''Polyphonia'' is a one-act ballet choreographed by
Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Peter Wheeldon OBE (born 22 March 1973) is an English international choreographer of contemporary ballet.
Life and career
Born in Yeovil, Somerset, to an engineer and a physical therapist, Wheeldon began training to be a ballet dan ...
to music by
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde composers in the latter half of the twentieth century" ...
, costumes designed by
Holly Hynes Holly Hynes is an accomplished, award winning costume designer with over 250 ballets to her credit, including more than 70 at the New York City Ballet. Hynes' designs are also on view in companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, ...
, and was created 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' ...
. It premiered on January 4, 2001 at the
New York State Theater
The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet, modern and other forms of dance, part of the Lincoln Center, at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Originally ...
. It is regarded as Wheeldon's breakthrough,
and won the
Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Aw ...
in 2003.
Production
Performed by 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' ...
, ''Polyphonia'' premiered on January 4, 2001 at the
New York State Theater
The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet, modern and other forms of dance, part of the Lincoln Center, at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Originally ...
.
It was the first premiere of the company's winter season.
[
''Polyphonia'' is the first ballet Wheeldon created after he became artist-in-residence with the New York City Ballet and retired from dancing. It is plotless.] Wheeldon described it as "romantic with comic twists",[ and said it was inspired by ]Norman Morrice
Norman Alexander Morrice (10 September 1931 – 11 January 2008) was a British dancer, choreographer and artistic director of both Ballet Rambert from 1966 to 1974 and the Royal Ballet from 1977 to 1986, the UK's two major ballet companies.
Earl ...
's works, though reviewers have noted it also includes homage to Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton (17 September 190418 August 1988) was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He also worked as a director and choreographer in opera, film and revue.
Determined to be a dancer despite the oppositi ...
and George Balanchine
George Balanchine (;
Various sources:
*
*
*
* born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...
, especially the latter's "leotard ballets". The title is a reference to micropolyphony
Micropolyphony is a kind of polyphonic musical texture developed by György Ligeti which consists of many lines of dense canons moving at different tempos or rhythms, thus resulting in tone clusters vertically. According to David Cope, "micropol ...
, a kind of polyphonic
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, h ...
musical texture
In music, texture is how the tempo, melodic, and harmonic materials are combined in a musical composition, determining the overall quality of the sound in a piece. The texture is often described in regard to the density, or thickness, and range ...
developed by György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde composers in the latter half of the twentieth century" ...
, whose music is used in this ballet.[
The cast includes four men and four women, including ]Wendy Whelan
Wendy Whelan (; born May 7, 1967) is an American ballet dancer. She was principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and performed with the company for 30 years, and toured in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Whelan has also been an influential gue ...
, who went on to create 12 more roles for Wheeldon, and became his most frequent collaborator until she retired from NYCB in 2014. She later credited working with Wheeldon on ''Polyphonia'' for helping her "began to find herself as a dancer", and Wheeldon said Whelan "launched me as a choreographer".
Other companies and revivals
In 2002, ''Polyphonia'' premiered in London, danced by Benjamin Millepied
Benjamin Millepied (; born 10 June 1977) is a French dancer and choreographer, who has lived and worked in the United States since joining the New York City Ballet in 1995, where he became a soloist in 1998 and a principal in 2002. He has also ...
's group Danses Concertantes which consisted of NYCB dancers, at Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-seat ...
. In the 2003 Laurence Olivier Awards, the production won Best New Dance Production, and Wheeldon was also nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for choreographing ''Polyphonia'' and ''Tryst''. The Royal Ballet
The Royal Ballet is a British internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the five major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in ...
, where Wheeldon had also danced, and 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 Franc ...
both debuted ''Polyphonia'' in 2003. Wheeldon's own troupe, the Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
Morphoses is a ballet company, co-founded in 2007 by Christopher Wheeldon and Lourdes Lopez. Morphoses is a guest resident company at the New York City Center and at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. It was known as Morphoses/The Wheeldon Compa ...
, had also danced ''Polyphonia'', with a cast consisted of NYCB dancers, except 15-year-old Beatriz Stix-Brunell
Beatriz Eugenia Stix-Brunell (born 1993) is an American ballet dancer. Her career started with Morphoses when she was 14. She joined the Royal Ballet in 2010, was promoted to first soloist in 2016, and retired in 2021.
Early life
Stix-Brunell ...
, later a Royal Ballet first soloist. In 2015, ''Polyphonia'' became Wheeldon's first work performed by the Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet () is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It is still regarded ...
, as part of a mixed bill honoring the 90th birthday of Pierre Boulez
Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war Western classical music.
Born in Mont ...
, a conductor and composer who knew Ligeti. Other companies that had danced it include Boston Ballet
The Boston Ballet is an American professional classical ballet company based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams and Sydney Leonard, and was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. I ...
, The Washington Ballet
The Washington Ballet (TWB) is an ensemble of professional ballet dancers based in Washington DC. It was founded in 1976 by Mary Day, and has been under the artistic directorship of Julie Kent since 2016. Septime Webre was artistic director fo ...
and Miami City Ballet
Miami City Ballet is an American ballet company based in Miami Beach, Florida, led by artistic director Lourdes Lopez. MCB was founded in 1985 by Toby Lerner Ansin, a Miami philanthropist. Ansin and the founding board hired Edward Villella, f ...
.
Music
''Polyphonia'' is set to György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde composers in the latter half of the twentieth century" ...
