This week’s edition of Hear the Dance with Silas Farley is a special live recording of Inside NYCB on Apollo, captured during 2018’s annual Saturday at the Ballet with George event celebrating Balanchine. Joined by NYCB Music Director Andrew Litton, Silas discusses the legacy of and compositional inspirations for Balanchine’s first active collaboration with composer Igor Stravinsky; the oldest ballet in the Company’s repertory, Apollo was a foundational piece for both NYCB and the choreographer. The presentation includes a demonstration accompanied by Piano Soloist Nancy McDill, and concludes with a brief word from Ballet Master Craig Hall on the unique, inspiring challenges of performing the lead role. (26:35) Music: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major (1931) by Igor Stravinsky Apollon Musagéte (1928) by Igor Stravinsky Reading List: Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans Stravinsky and Balanchine: A Journey of Invention by Charles M. Joseph I Was a Dancer by Jacques d'Amboise Stravinsky in the Theatre (1947 Issue of Lincoln Kirstein's Magazine, Dance Index) by George Balanchine, Aaron Copland, et al