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Welcome to City Ballet The Podcast, an exploration of New York City Ballet introduced by Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford, where we'll journey through our history, delve into our new and existing repertory, and reveal insider tidbits.

The Rosin Box with Claire Kretzschmar and Aarón Sanz

The Rosin Box gives you the opportunity to listen in on candid conversations with members of the New York City Ballet. Hosted by NYCB Soloist Aarón Sanz and recently retired Soloist Claire Kretzschmar, these episodes take you behind-the-scenes, offering you exclusive insight into the lives of the Company’s dancers.

New Combinations with Wendy Whelan

During our performance season, New York City Ballet showcases recent works from some of the most influential choreographers working today. Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan hosts the New Combinations episodes, where she talks to the choreographers and other artists behind the unique new works premiering this season at New York City Ballet.

Hear the Dance 

Explore our expansive repertory, from the earliest Balanchine works to more recent classics, with an insider’s take on the Company’s rich history with Hear the Dance. Taking on a new ballet each episode, the host is joined by many key players, from original cast members to ballet masters to current NYCB dancers, who share their personal experiences performing and coaching works from our illustrious repertory.

See the Music with Andrew Litton

In See the Music, New York City Ballet’s Music Director Andrew Litton takes us off the stage and into the orchestra pit, giving listeners an in-depth look at the scores from some of our most notable ballets, featuring discussions with both orchestra members and commissioned composers.

Feb 22, 2021

The second part of our Hear the Dance exploration of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son continues, with host Silas Farley and former NYCB Principal Dancer Edward Villella looking back on Villella’s legendary career. They discuss Balanchine’s recreation of Apollo on the young dancer; the Company’s momentous tour of the Soviet Union; and the importance of School of American Ballet teacher Stanley Williams’ mentorship to Villella’s development as a dancer and as a leader in the field. Villella would go on to found Miami City Ballet with the idea, as he explains, to “provide people with the closest to the best of themselves that they could achieve,” with his NYCB history providing the motivation and education that inspired this vision. (35:15)

This is a continuation of Part One of this episode.

Music:
Apollon Musagète (1928) by Igor Stravinsky
Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (1929) by Igor Stravinsky
Agon (1953-56) by Igor Stravinsky