Brahms Paganini
Freydont, Carrafa, Washington and Kurshals in a promotional photo. Photo by Jack Mitchel.
William Whitener performs “Book I.” Photo by Martha Swope.
Premiere
Production
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Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
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Composer
Johannes Brahms (Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Opus 35 (Books I & II), 1962)
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Lighting Designer
Jennifer Tipton
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Costume Designer
Ralph Lauren
Dancers
Dance Sections
Book I (Solo for a Male Dancer)
Colton/Whitener
Book II (Quartet)
Washington/Uchida, Kurshals/Ferro, Carrafa/Malashock, Freydont/Kellogg with Way
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Runtime
00:21:25
Description
Brahms Paganini is set to both books of Johannes Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Paganini, a virtuosic composition for solo piano.
A male dancer performs the entire first book of variations alone. Rapid turns and large jumps explode out of quick weight shifts. In Tharp’s style of easy virtuosity, he slides expertly from one variation to the next.
The second book is danced by a quartet. The movement is infused with athletic dynamism that pushes the dancers’ strength and determination. A female soloist intersperses the powerful partnering with echoes of the preceding section.
Brahms Paganini is a tour de force for both the dancers and pianist, requiring the highest levels of technical proficiency and stamina.
Past Performances
Twyla Tharp Dance
Ocean's Motion – Brahms Paganini (premiere) – Deuce Coupe III (premiere) | Twyla Tharp Dance
Dayton, OH
February 8 1980 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Oceans Motion – Brahms Paganini – Baker's Dozen | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
March 25 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – Brahms Paganini – Sue's Leg | Twyla Tharp Dance
Saratoga Springs, NY
July 28 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
The Rags Suite – Short Stories (premiere) – The Fugue – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Highland Park, IL
August 27 1980 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Eight Jelly Rolls – Short Stories – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Ghent, Belgium
September 30 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – Short Stories – The Fugue – Eight Jelly Rolls | Twyla Tharp Dance
Milan, Italy
October 16 1980 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – Uncle Edgar (premiere) – The Fugue – Ocean's Motion | Twyla Tharp Dance
Dayton, OH
February 28 1981 Premiere
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – Uncle Edgar – The Fugue – Deuce Coupe III | Twyla Tharp Dance
New York, NY
September 25 1981 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sorrow Floats – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Louisville, KY
January 26 1985 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Brahms Paganini – The Fugue – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Philadelphia, PA
February 6 1985 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sextet – Baker's Dozen – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance
Paris, France
October 13 1993 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Sextet – Brahms Paganini – Baker's Dozen – In The Upper Room | Twyla Tharp Dance
Paris, France
October 15 1993 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Octet – Brahms Paganini – As Time Goes By – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp Dance
Tanz '94
Vienna, Austria
February 24 1994 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – Beethoven Opus 130 – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance (Residency)
Tannersville, NY
April 16 2016 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – Beethoven Opus 130 – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance (NY Season)
New York, NY
July 11 2016 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Country Dances – Beethoven Opus 130 – Brahms Paganini | Twyla Tharp Dance (Tour)
Mesa, AZ
October 7 2016 TTD Performance
- 1980
- 1981
- 1985
- 1993
- 1994
- 2008
- 2016