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Ballet Alert Quiz # 22
January 25, 1999
MarriageCourtship is the subject of more ballets than we can count, but marriage, other than weddings as excuses for parties, is relatively rare. All of the ballets in this week's quiz concern, or at least comment upon, marriage. There's one extra credit question because I thought the answer might really be too obscure, but I couldn't leave it out. A second extra credit question is this: name a (preferably good) 20th century ballet that concerns marriage that we didn't include. (We'll keep the answers secret; if we get five of them, there will be a Second Marriages Quiz.)
1. In what ballet does a supercilious, music-loving wife arrive, reluctantly attended by her cigar-chomping husband? Also name the choreographer.
The Concert (Jerome Robbins)
2. There are almost no ballets about a good marriage; One exception is this beautiful, mellow ballet by Frederick Ashton set in the early years of this century.
Enigma Variations
3. What Diaghilev-era ballet, to a Stravinsky score, is a stark depiction of a wedding? Also name the choreographer.
Les Noces (Nijinska)
4. This ballet by Antony Tudor is the prologue to a marriage that will almost undoubtedly be terrible.
Lilac Garden
5. In what ballet, about the mismatching and rematching of couples, is the "Wedding March" a part of the score?
The Dream (Ashton) and/or
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Balanchine)
Extra credit question (will make up for an error OR get a double star on the Honor Roll): What Bournonville ballet is about a philandering husband who is caught when he flirts with his own wife at a party? The King's Volunteers on Amager; sometimes given as Lifeguards on Amager
Ballet Alert Quiz Number 21
January 18, 1999
Young Dancers1. Name the three famous "Baby Ballerinas" of the 1930s.
2. At 17, she created the role of the Firebird in Balanchine's 1970 revision of that ballet.
3. At 14, he danced Le Roi de Soleil (the Sun King) at court. It was his favorite role, and he danced it often in his 20-year career.
4. At 13 (or 16, depending on what book you read), she created the title role in Balanchine's Le Rossignol (1926).
5. At 16, she made her debut in Balanchine's production of Swan Lake.
Ballet Alert Quiz #20
January 11, 1999
A Winter's Quiz1. The Hans Christian Andersen story of the Ice Maiden was the inspiration for the ballet Le Baiser de la fee. Name at least two major choreographers who have choreographed this ballet.
The ones we were looking for were George Balanchine, Fredrick Ashton and/or Bronislava Nijinska. Several people added Kenneth MacMillan and John Neumeier; we'll stop there with who we'll consider "major."
2. Frederick Ashton's skating ballet, Les Patineuers, was danced to music from what opera, by what composer?
In a generous mood, we would have been happy with Meyerbeer's Le Prophete, but all of the Winners mentioned (correctly, of course) that there were also bits of L'Etoile du Nord by the same composer.
3. What British choreographer choreographed Winter Dreams?
Kenneth MacMillan.
4. An old Russian tale about the daughter of Father Frost has inspired several ballets. One of the first was choreographed by a Soviet choreographer working in England. Name the ballet and the choreographer.
The Snow Maiden, choreographed by Vladimir Bourmeister for the (then) London Festival Ballet.
5. At the end of what Diaghilev ballet does snow begin to fall as coachmen dance to keep themselves warm?
Petrushka (Stravinsky/Fokine) Ballet Alert Quiz No. 19
January 4, 1998
A Danish Dancers Quiz1. What Danish dancer became a star with American Ballet Theatre, often dancing with Carla Fracci? He was one of the great Princes of his generation.
Erik Bruhn
2. What Danish dancer was the leading male dancer at the turn of the 20th century? He directed the company from 1894 to 1915 and his respectfully refreshed productions of Bournonville's ballets insured their survival for nearly a century.
Hans Beck
3. What Danish dancer, particularly known for his James in the early , left the company in 1951 and eventually became director of the New Zealand Ballet?
Poul Gnatt
4. What Danish dancer was a delightful Viderik, the good troll, in A Folk Tale, and a befuddled, bewitched Dr. Coppelius on the RDB's 1982 tour? In his youth, he had been the company's Franz and Gennaro (1950s and '60s).
Fredbjorn Bjornsson
5. What Danish dancer was the company's great James of the '50s and '60s, created the role of Romeo in Frederick Ashton's Romeo and Juliet (and over 40 other roles) and directed the company from 1979-1985?
Henning Kronstam
Extra bonus credit: Dancers 3 and 4 are related to the Danish ballerina Kirsten Ralov. How? (This will "count" as a makeup question if you miss one of the others; if you get all 6 right, you'll get a star on the Honor Roll.)
Poul Gnatt was Kirsten Ralov's brother; Fredbjorn Bjornsson her second husband.
Ballet Alert Quiz Number 18
A Nutcracker Quiz
(a Quiz by Mel Johnson)1. What story by what author is the basis for the story of The Nutcracker?
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by ETA Hoffmann.
2. Who were the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier in the original 1892 production?
Antonietta Dell'Era and Pavel Gerdt
3. The Sugar Plum Fairy's cavalier had a name once. What was it and what does it mean, literally?
Prince Coqueluche, which means "whooping cough."
4. What is the central item of scenic decoration of Act I.
A Christmas tree.
5. What former School of American Ballet student was "drafted back into service" for a movie version of The Nutcracker?
Macaulay Culkin