Ballet Suites

Ballet music is one of the most popular classical music genres of the 20th century. Composers have long ago discovered that choosing separate numbers from a full length ballet to form a suite was a very lucrative way to get maximum exposure from their music. On this week's Classics of the Phonograph, Saturday at 11 am on WILL-FM, we will hear some ballet suites which have become enduring top hits in the concert hall.  

Playlist:

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake excerpts; Nutcracker excerpts
Stravinsky: Firebird Suite, 1911, excerpts, ending with Dance of King Kaschei; 1919 suite, excerpts: Lullaby and Finale
Copland: Appalachian Spring, excerpts from the original ballet omitted in Suite