Brandenburg is a neoclassical ballet choreographed by Jerome Robbins to music by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is a plotless work danced by a cast of twenty, set to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in its entirety, along with selected movements from Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1, 2, and 6.
The ballet premiered on January 22, 1997, at the New York State Theater, performed by the New York City Ballet. It was Robbins' final completed work before his death in 1998.
Choreography and Structure
The ballet features four principal dancers and a corps de ballet of sixteen. The choreography is described as a large-scale ensemble piece structured along classical lines, with intricate group formations and rapid transformations. Critics compared the visual patterns to a kaleidoscope. The work echoes motifs from several of Robbins' earlier ballets, including Dances at a Gathering, The Goldberg Variations, Glass Pieces, and Fancy Free.
Development
Robbins began work on Brandenburg in 1995, developing it over two years while dealing with significant health issues, including mitral valve replacement surgery and early symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The ballet initially began as a pas de deux for principal dancers Lourdes Lopez and Nikolaj Hübbe before expanding to include additional principals and the corps. The costumes, designed by Holly Hynes, featured peasant attire, and the lighting was designed by Jennifer Tipton.
Critical Reception
Upon its premiere, The New York Times critic Anna Kisselgoff wrote: "Never has Mr. Robbins moved bodies in space with such dazzling speed and density. Choreographically, he has outdone himself here."
