1970年時，美國芭蕾舞團委託艾靈頓創作一首芭蕾舞曲，艾靈頓本人將這首芭蕾舞曲稱為「河流」(The River)。這部芭蕾舞曲經著名舞者艾文艾莉(Alvin Ailey)精心編排後，於1970年6月25日在林肯中心的紐約州立劇場 首演。

同年，他也被委任編寫一齣喜歌劇。其他由他負責編寫的作品包括一部名為「歡躍」(Jump for Joy) 的劇場作品及電影配樂，如：「空中樓閣」(Cabin in the Sky) 及「黑棕幻想曲」(Black and Tan Fantasy)。他及他的音樂拍檔斯特雷霍恩 (Billy Strayhorn)也共同為一部名為「桃色血案」(Anatomy of a Murder) 的電影譜寫配樂 。還有什麼能超越這些呢？
　

In 1970, the American Ballet Theater commissioned Ellington to develop a ballet, which he called The River. The ballet was choreographed by the famous dancer Alvin Ailey and premiered on June 25, 1970, at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center.

That same year, he was also commissioned to write a comic opera. Other works he wrote include a theater piece called Jump for Joy and music for films, including Cabin in the Sky and Black and Tan Fantasy. He and his co-writer, Billy Strayhorn, also composed the entire score for the film Anatomy of a Murder. What could top this?

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