Valse Triste is a ballet made by New York City Ballet then balletmaster Peter Martins to Sibelius's eponymous waltz as well as Scene with Cranes from his incidental music for the play Kuolema (Death). the crane being a symbol of death in Finnish literature. The premiere took place Thursday, May 23rd, 1985, at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, with original lighting by Ronald Bates and current lighting by Mark Stanley.