French author Alexandre Dumas fils (1924-1895) enjoyed a career that spanned decades, publishing many successful books and plays. One of his most notable works is the 1848 novel La Dame aux Camélias. Inspired by his relationship with courtesan Marie Duplessis, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 23, Dumas fils created the characters of … Continue reading La Dame aux Camélias: The Ballets
Paris Opera Ballet
Audience Reception: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Most of the time, when something is created, its creator hopes it will be well received. A common trope in media features creators spiralling downwards after their work receives negative reception. On the other hand, it's also common in media for works to receive rapturous applause, and a standing ovation. These tropes are on extreme … Continue reading Audience Reception: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Forgotten Ballets: Le Sicilien, ou l’Amour peintre
Playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière, is renowned as one of the greatest writers of all time. He is best known as a playwright, but he also dabbled in writing comédie-ballets, a genre of plays that also contain music and dance. The most remembered comédie-ballet is 1670's Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, produced in collaboration with … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Le Sicilien, ou l’Amour peintre
Spotlight On: Pauline Montessu
On the blog I've previously discussed the lives of some of the lesser-known dancers of the Ballet Russes, and I enjoyed looking into the lives of these dancers and learning more about them. This time, I'd like to look at a similar topic, but with a dancer from the ranks of the 19th-century Paris Opera … Continue reading Spotlight On: Pauline Montessu
Forgotten Ballets: Fiammetta, 1864
A slightly earlier contemporary to Marius Petipa was Arthur Saint-Léon. Preceding Petipa in the role of Maître de ballet of the Imperial Ballet, Saint-Léon arrived in Saint Petersburg in 1859, holding his post for 10 years. During that time he'd create and stage ballets for the company, and one of them, was 1864's Fiammetta, often … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Fiammetta, 1864
Forgotten Ballets: Les Mohicans, 1837
In the first part of this series (see here) I looked at a ballet from 1837, during the Romantic Era of ballet. The ballet, Le Chatte, didn't receive the least performances of the Romantic ballets premiered at the Paris Opera. That distinction goes to Les Mohicans, which premiered just months before La Chatte, and involves … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Les Mohicans, 1837
Taglioni in Saint Petersburg, 1837-1842
Marie Taglioni is credited with being the first dancer to truly dance en pointe. Born in Stockholm, Sweden to dancer and choreographer Filippo Taglioni and Swedish dancer Sophie Karsten, it was under her Father that she rigorously trained. Today she's most known for originating the title role in La Sylphide (1832), a ballet which utilised … Continue reading Taglioni in Saint Petersburg, 1837-1842
Forgotten Ballets: Le chatte métamorphosée en femme, 1837
A lot of us can probably name a ballet. Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty are some of the most common answers I get when I tell people I'm interested in ballet- I've also gotten Giselle, and Anna Pavlova's Dying Swan. But there are plenty of ballets that have fallen by the wayside, some … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Le chatte métamorphosée en femme, 1837
Spotlight On: Dauberval + La fille mal gardée
If you're familiar with ballet, you might know a ballet called La fille mal gardée. This ballet (the name translating to The Poorly Guarded Girl) is one of the oldest surviving ones, although not with it's original choreography, or music. What we know as La fille mal gardée can be traced back to other choreographers: … Continue reading Spotlight On: Dauberval + La fille mal gardée
Madeleine's Stage 