The New York City Ballet's debut season in the fall of 1948 (held at New York City Center) was somewhat of an experiment. The first season lasted 7 weeks and included just 14 performances, which were on Monday and Tuesday nights—notoriously the worst theater-going nights. The ballet was given use of the theater on the only nights the opera wasn't occupying it!
Symphony in C was one of the featured ballets and during the 9th performance of the season, Balanchine himself took the podium to conduct Symphony in C!
"There was no particular reason for this except Balanchine's desire to do it, and who could begrudge him this desire? He was loudly cheered by the audience and given a standing ovation by the orchestra." — Anatole Chujoy
Pictured Left to Right:
Maria Tallchief & Nicholas Magallanes (1st Movement)
Tanaquil Le Clercq & Francisco Moncion (2nd Movement)
Marie-Jeanne & Herbert Bliss (3rd Movement)
Jocelyn Vollmar & Todd Bolender (4th Movement)
Photo by Fred Fehl, 1948.
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