"So we came to our final choice - Piano Concerto (by Alberto Ginastera) by Constantin Patsalas, a young Greek choreographer who is a soloist with the National Ballet of Canada. The choice of such complex music was in itself a challenge and we all felt that Patsalas tackled it boldly and came up with the most consistently conceived and carried out of all the group works we saw. Indeed, the work became stronger as it progressed. It is ritualistic in form without being specifically linked to any particular rite. There may be a danger that Patsalas tends to think in such terms, since his credentials show that he has choreographed a Rite of Spring for a choreographic workshop in Canada. That, however, was not germane in this instance. We had only to consider the work we saw and we all felt that, when it came right down to it, Piano Concerto was the most creative, the strongest in conception, the most successfully developed of all the works considered.
The prize of $5,000 (a very substantial award indeed) and the handsome sculpture by a local artist, Russell Jacques, was presented by Walter Terry who made the announcement following his speech as master of ceremonies at the banquet following the gala program. From the ovation with which the announcement was received, we judges had not made too unpopular a choice. Those astonishing Boston Ballet dancers jumped to their feet to applaud, and Patsalas' progress to the dais to accept the award and trophy was impeded for several minutes as all the other choreographers concerned dashed to congratulate him.
I am not sure that this incident was not the highlight of the entire project. Everyone connected with the Boston Ballet was full of praise for the way in which the choreographers throughout the rehearsal period had cooperated, not only with the dancers, but with each other. There was no jealousy, nothing but the warmest camaraderie. It is also true that, before the gala performance, all the choreographers were running about back stage shaking hands and sincerely wishing each other well. Each one of them felt that, win or not, the whole experience had been infinitely valuable".
Горькая ирония: именно из-за Piano Concerto (переработанного и переименованного в Concerto for the Elements) Константин в 1986 году будет судиться с НБК, пытаясь запретить компании исполнять этот балет без своего разрешения.
Но в 1979 году все еще было безоблачно и прекрасно. Интересно, присутствовал ли Эрик на этом награждении, разделил ли он с Константином радость победы? Неизвестно, но мне приятнее думать, что он там был. И кстати - утрись, Мейнерц, прозрачно намекающий на бесталанность Константина как хореографа: критики, видевшие его балеты, отзывались о них гораздо благосклоннее, чем ты. Думаю, это оттого, что у них не было предубеждения против Константина, и они не считали его эгоистичным выскочкой, делавшим карьеру через постель Эрика.