Symphony in Three Movements

Agon/ Stravinsky Violin Concerto

The music:

For Symphony in Three Movements the composer was said to have been influenced by images of World War II. The piece has a driving pulse that is established in the very first movement and continues like a heartbeat throughout the whole piece.

The dance:

In explaining his work, Balanchine stated simply: 'Choreographers combine movements and the ones I arranged for this music follow no story line or narrative. They try to catch the music and do not, I hope, lean on it, using it instead for support and time frame'.

In an interview given at the beginning of the season, BRB's Director David Bintley explained: 'Balanchine is interested in steps; he is not really interested in narrative, he is not interested in characterisation. He is more interested just in the steps and the music, and this triple bill of Balanchine and Stravinsky works is a marvellous demonstration of that: athletic, modernist, energetic, playful and intensely musical'. The ballet does not try to tell a story, instead it concentrates on the motion of the dancers onstage.