Allergro Brillante_MCB_Matinee 20261018. Choreographed in 1956, Allegro Brillante is one of George Balanchine’s most distilled and exuberant expressions of classical ballet. He famously described the work as containing “everything I know about the classical ballet—in thirteen minutes.” Set to a single movement originally intended for Tchaikovsky’s Third Piano Concerto, the ballet reveals the dramatic and emotional richness possible through pure dance.

With no narrative, the ballet becomes a joyful conversation between movement and music. Crystalline footwork, buoyant energy, and sweeping classical lines create a radiant showcase of speed, musicality, and precision. Allegro Brillante stands as a thrilling example of Balanchine’s neoclassical vision and a vibrant celebration of technical brilliance.