Cristina Kristal Rizzo's VN Serenade Unites Schönberg and Tchaikovsky in Dance

Florentine choreographer Cristina Kristal Rizzo premiered "VN Serenade" at LAC LuganoInScena, a double bill pairing Arnold Schönberg's "Verklärte Nacht" (1943) with Tchaikovsky's "Serenade op.48 in C major for strings" (1880). The work, co-produced with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, explores a visceral, instinctive dance language that avoids psychological narrative. Rizzo's approach to Schönberg's piece focuses on painterly, abstract movement rather than the emotional drama of Richard Dehmel's poem. For Tchaikovsky's Serenade, she reimagines Balanchine's neoclassical choreography, multiplying pure lines into shifting architectures performed by ten dancers. The production features live music conducted by Nicholas Milton, lighting by Carlo Cerri, and a cast including Annamaria Ajmone, Marta Bellu, Linda Blomqvist, Jari Boldrini, and others.