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Premiere
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June 2, 2001, School of American Ballet, Juilliard Theater, New York
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Two female soloists are accompanied by four male and eight female dancers in this ballet set to Telemann’s spirited Baroque music. On a bare stage and wearing simple, pale blue practice clothes, the dancers create formal patterns. The two lead dancers take turns with the corns, paralleling the interplay between the flute and strings. There are two bright solos to flute for the women. The more lyrical fourth movement features gracious partnering for two corps couples and a duet for two corps women. The ballet concludes with a lively gigue, danced by the entire cast. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767), was born in Magdeburg, Germany, and died in Hamburg. He was an extremely prolific composer, creating more than 6,000 works, and during his time was the most famous and highly regarded composer in Germany. He composed in all the current forms and styles of his time. Telemann created sacred and secular vocal music, orchestral music and chamber music, including nine operas, more than 100 songs, 120 overtures and four symphonies. He was active as a church organist, a Kapellmeister, a director of music at several churches and a director of the Hamburg Opera from 1722 until it closed in 1738. Telemann’s style is distinct, with a clear periodic structure, clarity and ready fluency. Though he was four years older than his contemporaries Bach and Handel, Telemann is seen as a forerunner of the Classical style in several genres.
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