Submitted by Carl N Steeg MD, Feb 24, 2007 19:32

I completely agree with Sir Joshua's evaluation of Antique Epigraphs as one or Jerome Robbins' beautiful and memorable pieces. But to juxtapose it with negative comments about the great Balanchine "black and white" pieces does both Robbins and Balanchine a great disservice.

Sir Joshua denigrates Balanchine's "expressionist ballets", referring to them as "cranked out to meet what must have been contractual demands from management."

Let me assure Sir Joshua that Balanchine never was forced to create a ballet for "managment." Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein were "management." Its sort of funny to read a reference to "contractual demands" - not only were there never "contractual demands," Balanchine never even had a contract with New York City Ballet!

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