Operetta Affezionata

Richard Tanner harkens back to the 18th-century European countryside in his latest ballet for a sixteen-member corps and four principal dancers (separated at times into a lead pas de deux and a male duet). The costumes are by Holly Hynes. The lighting is by Mark Mongold.
 
Mr. Tanner was born in Phoenix, Arizona, where he began his dance training with Robert Lindgren and Sonja Tyven. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah and continued his dance training at the School of American Ballet. Mr. Tanner joined Oklahoma's Ballet West as a Soloist from 1967 through 1970. He then joined New York City Ballet where he danced for ten years. He began his choreographic career in 1971 with two works for New York City Ballet. From 1981 to 1983, Mr. Tanner served as Regisseur Generale at American Ballet Theatre, and from 1985 to 1990 as Associate Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet. For New York City Ballet, he has choreographed Ancient Airs and Dances and A Schubert Sonata.
 
Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) is regarded as the founder of German national opera and of romantic opera in general. His best known works are Der Freischütz and Oberon. His Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra No. 1 in F Minor (Op. 73), as all of his clarinet music, was inspired by Heinrich Bermann, a clarinetist with whom the composer was good friends. In this instance, the clarinet's independence from the rest of the orchestra adds emotion to the score.

19 minutes