Monumentum pro Gesualdo
Encyclopedia
Monumentum pro Gesualdo is a ballet by New York City Ballet
co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine
to eponymous music by Igor Stravinsky
composed in honor of the 400th birthday of Don Carlo Gesualdo and consisting of Stravinsky's orchestrations of Don Carlo's madrigals. The premiere took place on Wednesday, November 16, 1960, at City Center of Music and Drama
, New York, with scenery and lighting by David Hays (new lighting by Ronald Bates
in 1974) and was conducted by Robert Irving
; the composer conducted the score's orchestral premiere on Tuesday, September 27, 1960 for the XXIII Venice Music Festival at La Fenice
.
The ballet premiere was part of a special Salute to Italy, which also included the premiere of Variations from Don Sebastian, called the Donizetti Variations since 1961, and performances of Balanchine's La Sonnambula
and Lew Christensen
's Con Amore. It was first performed in conjunction with Movements for Piano and Orchestra in 1965, and this practice has been followed almost consistently since 1966, with the same leading female dancer in both in most performances. The ballet has three parts, each of just over two minutes duration. NYCB principal dancer Darci Kistler
chose to include Monumentum pro Gesualdo in her farewell performance, Sunday, June 27.
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
to eponymous music by Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
composed in honor of the 400th birthday of Don Carlo Gesualdo and consisting of Stravinsky's orchestrations of Don Carlo's madrigals. The premiere took place on Wednesday, November 16, 1960, at City Center of Music and Drama
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...
, New York, with scenery and lighting by David Hays (new lighting by Ronald Bates
Ronald Bates
Ronald Bates was production stage manager for New York City Ballet where he began working in 1957. He studied scenic design at Los Angeles City College after serving in the Navy...
in 1974) and was conducted by Robert Irving
Robert Irving
Robert K. Irving is a Canadian industrialist based in Moncton, New Brunswick.A grandson of Kenneth Colin Irving and son of James Irving and Jean E. S. Irving, Robert is responsible for several businesses within the "Irving Group of Companies" with operations extending across North America.* He is...
; the composer conducted the score's orchestral premiere on Tuesday, September 27, 1960 for the XXIII Venice Music Festival at La Fenice
La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of the most famous theatres in Europe, the site of many famous operatic premieres. Its name reflects its role in permitting an opera company to "rise from the ashes" despite losing the use of two theatres...
.
The ballet premiere was part of a special Salute to Italy, which also included the premiere of Variations from Don Sebastian, called the Donizetti Variations since 1961, and performances of Balanchine's La Sonnambula
La Sonnambula (ballet)
La Sonnambula is a ballet by New York City Ballet co-founder and balletmaster, George Balanchine, made to Vittorio Rieti's music using themes from the operas of Vincenzo Bellini including La Sonnambula, Norma, I Puritani, and I Capuleti e i Montecchi and costumes by Karinska...
and Lew Christensen
Lew Christensen
Lewellyn Farr "Lew" Christensen was a ballet dancer, choreographer and director for many companies. He was largely associated with George Balanchine and the San Francisco Ballet, which he directed from 1952–1984...
's Con Amore. It was first performed in conjunction with Movements for Piano and Orchestra in 1965, and this practice has been followed almost consistently since 1966, with the same leading female dancer in both in most performances. The ballet has three parts, each of just over two minutes duration. NYCB principal dancer Darci Kistler
Darci Kistler
Darci Kistler is a noted American ballerina. She is often said to be the last muse for legendary choreographer George Balanchine.-Biography:...
chose to include Monumentum pro Gesualdo in her farewell performance, Sunday, June 27.
original
- Diana AdamsDiana AdamsDiana Adams was an American dancer, leading dancer for the New York City Ballet from 1950 to 1963 and a favorite of George Balanchine, later became a teacher and a dean at the School of American Ballet. Adams was born in Staunton, Virginia and died in San Andreas, California....
- six women
- Conrad LudlowConrad LudlowConrad Ludlow is a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet under George Balanchine. He also danced at San Francisco Ballet and founded and directed Ballet Oklahoma...
- six men