Tchaikovsky". The Listeners' Club. Retrieved January 18, 2021.