Solange Knowles made quite the splash at her New York City Ballet debut on Sept. 28 at Manhattan’s David H. Koch Theater, where she premiered the first score she composed for the esteemed event.
Solange’s jazz-imbued composition, “Villanelle for Times,” amalgamated with choreographer Gianna Reisen’s “Play Time.” The entire production was 30 minutes and teemed with strings and heavy brass instruments along with ballet dancers wearing varied, colorful forms of suit attire.
“Play Time” originally premiered at the NYC Ballet’s 10th annual Fall Fashion Gala on Sept. 28. It opened to the public Saturday, Oct. 1.
According to Rolling Stone, the piece addressed the idea of the ability to possess true joy internally and express joy externally sans the influence of capital.
Wednesday’s event honored its vice chair Sarah Jessica Parker, who couldn’t attend due to a family emergency. Those who attended the event to support Solange were her mother, Tina Knowles, sister Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Queen Latifah, Tyler the Creator, A&AP Ferg, Telfar, and more.
Here’s more photos of Solange with fam/friends at New York City’s Ballet Fall Fashion Gala 🩰
Including:
Tina Knowles
A$AP Ferg
Telfar
Beyoncé
Tyler The Creator
Melina Matsoukas + more📸: Rafael Rios pic.twitter.com/KksNYHL3e5
— HER’d (@herdthepodcast) September 30, 2022
On Saturday, Beyoncé dedicated an Instagram post to her sister, congratulating her on her NYC Ballet composition.
“My beloved sister, there are no words to express the pride and admiration I have for you,” Beyoncé wrote. “You are a visionary and one of one. Congratulations on being the first African American woman to compose for the New York City Ballet. The piece you composed is phenomenal. I love you, dee.”
She concluded the post with, “Might I suggest you don’t f**k with my sis.”
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Tina also posted photos of her with her daughters, celebrating Solange’s moment.
“When you compose a Piece for the NYC Ballet and Lorraine Schwartz decks, you out in Emeralds and diamonds, but you have to return them the next day! Can I keep my earrings, Lorraine?”
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According to Vogue, Solange honored her team, who assisted her in the production, by taking them to Al Coro New York restaurant. Subsequently, the versatile singer celebrated at Discolo, a cocktail club inside Al Coro.
Solange is technically the second Black woman who has composed for the NYC Ballet, and singer-songwriter Lido Pimienta is the first. However, Solange is the first African-American female to have written for the event, while Lido is the first Afro-Colombian to have composed for the company.
