Ballet Music News 915

Ah, the world of ballet music! A tapestry of emotions woven into exquisite sound, capable of evoking both ethereal lightness and dramatic depth. Each note a brushstroke, each melody a dance of its own, composing a canvas for the balletic form. As I sip my Earl Grey, adorned in my favorite emerald silk robe (a perfect counterpoint to my sapphire ballet shoes), I feel a thrill run through me. For it is 31st January 2025, the day to dive into the kaleidoscope of this art form – a day to celebrate its glorious evolution, and the powerful impact of its musical heartbeat.

Firstly, let’s begin with a moment of reflection. Did you know that in this very day in history, 1762, one of the giants of ballet music, Luigi Cherubini, was born? It is fitting then that our journey through ballet music starts with this composer – a man who brought operatic drama to the stage with his Médée. Imagine the haunting aria, “Ombre, lugubri,” in this context. Imagine a heartbroken Medea, in all her theatrical fury and tragic desperation. This, my darlings, is the magic of ballet music: It amplifies the human condition, rendering it in pure sonic form.

Speaking of drama, it’s simply impossible to delve into ballet music without a touch of Tchaikovsky. His masterful melodies for Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty remain some of the most iconic scores ever composed. A sweeping, romantic waltz? Tick. A hauntingly melancholic melody depicting a cursed princess? Tick. An exuberant fanfare that brings the world to life? Tick. Tchaikovsky, you absolute genius, you knew precisely how to capture the essence of ballet and its eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Moving along the chronological thread, our journey takes us to a more contemporary era. The year is 1945. A ballet is being composed based on a captivating poem about a girl's dream and a mischievous cat. This is the story of Cinderella, the ballet choreographed by Frederick Ashton and set to a score by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. There is a delicate grace, a touch of mischief, a sense of fairytale wonder to Bennett’s work, a delightful exploration of what can only be described as balletic magic, the kind that makes your heart flutter. Cinderella’s music is a masterpiece in miniature, reminding us that true beauty can reside in the simple elegance of an elegant piano concerto. What I love most about this ballet score is the captivating music for the two-headed, two-bodied cat character. A truly extraordinary feat for the composer, who managed to give both animals an individual voice, a feat which many musicians before him had failed to accomplish.

Let's take a momentary pause to acknowledge the unsung heroes – the arrangers and orchestrators. Think of the magic they weave as they take existing musical works, and transform them into perfect expressions of the balletic world. Think of a tango transformed into a sensual duet, or a folk melody recast as a whimsical dance. It’s a dance within a dance, a symphony of adaptation. Without their contribution, many ballets would not have reached such glorious heights.

A journey through ballet music wouldn’t be complete without a little Prokofiev, would it? This musical maestro's brilliance shone brightly in his scores for ballets like Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella. Romeo and Juliet is a breathtaking tale of forbidden love, its poignant melody beautifully evoking the anguish of their tragedy. But Cinderella offers a sweeter symphony of delight. In his "Waltz," Prokofiev weaves together the romantic dream of young lovers with a sophisticated complexity in rhythm and structure that would challenge any professional dancers.

So far, our exploration has delved into the world of classical ballet music. But let’s not forget that there’s a whole spectrum beyond the classical tradition. Take West Side Story, for instance, which brought the dramatic, edgy world of contemporary ballet music into sharp focus. Leonard Bernstein's masterful score brilliantly blends jazz with a touch of classical tradition, seamlessly mirroring the street-smart grit and romantic longing of the story.

One of the things I truly adore about contemporary ballet is that it embraces diversity of sound – from the driving beats of electronic music to the soulful depth of folk tunes. It’s like an eclectic dance party in the realm of music, with each style playing its part in bringing the story to life.

In fact, some of the most iconic and influential composers for contemporary ballet hail from the world of jazz. Think Michel Legrand. The sheer genius of the score he created for the ballet Morpheus and the dancers, is a masterpiece that I will never get tired of listening to! I feel the rhythm pulsate through me. His compositions are nothing short of magical.

Or how about Philip Glass. His Einstein on the Beach, a breathtaking journey through minimalist beauty, challenges our assumptions about music and dance. It makes me see the world through a new lens. It invites us to appreciate the quiet and contemplative side of ballet, something often lost in the glamour and theatricality of traditional ballets.

