Concerto Barocco

Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by J. S. Bach - Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, B.W.V. 1043

World Premiere: New York City Ballet

George Balanchine said of this work: "If the dance designer sees in the development of classical dancing a counterpart in the development of music and has studied them both, he will derive continual inspiration from great scores." In the first movement of the concerto, the two ballerinas personify the violins, while a corps of eight women accompany them. In the second movement, a largo, the male dancer joins the leading woman in a pas de deux. In the concluding allegro section, the entire ensemble expresses the syncopation and rhythmic vitality of Bach's music.

This work began as an exercise by Balanchine for the School of American Ballet and was performed by American Ballet Caravan on its historic tour of South America and later entered the repertory of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. In 1951 Balanchine permanently eliminated the original costumes and dressed the dancers in practice clothes, probably the first appearance of what has come to be regarded as a signature Balanchine costume for contemporary works. On October 11, 1948, Concerto Barocco was one of three ballets on the program at New York City Ballet's first performance.

Concerto Barocco is the most recent Balanchine ballet to be added to ARB's repertory, following Serenade and The Four Temperaments. George Balanchine's ballets are at the heart of the Neoclassical style, and many are undisputed masterpieces of 20th century choreography.

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