Stravinsky, Igor: Agon (1953-57) 23'

Ballet for twelve dancers

Scoring
3(III=picc).2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn-4.4.3.0-timp.perc:xyl/3tom-t/cast- harp-mandolin-pft-strings

World Premiere
12/1/1957
New York, NY
George Balanchine, choreographer / New York City Ballet / Robert Irving


Repertoire Note  
Thanks to Balanchine, Agon is by far the best-known of Stravinsky's non-tonal works. A distillation of rhythmic energies, of dance gestures, of deft instrumentation (with prominent parts for mandolin, harp, timpani, and castanets), it is a plotless ballet whose long gestation accounts for its exceptional range of tonal and serial ingredients.



Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to Boosey & Hawkes/Joseph Horowitz.

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