Ballet Music News 567

Darling dears, my exquisite darlings,

As the delicate snowflakes fall outside, I can't help but think about how apt it is to talk about a subject that is always so beautiful, so fluid, so ephemeral. That subject, of course, is ballet music.

I do declare! How else could I celebrate the beautiful world of dance, the music that underscores those breathtaking leaps, those impossibly graceful pirouettes, the delicate yet powerful pointe work? How could we, the lucky ones, who adore dance as much as I do, not stop for a moment and immerse ourselves in the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that accompany it?

As I'm sitting here, cocooned in a thick cashmere scarf, wrapped in a sumptuous velvet robe, gazing out the window at the silent ballet of the snowflakes falling to earth, a melody that has been on a continuous loop in my mind starts to fill the room – Tchaikovsky’s exquisite *Swan Lake*, specifically the final act's *Dance of the Little Swans* and the haunting beauty of the *Death Scene.* It is no surprise that this, and almost all of his work, is woven through our dance universe like an irresistible enchantment. Even as I sit here, feeling rather splendid and completely indulging in a box of Fortnum and Mason’s luxury chocolate truffles, this timeless music sweeps through me like an electric current.

You can almost *hear* the swans' wings in that beautiful score, so tender, so evocative! Tchaikovsky’s melodies just have that captivating power that pulls you into the very soul of the story – a power to uplift, to thrill, to bring tears to the eyes. Oh! A veritable masterpiece. There are even stories about how he came to write it. What do you say we add that to our itinerary of ballet musings this afternoon? You see my dears, my own passion for this enchanting art form often takes me on magical voyages – and this journey is especially enticing because it speaks to something more than the music itself. This one goes right into the very essence of Tchaikovsky's life.

Imagine this my lovelies – a young man living in a society that had no space for his particular brand of *expression.* A composer whose artistic voice soared and tumbled through emotions, in a landscape that expected a different melody entirely – yet one so gifted that, at 24 years old, the Tsar asked him to write something quite spectacular, a work to open the Bolshoi Theatre – a grand ballet! This dear composer had an immense amount of pressure to create an epochal piece, one that would redefine ballet – oh the irony – *Swan Lake.* A title that would, in itself, carry so much emotional resonance, almost echoing Tchaikovsky's own struggles, in the heart of the Imperial Ballet. But that's where my dears the drama starts to bloom - it appears that Tchaikovsky had this extraordinary talent that went well beyond being simply gifted – his gift, that magical artistic genius, he could also incorporate personal elements so seamlessly – genius at work my lovelies, in a stunningly intricate, deeply heartfelt, utterly captivating masterpiece of *Swan Lake.* This was music destined for dance; this was Tchaikovsky destined to create that ultimate musical experience we still revel in to this very day.

Oh, it's almost scandalous. The story, as they say, doesn't have a 'happily ever after' – no, the Tsar turned down the premiere, this masterwork languished until the *Swan Lake* we see today, was, sadly, produced after Tchaikovsky’s death!

Now, how utterly devastating my lovelies. A score rejected in the light of day, only to receive recognition once the stars had decided its earthly sojourn was over! Such a tragedy. Thankfully for all of us, that very fate - the tragedy and heartbreak, the beautiful emotion, that soul-stirring journey - becomes the story. So, so moving. That tragedy, of being rejected in life and given a posthumous standing - so, so * Swan Lake.* This piece encapsulates such a heartbreaking emotional resonance; it's a perfect metaphor for an exquisite, yet deeply painful experience. Oh my dears, it seems this symphony in its many transformations, speaks about being misunderstood, rejected, only to ultimately blossom into an epic work. But oh darling dears – here we go again! * Swan Lake,* this is not a one-dimensional composition. To truly get a taste of its deliciousness, its intoxicating allure, you'd have to listen with the same emotional engagement that Tchaikovsky himself must have felt – *you must dance along!*

Speaking of emotions! Let's now talk about another ballet – one that evokes a feeling so joyous it's impossible not to be caught in the dance! * The Nutcracker,* by my very favourite *music for ballet* master – the inimitable Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky! My heart swells with delight, imagining children pirouetting, leaps and delicate pliés, the grand finale as *The Sugarplum Fairy*, the entire piece a whirlwind of whimsical delight! Oh, the delightful musical themes - the delicate 'Waltz of the Snowflakes' to the powerful yet oh so playful *Trepak, Dance of the Russian,* and of course, *Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy* that, to my discerning ears, captures perfectly the delicate essence of sugar and spice! Even as I type, I can see the iconic candy-coated confection in a breathtaking *Pink tutu*, accompanied by a glorious *pink leotard* – the most delicate touch! This *Nutcracker* is all about capturing the sweetness, the magical enchantment that childhood dreams bring; how delightful! It is simply *charming* – everything we dream of as children.

