are considered
THE MOST RUSSIAN BALLET – “SWAN LAKE”
Most people consider the Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to be the most Russian ballet. ” It is Swan that is the symbol of Russian ballet.
Hundreds of beautiful ballerinas created images of Odette and Odile, and dozens of choreographers created their own versions of this immortal performance.
Now it’s not even possible to imagine, but the premiere of Swan Lake at the Bolshoi in 1877 was more than modest. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky never found out about the future triumphs of his ballet.
Ballet is not an art
In the mid-19th century, serious musicians looked down on ballet, considering it to be second-class art, a relative of melodrama and vaudeville. However, the professor of the conservatory, composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky – the famous author of operas, symphonies, instrumental music and romances – regularly attended ballet performances and even knew the technique of dance. Continue reading
THE UNBEATABLE KING OF WALSA JOHANN STRAUS
Dance melodies, which were called music for the feet, were treated condescendingly in any era. Opera, oratorios and symphonies have always been considered noble genres, but all kinds of quadrille, waltzes and polkas were classified as second-rate creations because of their entertaining nature. And only one Austrian composer managed to change this musical hierarchy, raising melodies for dances to previously unattainable symphonic heights. His name is Johann Strauss. He wrote almost half a thousand works. The works of the talented Strauss Jr. sounded in all corners of the world and continue to occupy a leading position in the repertoire of many theaters.
Rival son
Josef Lanner and Johann Strauss Sr. are considered to be the founders of the “Waltz Dynasty”. Their art seemed unattainable to many. But this was so until their main rival appeared on the horizon. Ironically, they became the composer Johann Strauss, the son of Strauss – Johann Strauss, Jr., who was born in Vienna on October 25, 1825. Continue reading