Maria Tallchief in her autobiography Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina: George Balanchine (left) Maria Tallchief & Jerome Robbins. Photo by Walter E.Owen, 1950. "Balanchine believed New York City Ballet needed a story ballet in its repertory and hoped Prodigal Son would serve the purpose. The ballet was a success at its premiere in 1929 and had never been seen in America. The Original Ballet Russe had presented David Lichine's version of the Prokofiev score, but it w

From Balanchine's Ballerinas : Conversations with the Muses by Robert Tracy Robert Tracy: Prodigal Son must have been strange for you to learn. The role of the Siren is very far from the classical parts you were trained for. Doubrovska: Yes, it was difficult. But Diaghilev and Balanchine tell me to go home and think about my part. About the pas de deux with Lifar. And I think about a snake, which is not human, but which hypnotizes and be-witches. I used my eyes, and the move

Serge Lifar as the Prodigal Son. Photo by Roger Violett, 1929 The most complete account of the creation of the original Prodigal Son ballet is found in the diaries of Serge Prokofiev, the composer of the ballet. From his commission in October, 1928 to premiere in May, 1929, his entries describe the personal animosity that existed between himself and Balanchine, which partly explains why Balanchine was so apathetic about reviving the ballet for NYCB decades later.  Excerpts fr

The libretto for Prodigal Son was written by Boris Kochno, the secretary and collaborator of Serge Diaghilev. This is his recounting of how the ballet came to be: Text from Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe by Boris Kochno: "In 1927 [...] Diaghilev asked Prokofiev to write a new ballet for the company. He had no specific theme to suggest, and his great preoccupation at the time was to find one. He wanted the new work to be simple and easy to follow, unlike Prokofiev's earlier b

In 1929, Balanchine choreographed The Prodigal Son for the Ballets Russes. Serge Lifar danced the title role, and Felia Doubrovska danced...

“In Apollo’s second variation, Balanchine hit on a startling image to convey that the god is conscious of his divinity. Twice Apollo...

“Ballet began when Terpsichore touched Apollo’s finger, as on the Sistine ceiling God touches Adam’s, and inspired a pas de deux in which...

(6/6) “I think Apollo is the best role for a male dancer that has ever been choreographed, and I think it has more in it than any dancer...

(5/6) In his 1936 autobiography, (affiliate link) Stravinsky wrote of the original 1928 decor and costumes for Apollo: “I did not see eye...

(3/6) Balanchine on the idea that his ballets are abstract: “No piece of music, no dance can in itself be abstract. You hear a physical...

(1/6) “Ballet began when Terpsichore touched Apollo’s finger, as on the Sistine ceiling God touches Adam’s, and inspired a pas de deux in...

The ballet Prodigal Son was originally choreographed by Balanchine in 1929 for the Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe. The composer, Prokofiev,...