Seminal ballet composers set the stage for an impressive display of dance.

Balanchine turned to the Russian composer Glazounov for Raymonda Variations. Although the score derives from the titular 19th-century story ballet, Balanchine used the music to create a plotless classical work—a scintillating series of solos, pas de deux, and ensemble dances. Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, a perennial fan favorite and a staple of the international repertory, ranks among Balanchine’s most dazzling creations, despite its running time of less than ten minutes. It alternates on the program with Balanchine’s alternately playful and mysterious pas de deux Duo Concertant. And while it is not as well-known as many other dances Jerome Robbins choreographed to piano music, his Piano Pieces, also set to Tschaikovsky, is a connoisseur’s delight, mixing classical steps with a gentle suggestion of folk themes.

For more information about this performance, please visit the event website.