How exciting it is, as we've dipped our toes into *Swan Lake,* a piece so steeped in passion, sadness, and emotional intensity – and now a completely joyful piece, that makes us *want* to laugh! Ballet music does this for us – it takes us to the very core of an experience, evokes memories, feelings, sensations and transforms our experience of dance into something so much more!

Oh my dears, *The Nutcracker* and its magical tale is just one of many that come to mind when I think of my love affair with the art of ballet. From *Coppelia,* a comedy filled with mischief and youthful fun – to the *Firebird,* a tale of heroic bravery and dazzling spectacle, and the ever-popular, enchanting *Sleeping Beauty* a magical masterpiece of good overcoming evil – each ballet resonates with me – not only for the spectacular performances we are so privileged to see on stage – but for the music itself.

So what does it say about ballet music, I hear you asking my lovelies. I simply can’t leave it here – it begs to be explored. You see, dear reader, it is the magic that weaves through each graceful movement, that fuels the fiery passion and ethereal charm of every *tour, assemblé*, and *jeté.* Without it, it is just graceful motion. This is why a score like Tchaikovsky's *Sleeping Beauty* is so revered and so beloved. It captures the whimsical world of fairytales with breathtaking power – in one word: majestic.

It’s not just about what's on the page – there's this captivating connection between the dancers and the orchestra – the dance and the music intertwining into a glorious fusion of spectacle and emotional resonance that makes it hard for any of us who truly understand ballet, not to simply weep tears of joy. This perfect marriage between music and movement, in that enchanting and beautiful fusion, where the emotions expressed through the music resonate deeply with the choreography - that my dears is something truly special. That is ballet music’s gift to us - the magical tapestry of our lives, interwoven with artistry, grace and sheer creative genius – and my lovelies, don’t you think, that is worth a pause – that is something worth cherishing – and that's something that makes my heart sing.

Now then my darling dears! Don't just take my word for it – grab your most sumptuous cashmere scarf, the most beautifully-draped robe, a steaming cup of English Breakfast Tea, a few delightful chocolate truffles, find a playlist – there’s magic just waiting to unfold! Listen deeply. Hear the emotion, and the heart within each movement and in each melodious note! Let’s celebrate our joy.

Because when I'm not swirling in silks or twirling around the room, I'm savouring that very same magical enchantment – it's my pleasure, my delight to share with all of you, every detail and every piece of the magic that is *ballet music.*

Happy listening my sweet darlings,

My darling dears, how could we celebrate the artistry and power of ballet music without a foray into the dazzling personalities who created it? These artists weren't just talented; they were visionaries who understood the dance world better than some dancers themselves! Let's delve into their magical world and explore their musical legacies that are the very heartbeat of ballet.

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Ah! Our *grande dame*, this magnificent composer, how I love him, the sheer emotion he could elicit from strings! He breathed magic into scores, not only through exquisite melodies and harmonies but by *understanding* ballet as an art form in itself! That genius is there for all of us to see. His masterpieces have inspired dance pieces like no other, and we all recognise his genius and brilliance – *Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty.* But, there’s much more my darling dears, more that deserves to be cherished. I’m talking about *Romeo and Juliet*, a tragedy of passion, love and the heartbreaking inevitability of life’s twists. What of *Francesca da Rimini,* with its dramatic choreography reflecting the raw intensity and fiery passions of its legendary narrative? Oh! Tchaikovsky, how truly magnificent you were!

The power of his work doesn't just lie in its composition; it is woven with a depth that reflects human emotions in such an accessible way. That's his artistry. A maestro, he understood what the human heart and soul desires. He crafted a soundtrack to our innermost feelings and experiences – isn’t that a delicious thought?

