Go behind the scenes of Mark Morris’s L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato through the years in this collection of videos and photographs featuring rehearsals, interviews, set models, costume sketches, and more.
The video playlist below includes a rehearsal of “Populous Cities” at the Mark Morris Dance Center in 2019; three current MMDG dancers speaking about dancing in L’Allegro; a clip of the very first L’Allegro rehearsal from 1988; and Mark Morris speaking at a symposium on L’Allegro in Berkeley, California in 1994. To see the entire playlist, click on the three lines in the top right corner of the video below. Videos in the playlist will also play right after one another.
The media gallery features the program cover for L’Allegro’s US premiere at BAM in 1990; a photograph of MMDG dancers backstage at a L’Allegro performance in 1989; a page from the program of L’Allegro’s premiere run in Brussels signed by Mark Morris and MMDG dancers; costume sketches by designer Christine Van Loon, sketches and set models by set designer Adrianne Lobel; one of William Blake’s paintings inspired by John Milton’s L’Allegro and Il Penseroso; rehearsal photos from Rue Bara Studios in 1988; MMDG dancers at their regular dining spot within the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in 1988; and a photograph of curtain bows after a L’Allegro performance in Berkeley in 2000. Click on each image to read more.
Media Gallery
- images
Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival program cover, for the U.S. premiere of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato.
Monnaie Dance Group/Mark Morris backstage before a performance of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, 1989.
Photo courtesy of June Omura.
Program cover page, signed by Monnaie Dance Group/Mark Morris, for the premiere of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, 1988.
Costume sketch and fabric swatches by Christine Van Loon for dancer Olivia Maridjan-Koop’s ensemble in the second act of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, 1988.
Costume sketch and fabric swatches by Christine Van Loon for dancer Erin Matthieson’s ensemble in the second act of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, 1988.
Sketches by set designer Adrianne Lobel for the “Populous Cities” (top) and “Day’s Garish Eye” sections of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, 1988.
Set model by designer Adrianne Lobel for L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, 1988.
One of William Blake’s illustrations for Milton’s L’Allegro and Il Penseroso. This illustration depicts “The Spirit of Plato” (1949.4:9).
Courtesy of the Morgan Library & Museum.
Donald Mouton and Keith Sabado rehearsing the “Haste Thee Nymph” section of L’Allegro at Rue Bara Studios in Brussels, 1988.
Monnaie Dance Group/Mark Morris rehearsing “Fireplace” section of L’Allegro at Rue Bara Studios in Brussels, 1988.
Monnaie Dance Group/Mark Morris in rehearsal for L’Allegro at Rue Bara Studios in Brussels, 1988.
Monnaie Dance Group/Mark Morris rehearsing “The Walking Duet” from L’Allegro at Rue Bara Studios in Brussels, 1988.
Monnaie Dance Group/Mark Morris at the Salle des Sandwiches, a regular dining spot for the dancers within the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, the night before the premiere of L’Allegro in 1988.
Photo courtesy of June Omura.
Curtain bows following a performance of L’Allegro at Cal Performances, 2000.
Photo by Ken Friedman.
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