Jan 13, 2020
In the lead-up to the return of Balanchine’s Firebird later this month, Silas Farley is joined by former NYCB Principal Dancer Merrill Ashley for this episode of Hear the Dance. They discuss her recollections of Firebird from early childhood memories of seeing Maria Tallchief dance the role at Jacob’s Pillow through her 30-plus years as a dancer at NYCB, including her own performances as a monster, a maiden, and in the ballet’s title role. Merrill reminisces with Silas about preparations for the Stravinsky Festival in 1972 and the spectacle created by the combination of Chagall’s exotic designs, Karinska’s beautifully hand-crocheted costumes, and the increasingly difficult-to-maneuver wings for the Firebird, as well as her recent work teaching Balanchine’s choreography around the world. (42:25)
Music
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major (1931) by Igor
Stravinsky
Firebird Suite for Orchestra (1945), from Firebird (1910) by Igor
Stravinsky Performed by the New York City Ballet
Orchestra
Reading List
America’s Prima Ballerina by Maria
Tallchief
Dancing for Balanchine by Merrill Ashley
Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes by Lynn Garafola