Other Dances; Love of Chopin (10/6/18)

Evelyn Chen, piano

Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 (1837) – Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Conversation with Robert Greskovic and Evelyn Chen
Selections from Other Dances – Mazurka, Op. 17, No. 4; Mazurka, Op. 41,
No. 3; Waltz, Op. 64, No. 3; Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 2; Mazurka, Op. 33, No. 2 – Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Variations on a theme of Bach “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen” (1862) – Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

Other Dances (1976) (1980) – Jerome Robbins (1918–1998)

This was some very interesting immersive programming. Other Dances is a ballet by Jerome Robbins that was created for (and on) Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov. It premiered at a 1976 gala that was a benefit for the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, and took place on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Saturday’s concert and viewing of the filmed version of Other Dances took place at the Library for the Performing Arts, and Robert Greskovic, who spoke briefly just before the intermission, actually attended the premiere and was slightly involved in the 1980 filmed version for PBS’ Dance in America series.

The concert began with a lengthy Schumann work (nine movements in the first half and nine movements in the second half). Some of Schumann’s lengthier works probably need multiple hearings (or even studying) to make total sense of them. I’m not there yet. The movements were hard to distinguish, and even though some were given a character name of Florestan and others a character name of Eusebius, the distinctions were not always clear to me. I’d listen to Davidsbündlertänze (cool name!) again, but I wouldn’t seek it out.

The conversation portion of the afternoon was also interesting. Ms. Chen explained some of the information about the Schumann and the Liszt—apparently Chopin held Bach in high esteem, so Ms. Chen selected the Liszt for that reason. And, as previously mentioned, Mr. Greskovic filled us in about the creative processes of Other Dances.

So, on to the Chopin. In what I consider a programming coup, while Ms. Chen played the Chopin, there was video (sans sound) of Ms. Makarova and Mr. Baryshnikov from a rehearsal on the stage of the Met. The quality of the video was not tremendous, and Ms. Chen wasn’t really playing it as accompaniment to the dancing, i.e., it was not synchronized exactly, but that added to the ghost-like, ethereal effect. The playing was poignant, true, and totally enjoyable. The Liszt was also enjoyable though it didn’t make an overly strong impression on me, as I was looking forward more to the filmed version of Other Dances.

After another brief break, we saw footage of Mr. Robbins rehearsing Ms. Makarova and Mr. Baryshnikov (more of a touch-up rehearsal than a full rehearsal) in preparation for the filming in 1980—and Mr. Robbins insisted that it be recorded on film and not on videotape; we learned that courtesy of Mr. Greskovic. The filmed version of Other Dances was an absolute joy to behold. It was the perfect cap to a fairly long afternoon. And it had been an even longer day for some people because Mr. Greskovic gave an earlier lecture/discussion tour of the newly opened Voice of My City: Jerome Robbins and New York exhibit at the LPA, that I did not attend.

ConcertMeister