Daphnis and Chloe (ballet)

Ravel began writing ballet music in 1909 by order of Sergei Diaghilev . The premiere took place at the Chatelet Theater in Paris on June 8, 1912 (Diaghilev's troupe, sets and costumes by Leon Bakst , choreography by Mikhail Fokin, conductor Pierre Monteux ). The parts of Daphnis and Chloe were performed by Vaclav Nizhinsky and Tamara Karsavina . Later, the main parts were performed by Mikhail Fokin himself and his wife Vera Fokina .

This is Ravel's longest work; its integrity is maintained through the constant use of a small number of keynotes . The composer called “Daphnis and Chloe” a “choreographic symphony” and described it as follows:

In this composition, I decided to give a large musical fresco, in which I didn’t so much try to recreate genuine antiquity, as I capture the dream Hellas, which is close to the idea of ​​ancient Greece, which is embodied in the works of French artists and writers of the late XVIII century. ^[one]

The names are given in the Russian translation of the novel by S.P. Kondratiev. The first performers of the parties are indicated in parentheses.

• Daphnis, young goat herder ( Vaclav Nizhinsky )
• Chloe, a young cowgirl of sheep ( Tamara Karsavina )
• Lamon, the old shepherd ( Enrico Cecchetti )
• Dorkon ^[2] , Bootes in love with Chloe ( Adolf Bolm )
• Lycanion, a woman in love with Daphnis
• Briaxis, Pirate Leader
• Pan
• Three nymphs
• Shepherds and shepherdesses, pirates

The plot of Long's novel is greatly reduced and simplified. Ballet consists of three paintings:

• Picture 1. Glade on the edge of the sacred forest

• • 1. Introduction and religious dance
  • 2. General dance
  • 3. The grotesque dance of Dorkon
  • 4. The light and graceful dance of Daphnis
  • 5. Dance Lycanion
  • 6. Nocturne. Slow and mysterious dance of nymphs

• Scene 2. Pirate Camp

• • 7. Introduction
  • 8. Warlike dance
  • 9. Chloe's Dance

• Scene 3. Landscape of the first picture

• • 10. Sunrise
  • 11. Pantomime
  • 12. General dance

• Piccolo flute , two flutes (the second is also replaced by a piccolo flute), alto flute (G), two oboes , English horn , small clarinet (Es), two clarinets (A, B), bass clarinet (B), three bassoon , contrabassoon

• Four French Horn (F), Four Trumpets (C), Three Trombones , Tuba

• Timpani , tom tam , triangle , tambourine , snare drum , french drum, antique cymbals , castanets , cymbals , eliofon , big drum , celesta , bells , xylophone

• Two harps

• First violins , second violins, violas , cello , double bass (from "to" controctava)

• Mixed choir (singing without words)

When Diaghilev staged a ballet in 1914 in London , he eliminated the choir part from the music. Ravel was dissatisfied with this and wrote an angry open letter to the Times .

Ravel composed of ballet music two orchestral suites that can be performed with or without a choir. The first suite was composed in 1911 on the basis of numbers 6, 7, 8 of the original ballet; the second suite was compiled in 1912 on the basis of numbers 10, 11, 12. The second suite is more popular; she was shifted for piano four hands by Glazunov .

In addition, Ravel composed in 1913 a suite for piano from ballet music.

• Daphnis and Chloe (ballet); Daphnis and Chloe - Author's Suite for Piano: Sheet Music at International Music Score Library Project
• Daphnis and Chloe - Orchestral Suite No 1: Sheet music at International Music Score Library Project
• Daphnis and Chloe - Orchestral Suite No. 2: Sheet music at International Music Score Library Project
• Costumes and sets for the first ballet production

• Daphnis and Chloe
• Daphnis and Chloe (film)