APOLLO - ABT

APOLLO

Music by Igor Stravinsky
Choreography by George Balanchine
Staged by Karin von Aroldingen and Richard Tanner
Lighting by Ronald Bates

World Premiere: Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, Paris, 6/12/28
Original Cast: Serge Lifar (Apollo), Alice Nikitina (Terpsichore), Lubov Tchernicheva (Polyhymnia), Felia Dubrovska (Calliope), Dora Vadimova, Henriette Maicherska (Deeses), Sophie Orlova (Leto)
ABT Premiere: Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 4/27/37
Scenery and costumes by Stewart Chaney
Cast: Lew Christensen (Apollo), Elise Reiman (Terpsichore), Holly Howard (Polyhymnia), Daphne Vane (Calliope)

Apollo, a Greek god of varied characteristics, was

born on the island of Delos. His father was Zeus and

his mother was Leto. Among his god-like attributes,

he was the god of song and music and none could

surpass him in music, not even Pan. He received the

lyre from Hermes, the seven strings of which were

said to be connected to the seven Greek vowels. As

the leader of the Muses, he was called

Musagetes.

Apollo is a ballet without a plot, only a

simple program:

Scene 1 - The Birth of Apollo

Scene 2 - Three Muses appear and they all dance

with Apollo and he with them. He then presents

each of them with the symbol appropriate to her art.

To Calliope, the Muse of poetry, he presents a

tablet; to Polyhymnia, the Muse of mime, a mask

that symbolizes silence and the power of gesture;

and to Terpsichore, Muse of dance and song, he

gives a Iyre, the instrument that accompanies these

arts. All the Muses are pleased and each dances a

solo utilizing her gift. Apollo performs a solo and

then is joined by the Muses. The end of the ballet

depicts the ascent of Apollo to Mount

Olympus.