Speaking of challenges, how about the ballet Boléro? Ravel’s masterpiece is the ultimate study in the power of repetition. The music builds with relentless determination, drawing the audience deeper and deeper into its captivating spell. With each repeat of the refrain, we become obsessed by this sonic loop, hypnotized into submission.

This brings us to the question – how do these diverse musical styles affect the world of ballet? Do they complement each other, or do they create jarring clashes?

Here, I feel it is important to remember that ballet music is not a rigid tradition. It’s a constantly evolving language, responding to the changes in our society and its art forms. Contemporary composers often take inspiration from other cultures, blending Eastern melodies with Western harmonies or creating scores that fuse hip hop beats with the precision of classical dance. The result? A truly mind-blowing explosion of sound! These fusion experiences often elevate ballet to a higher artistic dimension.

In fact, there has been a rise in recent years of exciting collaborations between ballet companies and contemporary composers. Imagine the thrilling combination of the grace of a pirouette against a pulsating electronic backdrop. Think of a solo dancer gliding across the stage as the music swells with a surge of emotion – the symphony and the dancer merging into one harmonious, magnificent whole. It's simply enthralling! These partnerships push the boundaries of traditional ballet, creating fresh interpretations of stories and characters that resonate with contemporary audiences.

As we move forward into the future of ballet, it will be exciting to see how these various forms of music continue to inspire new choreographies. The marriage of music and movement will continue to evolve, pushing the boundaries of the possible. And what could be more exhilarating than the unknown?

Let's shift gears now to delve into a practical element of this magnificent world - costumes! From tutus to leotards, dance attire is so much more than just a uniform – it is an extension of the story. The fabric of a dancer’s attire reflects a myriad of details: mood, setting, time period. For example, the delicate lightness of a white tutu exudes innocence while a darker, more fluid fabric will often depict a sense of melancholy or sorrow. Every fabric seam and color is chosen carefully to enhance the storytelling power of the ballet.

The costumes serve as an anchor, pulling together the choreography, music and even the set design, to create a single, immersive experience for the audience. It is crucial for a costume to create a harmony between a character’s persona, their emotional arc, and their relationship to the ballet's storyline. A beautifully designed costume has the power to transport audiences from reality into the magic of a fantasy world, to create a visceral experience, which connects us on a deeper, emotional level.

Think for a moment of a ballet set in the Italian Renaissance period. Wouldn't you expect to see richly brocaded costumes that mimic the luxurious gowns worn by those in the royal court? The elaborate silk, the precise detail, the ornate trims, these will immediately signal that you have stepped back into the past. Now, imagine the contrast when a character moves to a dark and dreary city scene. We would expect to see a costume embodying the character’s desolation and loneliness. A heavy wool shawl, a dull grey tone, and a minimal design would help underscore the loneliness of a character, to express the darker themes of this more somber set.

One costume detail that stands out in my mind is the beautiful combination of pink and red in The Sleeping Beauty. This exquisite colour palette highlights the tenderness of the story while evoking the passionate, romantic aspect of this legendary fairytale. The delicate softness of pink reflects the purity of the princess and her innocent nature. It suggests youth and beauty while signifying a fairytale world of innocence, a dreamy and carefree existence. While, a rich, bold shade of crimson highlights the dangerous, even destructive aspect of the villain in this timeless tale.

Speaking of details, let’s imagine this fabulous pink tulle tutu and its perfectly matched leotard, a deliciously decadent pink, which I call “Candy Floss.” We would design this leotard in the highest quality silk satin for a silky smooth feel. There would be absolutely no need for elastic! Instead, the leotard would have a delicate silk lace, carefully inserted across the front. The details would make all the difference in creating the illusion of movement. This, of course, would make a beautiful contrast against the ethereal tulle. The final touches would include delicate crystals, a few strategic beads and shimmering sequins. This kind of leotard is a dream for any ballet dancer because it would have all the elegance of a classical leotard but with the luxurious touch that reflects the rich heritage of the ballet’s musical and narrative worlds.

To finish on a poignant note, the role of ballet music, like a magical ingredient, elevates a traditional dance into a truly mesmerizing performance. Ballet, without the power of music, is like a flower without fragrance, or a silent play. Without it, the magic is diminished.

So here’s to the captivating sound of ballet music - to the melody, the harmony, the emotion. May its timeless artistry continue to enchant and inspire, shaping the world of ballet for many years to come. On this 31st of January 2025, let us raise our champagne flutes, in salute, to the heart and soul of this most glorious dance form.