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Events
Neoclassical Works
October 23, 2026 at 7:30 pm
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
Neoclassical Works
This program features pieces that draw inspiration from ballets past and move boldly into the present, from a radiant tribute to Russian Imperial style to Kyle Abraham’s tradition-defying contemporary voice.
Birthday Offering
Choreography by Frederick Ashton
Music by Alexander Glazunov
Arranged and Orchestrated by Robert Irving
Costumes by Andre Levasseur
Lighting by Steven Shelley
Staged by Helen Crawford
Created in 1956 by Frederick Ashton for The Royal Ballet’s 25th anniversary, Birthday Offering featured seven of the company’s leading ballerinas: Elaine Fifield, Rowena Jackson, Svetlana Beriosova, Nadia Nerina, Violetta Elvin, Beryl Grey, and Margot Fonteyn. Each had a solo tailored to highlight their unique gifts and artistry. Set to the lush, radiant, and warmly orchestral music of Alexander Glazunov, the ballet balances elegance with energy, and today’s dancers rise to the challenge of inhabiting these storied roles.
Mercurial Son
Choreography by Kyle Abraham
Music by Grischa Lichtenberger
Costumes by Karen Young
Lighting by Dan Scully
Assistants to the Choreographer: Stephanie Terasaki and Tamisha A. Guy
Costume Design Supervision by Caitlin Rain
Running Time: 21 minutes
Mercurial Son, choreographer Kyle Abraham’s first work for American Ballet Theatre, premiered in 2024 to resounding success and returns to the David H. Koch Theater this Fall. Driven by an electronic score and propelled by swift, intricately layered movement, Mercurial Son is a striking contribution to the Company’s contemporary repertory.
Ballet Imperial
Choreography by George Balanchine
Music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (Concerto No. 2 in G for Piano and Orchestra, 0p.44)
Stage and Costume Design by Jean-Marc Puissant
Lighting by Mark Stanley
Solo Piano: Emily Wong
Running Time: 38 minutes
George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial pays homage to the sweeping scale and ceremonial elegance of classical Russian ballet. Set to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2, the ballet evokes the splendor of the Imperial era while revealing Balanchine’s signature neoclassical brilliance.