Ballet Music News 972

Ah, 05 December 2024! The day to set this enchanting news review on ballet music. A day as perfect and delicate as a spun sugar cloud, swirling and ethereal like the first act of Swan Lake, and as vibrant and exciting as the finale of La Bayadère. Today we are delving into the intricate world of ballet music, those sublime and captivating melodies that dance along with our favourite ballerinas. You simply cannot separate the two. They are intertwined, the very essence of the art. One is born from the other. Ballet is the breath and pulse of life made visible, and music is the heartbeat of that pulse.

Let’s begin with Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces, his Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. Who can forget the wistful, otherworldly beauty of Odette's Swan Lake theme, or the elegant regality of the Bluebird Variation from Sleeping Beauty? And then, the joyous and childlike charm of The Nutcracker. The overture alone draws you into the magic of a winter wonderland, and the Waltz of the Flowers brings with it an exquisite, almost otherworldly sense of happiness.

Speaking of waltz, the Viennese Waltz from Stravinsky's Apollon Musagete remains a staple of dance. The dance moves become an expression of its intricate rhythm, its airy grace and vibrant melody. We can feel the grandeur and opulence, even when dancing in a studio with minimal props. That is the beauty of music – it gives us access to every facet of human experience. Even in our modern world, we feel the power of those elegant, fluid movements echoing around us. We all have a story to tell through movement, just like a ballet dancer, just like the dancers who first interpreted this piece in 1928.

Ballet is so very rich with its different dance movements, ballets and of course, music. From the majestic and triumphant pas de deux in "La Bayadère" by Ludwig Minkus to the dramatic and powerful finale of "Don Quixote" by Leon Minkus. And let's not forget "Giselle" by Adolphe Adam, its heartbreaking romanticism underscored by hauntingly beautiful music, each note resonating with emotion and the story.

Ballet and music. The union that creates an experience so enchanting and evocative, and no story can be fully realised without a matching music score, and how we feel the emotions of the dancer is intensified by what the music adds. Every ballet holds within it a beautiful and rich emotional narrative, woven together with the intricate, moving music. Take the classic tale of "Romeo and Juliet" by Sergei Prokofiev. We can hear in this beautiful composition, the tale of love, tragedy and despair. And, how the tender pas de deux brings the characters to life so vividly through dance. And don't forget Prokofiev’s “Cinderella”, we hear Cinderella’s yearning and eventual transformation through his beautifully written composition. Even just imagining "Cinderella" takes me back to those dreamy evenings at the Royal Opera House.

What is a performance without that magnificent sense of theatre? Those sets and the costume, the overall look and feel are everything when you add music to this! Ballet has it all. Those beautiful tutus, every swirl and spin tells a story of grace and agility, and not forgetting those perfectly shaped leotards, a matching one for every pink tutu! Every garment accentuates the elegance and elegance of the dancers and their movement, in those stunning moments when all we see are a blending of beauty and the expressive strength of each individual performance.

I, for one, adore all things ballerina, from their beautifully sculpted, perfectly-turned out pointe shoes, those beautiful costumes. My bedroom, or I would say my dance shrine, is covered in ballet photos, I often wear pale pinks and softest baby blues, inspired by my idols. And not to forget the ballerina jewellery I wear daily. I keep the ballet dress I was presented with after my performance as “The Swan" on the first day I wore pointe shoes under glass on my desk. I have a special collection of leotards which are displayed under glass like treasures! Every single piece speaks to my love for this art. The most prized of all? The first tutu my mother made for me to wear, when I was only a few years old. My dancing story began before I even understood what ballet really meant, but I could hear the music before I could even stand on my own two feet. Now you know where my heart is and why I love to watch every ballet performance on YouTube! The sheer joy it gives me makes me dance every night before I go to bed! How is it possible to describe something so powerful and beautiful, yet here I am, doing it!

Speaking of beautiful and powerful music, "The Rite of Spring", one of Stravinsky's more intense compositions is always challenging but a masterpiece of sound, and an artistic spectacle, its primitivism reflected in the dancers. But can we forget about Igor Stravinsky’s "Firebird" which is filled with soaring and thrilling musical numbers? A fiery composition filled with a mix of energy, grace and dramatic tension.

Another ballet musical I simply adore is “Daphnis and Chloe" by Maurice Ravel. The ballet's theme is beautiful with its Mediterranean background, it takes you on a magical journey to a world full of the natural beauty of Greece. Even if we cannot travel there now, we can still enjoy it. We don’t need to travel to France to see the Eiffel Tower or even across Europe to enjoy it's majestic beauty; we have its magnificent music to transport us. Ballet offers that journey, not only with every graceful move but through its enchanting musical backdrop. And just as that magic, every new performance and ballet company keeps that story alive, the new dance pieces keep appearing and all I have to do is sit in front of the TV to enjoy it, like I do when watching the latest production of “The Nutcracker", with its unique twists, or new choreography by a up-and-coming choreographer. The magic will always remain because it is truly something very special, and as new and talented dancers keep pushing the boundaries of the ballet world and they tell us the story in their own unique way, which brings in fresh audiences who understand that this art is timeless. And you simply cannot forget those legendary ballerinas who inspired so many generations - Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Anna Pavlova and so many others - we simply adore them and their grace, and we will always appreciate their passion for their art. This artform deserves its standing, and we owe them, their legacy. The story has been written. The only question that remains - will the story continue for many more years to come? That answer rests on how the younger generation feels and their connection with the music and story. Ballet is a story waiting to unfold, with so much yet to be revealed and every new production offers a unique and new way to feel and hear that story, through a blend of the new, the bold and yet a touch of traditional, but not always, like the recent ballet set to the music of Queen’s musical album “Bohemian Rhapsody”!

Even now we see more and more choreographers using a different form of music for their ballet productions. As much as I love traditional ballet music, I can not deny the growing popularity of modern pieces, often using music that speaks to their audience and our current cultural moments and pop culture trends. It would have been so interesting to see what Balanchine might have choreographed to contemporary pop music! He certainly broke some boundaries and rules, paving the way for this more daring move to utilise a new way to interpret and experience ballet.

Here’s a brief listing of the musicians and composers whose work have been brought to the ballet stage!
* Tchaikovsky * Stravinsky * Prokofiev * Adam * Delibes * Minkus * Ravel * Debussy * Chopin * Shostakovich * Schoenberg * Mahler * Berlioz * Puccini * Wagner

And we’ll continue this list as composers compose a new score or the adapting a new piece of music for the stage. Who knows we might hear a symphony composed by an A.I.? The ballet music industry is constantly evolving, just like the dancers, they are always trying to interpret their story in a new way.

To all of the dedicated and talented ballet dancers in the world and everyone involved in creating these magical works, from lighting to set design, costumes to music directors, your work does not go unnoticed. You are bringing this story and these amazing compositions to life.

Now, my dears, don’t forget to take your pointe shoes for a twirl tonight. Let your heart flutter with every pirouette, every elegant pose and every beautiful movement you take. And don’t forget your perfectly-matching pink tutu with a matching pale-pink leotard. You know I'm right, you simply can't be without them! And why not put your favorite ballet music on while you're at it, and just allow your spirit to be filled with magic. For those that know my favourite – "Swan Lake”! What will your musical and dancing choice be? Whatever it may be - happy dancing. And as we all say, "on your marks, get set, dance”!