New York City Ballet:
George Balanchine:
"Serenade", "The Four Temperaments", "Symphony in C",
Justin Peck: "In Creases"
Alexei Ratmansky: "Concerto DSCH"
Jerome Robbins: "N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz"
Christopher Wheeldon: "Les Carillons"
The Opera Stage
The Royal Theatre
April 4 – 5 2013
When George Balanchine and later Jerome Robbins died, the character of NYCB changed dramatically. The company was no longer the choreographic tool of master choreographers. The status of NYCB became more like its fellow European companies: " Royal Danish Ballet", "Royal Ballet", "Paris Opera Ballet" and "Kirov", who had to combine the inherited repertoire with works by new choreographers and international standard works. Indeed, one could say that Peter Martins, himself a product of the European tradition actively forced the transition by adding ballet like "Sleeping Beauty", "Romeo & Juliet" and a full "Swan Lake" to the repertoire.
Where it earlier have been impossible to compare NYCB to the other companies, it became easier and easier. Not only did NYCB do more standard works and the bigger European companies and ABT more Balanchine and Robbins. The companies also favored the same new choreographers: Forsyth, Wheeldon, Ratmansky etc. Where NYCB had been totally unique in its approach to repertoire and style, the company became more mainstream.