[2] In the opera, the ballet divertissement was performed in honour of Queen Elizabeth of Spain, who was absent and in her place her lady-in-waiting Princess Eboli, donning a mask, presided over the festivities.
For the lead roles, Balanchine chose Merrill Ashley, recently promoted to principal dancer, and Robert Weiss.
[7] Debra Austin, Bonita Borne, Stephanie Saland and Sheryl Ware originated the soloist roles.
[1]: 318 Ballo della Regina is plotless,[4] and performed by a lead couple, along with an all-female ensemble consisting of four soloists and twelve corps de ballet dancers.
[8] Balanchine's biographer Bernard Taper described the ballet as "essentially a display piece, spotlighting the bravura talent of Merrill Ashley.
The squareness and tension through her shoulders and face dissolved in her mercurial speed, legs slicing, as her torso and hips peeled open with ever extreme torque and an épaulement that spiraled through her limbs and brought her once-studied anatomy to life.
According to her, the Verdi score's structure and mood "has given [Balanchine] his cue", and the two lead roles of Ballo della Regina evoke the fisherman and pearl of the opera divertissement.
[3] Source:[3] Ballo della Regina had a preview performance at a gala benefit in November 1977,[1]: 296 [3] before it officially premiered on January 12, 1978, at the New York State Theater.
[19] Upon the premiere, New York Times critic Anna Kisselgoff wrote that Ballo della Regina "is not a great ballet.