Two of Balanchine’s most beloved ballets, Serenade and Orpheus, in this first release in VAI’s historic series featuring the New York City Ballet in Montreal. Beginning in 1954, NYCB’s Artistic Director and co-founder George Balanchine presented the company in performances produced for Radio-Canada, the Montreal division of Canadian Television. These live telecasts capture legendary dancers in core works of NYCB’s repertoire. Serenade stars Jacques d’Amboise, Diana Adams, and Patricia Wilde. Balanchine himself appears on screen to discuss Orpheus, which stars Nicholas Magallanes and Francisco Moncion dancing the roles they created in the 1948 premiere, and Violette Verdy as Eurydice.

Cast

Diana Adams

Waltz Ballerina (Serenade)

Jacques d'Amboise

Elegy Cavalier (Serenade)

Patricia Wilde

Russian Ballerina (Serenade)

Yvonne Mounsey

Dark Angel (Serenade)

Nicholas Magallanes

Orpheus (Orpheus)

Violette Verdy

Eurydice (Orpheus)

Herbert Bliss

Waltz Cavalier

Francisco Moncion

The Dark Angel (Orpheus)

Roy Tobias

Apollo (Orpheus)