Theme and Variations

E40152

ballet neoclassical ballet

Theme and Variations is a 1947 neoclassical ballet by George Balanchine set to Tchaikovsky’s music, celebrated for its virtuosic choreography and evocation of Imperial Russian ballet style.

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	ballet → neoclassical ballet →
balletType	abstract ballet → plotless ballet →
basedOn	Tchaikovsky’s Theme and Variations from Orchestral Suite No. 3 →
choreographer	George Balanchine →
choreographicCharacteristics	complex ensemble patterns → grand classical pas de deux → virtuosic technique →
composer	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky →
costumeStyle	tutus in late-Imperial Russian style →
countryOfPremiere	United States →
createdFor	Ballet Theatre →
features	grand polonaise finale → large corps de ballet → multiple variations → principal pas de deux →
genre	classical ballet →
hasChoreographerNationality	American (Russian-born) →
hasComposerNationality	Russian →
intendedEffect	evocation of grandeur of Imperial Russian ballet →
languageOfTitle	English →
musicFrom	Orchestral Suite No. 3 in G major, Op. 55 → Theme and Variations (final movement of Tchaikovsky’s Orchestral Suite No. 3) →
musicGenre	orchestral suite movement →
notableFor	demanding classical technique → homage to Petipa-era classics → showcase of Balanchine’s neoclassical style →
numberOfMovements	single continuous movement →
originalCompanyNameAtPremiere	Ballet Theatre (later American Ballet Theatre) →
originalPrincipalDancer	Alicia Alonso → Igor Youskevitch NERFINISHED →
periodInBalanchineCareer	post-war American period →
premiereCity	New York City →
premiereCompany	Ballet Theatre →
premiereDate	1947-11-26 →
premiereVenue	City Center of Music and Drama →
premiereYear	1947 →
repertoireOf	American Ballet Theatre → New York City Ballet → other major international ballet companies →
setDesignStyle	evocation of Imperial St. Petersburg →
structure	theme and variations form →
style	Imperial Russian ballet style → neoclassical →
timePeriodOfChoreography	mid-20th century →
timePeriodOfMusic	late Romantic →
typicalCasting	two principals and large corps de ballet →

Referenced by (2)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
George Balanchine → Giorgi Melitonis dze Balanchivadze →	notableWork