Ballet, that glorious union of music, dance, and visual storytelling, has always been a journey through the heart and soul. Some productions soar with ethereal grace, leaving a shimmering imprint on our memory, whilst others simply shimmer and fade. Baldur’s Dreams, the ballet choreographed by Geirr Tveitt in 1938, definitely belongs to the former category. A powerful and poignant narrative, steeped in Norse mythology, is brought to life with the emotional dynamism of Tveitt’s music and a breathtakingly intricate and visceral dance vocabulary.
From the moment the curtain rises, the stage is awash with an ethereal glow, the backdrop adorned with shimmering Scandinavian motifs. The air is thick with anticipation, as the first notes of Tveitt’s hauntingly beautiful score reverberate through the theatre. It’s an evocative landscape of ethereal whispers and dramatic swells, perfectly mirroring the tumultuous emotional journey of the titular Baldur. You’re transported to a realm where dreams become tangible, and reality blends with the surreal.
The Story
- The narrative, inspired by the Norse myth of Baldur, the god of light, is a captivating tale of love, betrayal, and the fragility of life. It tells the tragic story of Baldur, a young man cursed by the goddess of darkness, Hela, with a premonition of his own demise.
- The ballet begins with Baldur, a young and charismatic man, frolicking with his loved ones in a world of sun-drenched meadows and carefree laughter. It is a tableau of joyous abandon, beautifully choreographed with leaps and pirouettes that evoke the youthful spirit of innocence.
- But the darkness creeps in, the score takes a sinister turn, as Baldur is plagued by prophetic dreams, vivid nightmares that haunt his every waking moment. Here, the dance language transforms, taking on a distinctly surreal quality, contorted postures and sharp movements mirroring Baldur's tormented state.
- The love of his life, Freya, a celestial maiden of immense beauty, dances with heartbreaking elegance, striving to illuminate Baldur's soul, and alleviate his inner torment.
- The narrative spirals with agonizing intensity towards Baldur's inevitable fate, as Loki, the trickster god, orchestrates the fateful events leading to Baldur's tragic end.
- Through intricate group formations, each movement pregnant with significance, Tveitt conveys the profound weight of this pivotal moment in Norse mythology, as a shadowed figure - the avatar of Hela – creeps in, bearing the seeds of darkness.
- As Baldur's world collapses, so too does the dance. A poignant scene ensues, where Baldur, now shrouded in sorrow, is embraced by his grief-stricken family, his descent into despair a heartbreaking visual testament to his emotional agony. The stage becomes awash in darkness, echoing Baldur’s descent into despair and reflecting the devastating consequences of his foreboding premonition.
The Dancers
To breathe life into such a complex and profound narrative, Tveitt required a troupe of dancers who could convey the depths of both joyous abandon and anguished despair. The dancers in Baldur’s Dreams rise to the challenge, each delivering a nuanced and emotional portrayal, transforming from ethereal figures to raw human beings, experiencing the full spectrum of human emotion.
- The lead dancer portraying Baldur possessed an incredibly expressive physique. His physicality perfectly encapsulated Baldur's youthful exuberance and subsequent descent into torment, drawing you into his world, feeling every pang of his heartache. His jumps soared, filled with vitality, his steps were light and agile, conveying the joyful freedom of his existence before the curse took hold.
- Freya, his love, was embodied by a ballerina whose grace and ethereal beauty mirrored the divinity she represented. The pas de deux between Baldur and Freya was an absolute masterpiece of artistic storytelling, their synchronized movements expressing the depths of their love and the overwhelming weight of their shared anguish. The delicate yet powerful extension of their limbs mirrored a ballet of emotional turmoil.
- The corps de ballet, performing as Baldur’s family, seamlessly transition between celebratory ensembles, vibrant with joyous leaps and expressive arms, and heart-wrenching tableaux, their mournful choreography mirroring Baldur’s growing despair.
- Loki, the god of trickery, is brought to life by a dancer whose movement carries an unsettling and predatory undercurrent. It is through his fluid, cunning choreography that we witness the slow, insidious erosion of Baldur’s hope.
The Music
The music for Baldur’s Dreams, composed by Geirr Tveitt himself, is the perfect complement to the dance. It is a sweeping and dramatic score, rich in melodies that seamlessly intertwine with the emotionality of the narrative.
- The opening scenes are scored with a joyous, buoyant melody, the notes dancing along with Baldur, light and full of hope.
- As Baldur's dream foreshadow his demise, the score subtly shifts, becoming a symphony of darker tones, the dissonance building in crescendo, echoing the foreboding that consumes Baldur’s psyche. We experience the subtle, almost imperceptible transformation of the music as the character succumbs to his tragic fate. The melody becomes more somber, weaving a tapestry of dissonances, underscoring Baldur’s spiraling descent.
- There are also passages of breathtaking beauty that soar through the theatre, particularly during Freya's solos, expressing her love, her yearning, and her acceptance of Baldur’s destiny.
- Tveitt masterfully captures the dramatic arc of the story through his masterful score, the crescendo of the orchestra heightening the climactic moments, while moments of heartbreaking introspection are achieved through his intricate harmonies and beautiful melodies.
Conclusion
In the world of ballet, Baldur’s Dreams stands out as a work of remarkable depth and impact. It is a powerful testament to the storytelling capabilities of the art form, beautifully interweaving myth, music, and dance to create an experience that lingers long after the final curtain falls.
While this ballet is not often performed, it’s worth searching for a rare revival. Every movement, every note, is imbued with profound meaning and exquisite detail, transforming a story of mythical significance into a profoundly moving human drama.