Choreography by Michel Fokine
Libretto by Jean Louis Vaudoyer
Staged by Kirk Peterson
Originally staged by Andre Eglevsky
Music by Carl Maria von Weber (Invitation to the Dance)
Scenery and costumes by Leon Bakst, recreated by Robert Perdziola
Lighting by Brad Fields

A young girl returning from her first ball, fatigued by excitement, falls asleep in her chair. She dreams that the rose she holds in her hand is dancing with her. When he disappears through the window, she awakens, still under the spell of her dream.

Le Spectre de la Rose was first presented by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the Theatre de Monte Carlo on April 19, 1911. It was choreographed by Michel Fokine with Tamara Karsavina and Vaslav Nijinsky in the roles of the Young Girl and the Spirit of the Rose. This ballet was given its United States premiere by the same company at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York on April 3, 1916, danced by Lydia Lopoukhova and Alexander Gavrilov. Thirty years later, for the last time before his death, Fokine taught the roles to Ballet Theatre’s Annabelle Lyon and Ian Gibson. The Company presented it for the first time at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City on October 31, 1941. It was given its New York premiere at the 44th Street Theatre on December 4, 1941.

Le Spectre de la Rose, staged by Andre Eglevsky and Annabelle Lyon, was given its American Ballet Theatre premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York on July 7, 1972, danced by Carla Fracci and Paolo Bortoluzzi.

The complete Le Spectre de la Rose was last performed by American Ballet Theatre in 1980. An extract was performed at a gala on May 12, 1997, danced by Vladimir Malakhov with Alicia Alonzo as the young girl.

Le Spectre de la Rose received its revival premiere at City Center, New York on October 20, 2004, danced by Herman Cornejo and Xiomara Reyes.

Previous Notes:

Music by Carl Maria von Weber (Invitation to the Dance)
Choreography by Michel Fokine
Staged by Andre Eglevsky, assisted by Annabelle Lyon
Libretto by Jean Louis Vaudoyer
Scenery and costumes by Leon Bakst
Man's costume by Stanley Simmons
Lighting by Nananne Porcher

World Premiere: Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, Theatre de Monte Carlo, Monaco, 4/19/11
Original Cast: Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky
ABT Premiere: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City, 10/31/41
Music by Carl Maria von Weber (Invitation to the Dance)
Choreography by Michel Fokine
Libretto by Jean Louis Vaudoyer
Scenery and costumes by Leon Bakst
Cast: Annabelle Lyon (Young Girl), Ian Gibson (The Rose)