La Boutique fantasque (NCPE. Bradburd)

Gioacchino Rossini, the master of Italian opera, left behind a wealth of short piano pieces following his retirement from the stage in 1829 — works he himself described with a wink as "Péchés de vieillesse," or Sins of Old Age. It was from this rich treasury that the choreographer Léonide Massine drew his inspiration when he set out to create a new work for the Ballets Russes, in collaboration with the arranger Ottorino Respighi.

"La Boutique fantasque" — "The Fantastic Toyshop" — is telling the story of a toy shop in which the dolls come to life at night. Respighi's 1919 orchestration of Rossini's melodies, handled with great refinement and skill, lends the ballet an irresistible charm that brings together elegance and playfulness in the most delightful way. The rousing cancan of the finale in particular became the work's defining signature.

The premiere in London, with sets designed by André Derain, was a triumphant success, and the production remains to this day one of the most beloved ballet works of the early twentieth century. The sparkling vitality of the music makes "La Boutique fantasque" an equal delight whether experienced in the concert hall or on the theatrical stage.