's music, including:
* Désordre and Arc-en-ciel from Études pour piano, premier livre
*No. 4 Tempo di Valse, No. 8 Vivace energico, No. 7 Cantabile molto legato, No. 3 Allegro con spirito and No. 2 Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale from ''Musica ricercata
''Musica ricercata'' is a set of eleven pieces for piano by György Ligeti. The work was composed from 1951 to 1953, shortly after the composer began lecturing at the Budapest Academy of Music. The work premiered on 18 November 1969 in Sundsvall, ...
''
*''Invention
An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an i ...
''
*'' Three Wedding Dances''
*Capriccio No. 2 from '' Due capricci''
Casts
*World premiere: Wendy Whelan
Wendy Whelan (; born May 7, 1967) is an American ballet dancer. She was principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and performed with the company for 30 years, and toured in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Whelan has also been an influential gue ...
, Jennie Somogyi
Jennie Renee Somogyi (pronounced sa-mo-JEE or sum-O-gee; born ) is an American former ballet dancer. She joined the New York City Ballet in 1993, at age 15, became a principal dancer in 2000, and retired in 2015.
Early life and training
Jennie ...
, Jennifer Tinsley, Alexandra Ansanelli
Alexandra Noel Ansanelli is a retired American ballet dancer who was a Principal dancer at New York City Ballet and the Royal Ballet prior to her retirement at a relatively young age.
Early life
Ansanelli was born in Manhassett, Long Island ...
, Jock Soto
Jock Soto (born 1965)Kisselgoff, Anna. "Not Only a Partner, a Dynamic Interpreter", ''The New York Times'', June 18, 2005. p. B7. is a former American ballet dancer and current ballet instructor.
Career
Jock Soto danced featured roles in over 40 ...
, Edwaard Liang
Edwaard Liang (born c. 1975/1976 Also available a. in Taipei, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese-born American dancer and choreographer. He grew up in Marin County, California.
Career
Liang began studying dance at the age of 5. He entered the School of Ame ...
, Jason Fowler, Craig Hall[
*]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 Franc ...
premiere: Yuan Yuan Tan
Yuan Yuan Tan (; born February 14, 1976) is a Chinese ballet dancer who is principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet.
Biography
She entered Shanghai Dance School at the age of 11. Initially her father opposed this, as he wanted her to ...
, Lorena Feijoo, Julie Diana
Julie Diana Hench (born ) is an American ballet dancer, teacher, writer and arts administrator. She joined the San Francisco Ballet in 1993, and was promoted to principal dancer in 2000. In 2004, she joined the Pennsylvania Ballet, where she rem ...
, Kristin Long, Yuri Possokhov, Gonzalo Garcia, Ruben Martin, Zachary Hench[
*]Royal Ballet
The Royal Ballet is a British internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the five major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in ...
premiere: Leanne Benjamin
Leanne Faye Benjamin (born 13 July 1964) is a retired Australian ballet dancer who was a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.
Early life and training
Benjamin was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, to Jill and Bernie Benjamin. Be ...
, Alina Cojocaru
Alina Cojocaru (born 27 May 1981) is a Romanian ballet dancer. She was previously a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet and a lead principal with the English National Ballet.
Early years
Alina Cojocaru was born and raised in Bucharest, Roman ...
, Jaimie Tapper, Lauren Cuthbertson
Lauren Louise Cuthbertson (born 11 June 1984) is an English ballerina and a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.
Early life and education
Lauren Cuthbertson was born in Devon in 1984. She began studying dance at a local dance scho ...
, Jonathan Cope, Federico Bonelli
Federico Bonelli (Genoa, 1978) is an Italian ballet dancer and was a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London, England. He became the artistic director of Northern Ballet in May 2022.
Biography
Federico Bonelli was born in Genoa, Italy ...
, Valeri Hristov, Edward Watson
*Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet () is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It is still regarded ...
premiere: Amandine Albisson, Lydie Vareilhes, Léonore Baulac
Léonore Baulac (born 10 May 1990) is a French ballet dancer. She is an '' étoile'' at the Paris Opera Ballet.
Early life
Baulac was born in Paris to a Norwegian-born mother. When Baulac was ten, she did not participate in the entrance exam to t ...
, Jennifer Visocchi, Stéphane Bullion, Marc Moreau, Germain Louvet, Axel Ibot[
]
Videography
In 2020, in response to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the performing arts, the New York City Ballet will extracts from a performance filmed earlier that year online, including a pas de deux between Lauren Lovette
Lauren Lovette (born November 10, 1991) is an American ballet dancer and choreographer who was previously a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.
Early life and education
Lovette was born in Thousand Oaks, California, and started her ...
and Andrew Veyette, and another section with Lovette, Veyette, Megan Fairchild, Alston Macgill, Sara Mearns
Sara Ann Mearns (born 19 January 1986) is an American ballet dancer. She is a principal dancer at New York City Ballet.
Early life
Mearns was born in Columbia, South Carolina. Her mother is a nurse. At age three, she began dancing with Ann Brodi ...
, Jovani Furlan, Roman Mejia and Silas Farley
Silas Farley (born ) is an American ballet dancer, choreographer and educator. He danced at the New York City Ballet between 2013 and 2020, and choreographed outside the company. In 2021, he became the dean of Colburn School's Trudl Zipper Dance ...
. Apart from Mearns, all the dancers were making their debut when the performance was filmed.
References
{{Reflist
2001 ballet premieres
Ballets by Christopher Wheeldon
Ballets designed by Holly Hynes
New York City Ballet repertory