• Igor Stravinsky - Now, we need to take a step outside the conventional and immerse ourselves in something completely *different.* Now, how splendidly, *Rite of Spring,* that beautiful but bold masterpiece, is not *Swan Lake,* it is something much more raw, it is a rebellion. It challenged convention; it demanded attention with an unapologetic embrace of new, unorthodox melodies, audacious rhythms, and its powerful evocation of primitive ritual – *it truly captured attention! * This was ballet music with a pulse, with a new rhythm, and with an intense emotional vocabulary that shook audiences in the very same way his powerful masterpiece would later influence a very special generation.
• Maurice Ravel – I must say this darling! I’m all for elegance and grandeur, and my darling Ravel has a magical touch when it comes to creating some truly wonderful and graceful sounds. A master of orchestration – oh, the colours of his music, the textures and the sublime interplay between string and wind instruments – that’s how you create something unforgettable! Now this gentleman didn't limit himself to composing *only* ballet scores but with *Boléro* – how wonderful a piece that is for dance! In that composition, a mesmerizing progression – not a symphony – but one long, powerful crescendo. My, my! That beautiful piece of orchestral mastery deserves to be danced to – the powerful percussion and rising crescendo - oh the way it captures that exquisite progression of dance – from the first move to the *grande finale.* How very satisfying, this composition is just such a beautiful spectacle!
• Sergei Rachmaninoff - Ah! This beloved composer. For my darling dears, let’s think outside of *Swan Lake*, outside *Boléro* and look at something equally compelling. That magnificent score from *Piano Concerto No. 2*– I could *dance* to it with tears in my eyes! The power of his composition, the raw beauty of emotion! My heart sings in gratitude that the *Dance of the Knights* in Prokofiev’s *Romeo and Juliet*, that dramatic, exhilarating, fiery piece of pure, unadulterated music and dance – the passion of Rachmaninoff comes through so beautifully - and what does it tell us about *his* genius, my dears?

This darling dears, it’s like the emotional narrative was written just for *us.* It's this unique gift that Rachmaninoff gave us, something special – and I *hear* that special touch of pure, powerful expression in his *Symphony No. 2,* where the grand *Adagio* is so touching – we simply cannot leave this piece untouched - such profound, sweeping emotional brilliance, with this grand musical spectacle – *an unforgettable, danceable experience*.

• Dmitri Shostakovich - We mustn’t forget the dramatic compositions that Shostakovich provided. You see, with *Symphony No. 5*, in the third movement – those dark yet elegant and poignant *Waltzes* - the heart beats with every note, it’s the ballet of human experience. That's why I say he deserves special recognition – this man understood our very core, the deep emotional experience of living life in a complicated, extraordinary way, and his brilliance shows how he, like other gifted artists, could transcend the normal – he *wrote* for life, and for human experience, his heart sang into existence that emotional core – the rhythm and power of our dance! That's why his *Leningrad Symphony* - that breathtaking, emotionally stirring and emotionally captivating composition– deserves a place amongst those great ballet scores. *He wrote music that captures our humanity* – so truly inspiring, don’t you think, my lovelies?

This is only the beginning my sweet dears. So much of ballet music has come from a glorious tapestry of cultures, a kaleidoscope of genius from other composers like Debussy, Khachaturian, Prokofiev, Glazunov, and Chopin — this grand spectrum of musical talents are truly a gift for all of us who delight in ballet music, how blessed we are to experience such emotional power!

What a remarkable journey this has been! Each of these brilliant artists – my dears, my darlings – they were not simply composing for the sake of composing, oh no. *They were composing to touch our hearts.* That’s the real legacy that continues to echo throughout the world.

Oh my dears! What an afternoon we’ve had, just dancing through the glorious melodies and rhythms. Such wonderful conversations. These *magnificent* creators - a group of true masterminds who gave us the beautiful music that makes ballet an extraordinary journey – a magical dance – *such exquisite entertainment!*

My lovelies, I have one more treat for you. I've curated this playlist. Enjoy! And just a word to my discerning dancers. I encourage you to try some 'dancing along’ - *you never know what beautiful memories you may unlock.*

• Swan Lake (Act II) Tchaikovsky
• Sleeping Beauty (Waltz of the Flowers) - Tchaikovsky
• The Nutcracker (Waltz of the Snowflakes) - Tchaikovsky
• The Nutcracker (Trepak, Dance of the Russian) - Tchaikovsky
• The Nutcracker (Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy) – Tchaikovsky
• Boléro – Ravel
• Romeo and Juliet (Dance of the Knights) - Prokofiev
• Romeo and Juliet (Montagues and Capulets) - Prokofiev
• Rite of Spring - Stravinsky
• Symphony No 2 - Rachmaninoff (Adagio)
• Piano Concerto No 2 - Rachmaninoff
• Symphony No 5 - Shostakovich (Third movement)
• Symphony No 7 - Shostakovich (Leningrad Symphony)

This is my ultimate *Ballet Music* collection my loves. Dance, spin, twirl and dream! Feel that exquisite rhythm that echoes your own unique joy!

I do hope my dears, you feel inspired, captivated, moved and ultimately, completely mesmerised! Thank you for sharing this *lovely* time with me, it’s my pleasure my sweet dears, it really is. Now do remember - *Dance with your Heart!.*