{{short description|Ballet by George Balanchine}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox ballet | name = Raymonda Variations | italic title = yes | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | choreographer = George Balanchine | composer = Alexander Glazunov | premiere = {{start date|1961|12|07}} | place = City Center of Music and Drama | ballet_company = New York City Ballet | designer = Karinska<br/>David Hays | created_for = Patricia Wilde<br/>Jacques d'Amboise | genre = | type = | url = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''''Raymonda Variations''''', formerly titled '''''Valses et Variations''''', is a ballet choreographed by George Balanchine to excepts from Alexander Glazunov's score for the 1898 ballet ''Raymonda''. Instead of following the plot of the 1898 ballet, the Balanchine ballet is plotless. It premiered on December 7, 1961, at the City Center of Music and Drama. ''Raymonda Variations'' was made for the New York City Ballet, with the two lead roles originated by Patricia Wilde and Jacques d'Amboise.

==Choreography== ''Raymonda Variations'' is danced by two principal dancers, a man and a woman, and ensemble of twelve women.<ref name=Martin>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/12/08/archives/ballet-a-confection-by-balanchine-valses-et-variations-scores-in.html|title=Ballet: A Confection by Balanchine; 'Valses et Variations' Scores in Premiere Patricia Wilde and d'Amboise in Leads|work=New York Times|last=Martin|first=John|date=December 8, 1961}}</ref> The ballet does not follow the plot of the 1898 ''Raymonda''.<ref name=Balanchine/>{{rp|471}} Balanchine explained, "The music itself, its grand and generous manner, its joy and playfulness, was for me more than enough to carry the plot of the dances."<ref name=Balanchine/>{{rp|471–472}} He described the ballet,<blockquote>When the curtain goes up, twelve girls stand posing in an elegant garden. They dance for us and then the principals, another girl then a boy, join them. Next, the girl and the boy are alone for an adagio. This is followed by a series of nine variations, or solos, by five of the girls and the two principals. The ballet concludes with a coda and a finale by all the dancers.<ref name=Balanchine/>{{rp|471}}</blockquote>

==Background and production== The 1898 ballet ''Raymonda'' featured choreography by Marius Petipa and a score by Alexander Glazunov. In the ballet, the titular character is engaged to Jean de Brienne, a French knight. However, while Jean leaves to fight at the Crusades, Raymonda is abducted by emir Abderakhman, but was saved by Jean, who Raymonda soon marries.<ref name=MelikPashayeva>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nhsKAQAAMAAJ|title=International Encyclopedia of Dance|chapter=Raymonda|last=Melik-Pashayeva|first=Karina L.|editor-last1=Dorris|editor-first1=George E.|editor-last2=Cohen|editor-first2=Selma Jeanne|date=1998|isbn=978-0-19-512308-1}}</ref>

In his book ''Balanchine's Complete Stories of the Great Ballets'', the choreographer wrote that he had enjoyed the score since he was a student, and whilst studying at the Imperial Ballet School, he performed the ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre, wearing the original costumes.<ref name=Balanchine>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o3ruAAAAMAAJ|title=Balanchine's Complete Stories of the Great Ballets|last1=Balanchine|first1=George|last2=Mason|first2=Francis|year=1977|isbn=9780385113816}}</ref>{{rp|411}} In 1946, he and Alexandra Danilova staged a production of ''Raymonda'' for Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo.<ref name=MelikPashayeva/> In 1955, he used excerpts from the music of ''Raymonda'' for his ballet ''Pas de Dix''.<ref name=MelikPashayeva/>

In fall 1961, Balanchine decided to make another ballet to musical excerpts from ''Raymonda'', with Patricia Wilde and Jacques d'Amboise. This would become the last time Balanchine choreograph a ballet on Wilde, who by then was one of the most senior dancers at the New York City Ballet. Wilde had also danced in the 1946 ''Raymonda''.<ref name=Lobenthal>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4G8oDAAAQBAJ|title=Wilde Times: Patricia Wilde, George Balanchine, and the Rise of New York City Ballet|last=Lobenthal|first=Joel|year=2016|isbn=9781611689433}}</ref> Balanchine began choreographing the ballet after the company's domestic tour that year, when Balanchine called Wilde to the studio, and choreograph a solo on her to music intended for a variation danced by Raymonda's companion Henriette. As Wilde did not know it was for a new ballet, she soon forgot about it. Weeks later, once rehearsals for the ballet officially started, Balanchine rechoreographed the solo.<ref name=Lobenthal/> Balanchine also chose five young women in the company to dance other solos.<ref name=Lobenthal/>

The costumes were designed by Karinska, and the original lighting was by David Hays.<ref name=Reynolds/> The backdrop Horace Armistead designed for Tudor's ''Jardin aux lilas'' was reused.<ref name=Taper/> The ballet originally used the working title ''Raymonda'', before premiering under the title ''Valse et Variations''. It was renamed ''Raymonda Variations'' in 1963.<ref name=Reynolds/>

==Original cast== The principal dancers in the original cast were:<ref name=Reynolds>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1UkAQAAIAAJ|title=Repertory in Review: 40 Years of the New York City Ballet|last=Reynolds|first=Nancy|year=1977|isbn=9780803773684|pages=214–215}}</ref> *Patricia Wilde *Jacques d'Amboise *Victoria Simon *Suki Schorer *Gloria Govrin *Carol Summer *Patricia Neary

==Performances== The ballet premiered on December 7, 1961, at the City Center of Music and Drama.<ref name=Taper>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b6asPmWr9YMC|title=Balanchine: A Biography|last=Taper|first=Bernard|year=1987|isbn=9780520060593}}</ref> At the premiere, d'Amboise's variations were omitted as he was injured. They were added back to the ballet a month later.<ref name=Lobenthal/>

Other ballet companies that have performed ''Raymonda Variations'' include Houston Ballet,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/Houston-Ballet-Presents-Spring-Mixed-Repertory-Program-Starting-526-20160430|title=Houston Ballet Presents Spring Mixed Repertory Program Starting 5/26|work=BroadwayWorld|last=Brady|first=Louisa|date=April 30, 2016}}</ref> Miami City Ballet,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/arts/dance/28miam.html|title=Bring It On: Feasting on Bonbons, Then Belting Down Scotch|work=New York Times|last=Dunning|first=Jennifer|date=April 28, 2008}}</ref> Kansas City Ballet,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://kcballet.org/repertory/raymonda-variations/|title=Raymonda Variations - KC Ballet|work=Kansas City Ballet|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref> and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbt.org/the-company/artistic/repertoire/raymonda-variations/|title=Raymonda Variations - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre|work=Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>

==Critical reception== Following the premiere, ''New York Times'' critic John Martin called the ballet a "an adorable confection, concocted of marzipan, diamonds, youth and nostalgia."<ref name=Martin/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://www.nycballet.com/discover/ballet-repertory/raymonda-variations/ ''Raymonda Variations''] on the New York City Ballet website * [https://www.balanchine.com/Ballet/Raymonda-Variations ''Raymonda Variations''] on the George Balanchine Trust website

{{Balanchine ballets}}

Category:1961 ballets Category:Ballets by George Balanchine Category:New York City Ballet repertory