Fall River Legend
Encyclopedia
Fall River Legend is a ballet
based on the life of Lizzie Borden. One of choreographer Agnes de Mille
's best-known works, it featured an original score by Morton Gould
, lighting design by Jean Rosenthal
and scenic design by Oliver Smith
.
The ballet premiered at American Ballet Theatre
on April 22, 1948, with Alicia Alonso
as Lizzie (called simply "the Accused"). Other notable performers in the role included Nora Kaye
and Sallie Wilson
. The Dance Theatre of Harlem
's production, with Virginia Johnson as the Accused, is available on DVD, although a kinescope
also exists of a televised version with Kaye.
De Mille had worked with the conductor Max Goberman
on Three Virgins and a Devil, and it was Goberman who suggested that she approach Morton Gould to be her collaborator for her new ballet – a suggestion she nearly rejected because she knew of Gould only through his radio broadcasts.
De Mille famously altered the historical record by finding Lizzie Borden guilty as charged.
ABT
was scheduled to perform the ballet during the 2007 fall season at New York City Center
, with Julie Kent and Gillian Murphy
in the lead role http://www.abt.org/performances/performance_display.asp?Event_ID=435.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
based on the life of Lizzie Borden. One of choreographer Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
's best-known works, it featured an original score by Morton Gould
Morton Gould
Morton Gould was an American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist.Born in Richmond Hill, New York, Gould was recognized early as a child prodigy with abilities in improvisation and composition. His first composition was published at age six...
, lighting design by Jean Rosenthal
Jean Rosenthal
Jean Rosenthal is considered a pioneer in the field of theatrical lighting design. She was born in New York City to Romanian-Jewish immigrants....
and scenic design by Oliver Smith
Oliver Smith (designer)
Oliver Smith was an American scenic designer.Born in Waupun, Wisconsin, Smith attended Penn State, after which he moved to New York City and began to form friendships that blossomed into working relationships with such talents as Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Carson McCullers, and Agnes de...
.
The ballet premiered at American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
on April 22, 1948, with Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso Martínez is the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer. Her company became the Ballet de Cuba in 1955....
as Lizzie (called simply "the Accused"). Other notable performers in the role included Nora Kaye
Nora Kaye
Nora Kaye was an American ballerina called the Duse of Dance after acclaimed actress Eleonora Duse. She also worked in films as a choreographer and producer....
and Sallie Wilson
Sallie Wilson
Sallie Wilson was a noted ballerina who appeared with New York City Ballet where she danced opposite Martha Graham in the premiere of Graham and George Balanchine's collaboration at NYCB, Episodes in May, 1959, and subsequently with American Ballet Theatre, where she was associated with several...
. The Dance Theatre of Harlem
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a ballet company and school of the allied arts founded in Harlem, New York City, USA in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook...
's production, with Virginia Johnson as the Accused, is available on DVD, although a kinescope
Kinescope
Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
also exists of a televised version with Kaye.
De Mille had worked with the conductor Max Goberman
Max Goberman
Max Goberman was an American conductor. He conducted ballets, Broadway musicals , and the classical repertoire...
on Three Virgins and a Devil, and it was Goberman who suggested that she approach Morton Gould to be her collaborator for her new ballet – a suggestion she nearly rejected because she knew of Gould only through his radio broadcasts.
De Mille famously altered the historical record by finding Lizzie Borden guilty as charged.
ABT
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
was scheduled to perform the ballet during the 2007 fall season at New York City Center
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
, with Julie Kent and Gillian Murphy
Gillian Murphy
Gillian Murphy is a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.Murphy was born in Wimbledon, England and took her first ballet class at the age of three in Belgium while her father was working overseas...
in the lead role http://www.abt.org/performances/performance_display.asp?Event_ID=435.
Further reading
- de Mille, Agnes. Lizzie Borden: A Dance of Death. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1968.
- Easton, Carole. No Intermissions: The Life of Agnes de Mille. New York: Little, Brown, & Co., 1996.
External links
- Photographs of Nora Kaye as Lizzie Borden
- Opening night credits
- Gillian Murphy as Lizzy Borden (from the 2007 Fall Season promotion)
- New York Public Library - Theatrical Lighting Database complete lighting paperwork for the 1991 ABT production by lighting designer Thomas Skelton
