Le Palais de Cristal by Balanchine, music by Bizet
Amandine Abisson, Ludmila Pagliero, Mathieu Ganio, Karl Paquette – Corps de Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris
Cast
Amandine Albisson — Principal dancer
Ludmila Pagliero — Principal dancer
Mathieu Ganio — Principal dancer
Karl Paquette — Principal dancer
Program notes
George Balanchine’s first creation for the Paris Opera Ballet is brought to dazzling life in the place where it premiered just over 60 years ago! Philippe Jordan leads the Paris Opera Orchestra in Bizet’s effervescent score.
Bizet’s Symphony in C came into being as a composition assignment in 1855 during his final years at the Paris Conservatoire, and the 17-year-old's disregard for what would later be declared one of his first masterpieces meant that work went lost and forgotten for more than half a century! Rediscovered and published in 1933, the great dancer and choreographer George Balanchine saw the Symphony's potential as a ballet, and produced a choreography of elegance and virtuosity, emblematic of his œuvre. Leading this brilliant performance are the principal dancers Amandine Albisson, Ludmila Pagliero, Mathieu Ganio, and Karl Paquette trimmed in Christian Lacroix’s glittering polychromatic costumes.
Photo: © Agathe Poupeney / Opéra national de Paris
