Polyphonia

Choreography by: Christopher Wheeldon

Music by: György Ligeti

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Credits

Music
Desordre, No. 2 Mesto Parlando, No. 4 Tempo di Valse, Invention, No. 7 Con moto giusto, No. 3 Allegro con spirito, Polyphonic Etude, No. 10 Vivace, No. 2 Hopp ide tisztan, Arc-en-ciel, Capriccio No. 2
Premiere
January 4, 2001, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater
Original Cast
Wendy Whelan, Jennie Somogyi, Jennifer Tinsley, Alexandra Ansanelli, Jock Soto, Edwaard Liang, Jason Fowler, Craig Hall

Length
27 Min.
Costumes by
Holly Hynes
Lighting by
Mark Stanley

Regarded as one of Wheeldon's breakthrough contemporary works, Polyphonia's four couples wind their way through ten eerily melodious Ligeti selections.



Polyphonia was the fourth work Christopher Wheeldon created for New York City Ballet, and his first after retiring from dancing with the Company and being named NYCB’s first-ever Artist in Residence in 2000.  A work for eight dancers, Polyphonia is set to ten piano pieces by the composer György Ligeti, who developed micropolyphony, a type of musical texture involving the use of sustained dissonant chords that shift slowly over time.