Ballet
Symphony in C
If you've ever wanted to see pure classical joy with zero plot, this is the one. Balanchine set it to a symphony that teenage Bizet wrote and then basically forgot about, and the result is a glittering showcase for a huge cast. Each movement has its own flavor, and the finale piles everyone back onstage for a genuinely thrilling crowd scene.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Georges Bizet
- Choreographer
- George Balanchine
- Premiere
- 1947, Paris (as Le Palais de Cristal); 1948, New York (as Symphony in C)
- Structure
- Four movements
- Running time
- About 30 minutes
The story
A plotless ballet in four movements, each set to a movement of Bizet's early Symphony in C major and led by its own principal couple. The first movement is bright and quick, the second slow and lyrical, the third playful and bounding, the fourth fast and brilliant. As the finale builds, every dancer from the earlier movements returns to the stage, filling it for a dazzling, tiered climax.
What Symphony in C is famous for
- Its huge, stage-filling finale
- The lyrical, melting second movement
- Bizet's youthful, forgotten symphony
- Being a benchmark of pure classical style
Companies that perform Symphony in C
Symphony in C is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Symphony in C have two names?
Balanchine first made it for the Paris Opera in 1947 as Le Palais de Cristal. When he restaged it in New York in 1948, he dropped the sets and renamed it Symphony in C.
Is there a plot?
No. It's a plotless ballet built entirely to showcase the music and the dancing, with four principal couples leading the four movements.
What makes the ending so famous?
In the final movement the casts of all four movements return to the stage at once, so you get a massive, layered ensemble that keeps building until the last note.
Who composed Symphony in C?
Symphony in C was composed by Georges Bizet.
How long is Symphony in C?
Symphony in C runs about 30 minutes.