In brief opening remarks from the stage, Salonen quickly laid out his vision of the piece, describing how its 10 movements are apportioned between what he described as its "sexual" love songs, "austere" meditations and energetic dances.
The choreographer Christopher Gattelli, who puts Mr. De Shields and company through their paces in a series of energetic dances, found his own preconceptions challenged while working with Hema Rajagopalan, a teacher of bharata natyam dance, on his own pieces for the show.
The first part, "Primo Vere" ("In Early Spring"), presents youthful, energetic dances; the second part, "In Taberna" ("In the Tavern"), evokes drunken feasting and debauchery; and courtship and romantic love are the subject of the third part, "Cour d'Amours" ("Court of Love").
A mermaid or sheath gown may restrict her movements and make a dance like the waltz impossible, and the weight of a princess style gown with a long, bustled train can make more energetic dances like swing difficult.
