# Raymonda Variations

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raymonda_Variations
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raymonda_Variations.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymonda_Variations
> Source revision: 1277460142
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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](/source/George_Balanchine)
| composer         = [Alexander Glazunov](/source/Alexander_Glazunov)
| premiere         = {{start date|1961|12|07}}
| place            = [City Center of Music and Drama](/source/New_York_City_Center)
| ballet_company   = [New York City Ballet](/source/New_York_City_Ballet)
| designer         = [Karinska](/source/Karinska)<br/>David Hays
| created_for      = [Patricia Wilde](/source/Patricia_Wilde)<br/>[Jacques d'Amboise](/source/Jacques_d'Amboise_(dancer))
| genre            = 
| type             = 
| url              = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
'''''Raymonda Variations''''', formerly titled '''''Valses et Variations''''', is a ballet choreographed by [George Balanchine](/source/George_Balanchine) to excepts from [Alexander Glazunov](/source/Alexander_Glazunov)'s score for the 1898 ballet ''[Raymonda](/source/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](/source/New_York_City_Center). ''Raymonda Variations'' was made for the [New York City Ballet](/source/New_York_City_Ballet), with the two lead roles originated by [Patricia Wilde](/source/Patricia_Wilde) and [Jacques d'Amboise](/source/Jacques_d'Amboise_(dancer)).

==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](/source/Raymonda)'' featured choreography by [Marius Petipa](/source/Marius_Petipa) and a score by [Alexander Glazunov](/source/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](/source/Crusades), Raymonda is abducted by [emir](/source/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](/source/Imperial_Ballet_School), he performed the ballet at the [Mariinsky Theatre](/source/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](/source/Alexandra_Danilova) staged a production of ''Raymonda'' for [Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo](/source/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](/source/Patricia_Wilde) and [Jacques d'Amboise](/source/Jacques_d'Amboise_(dancer)). 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](/source/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](/source/variation_(ballet)) 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](/source/Karinska), and the original lighting was by David Hays.<ref name=Reynolds/> The backdrop Horace Armistead designed for Tudor's ''[Jardin aux lilas](/source/Jardin_aux_lilas)'' was reused.<ref name=Taper/> The ballet originally used the [working title](/source/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](/source/Patricia_Wilde)
*[Jacques d'Amboise](/source/Jacques_d'Amboise_(dancer))
*Victoria Simon
*[Suki Schorer](/source/Suki_Schorer)
*Gloria Govrin
*Carol Summer
*[Patricia Neary](/source/Patricia_Neary)

==Performances==
The ballet premiered on December 7, 1961, at the [City Center of Music and Drama](/source/New_York_City_Center).<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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/New_York_Times)'' critic [John Martin](/source/John_Martin_(dance_critic)) 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

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Raymonda Variations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymonda_Variations) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymonda_Variations?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.