Léo Delibes · Romanticism
1836–1891
1866 · Ballet · Paris, Opera
Tonality
Without a unique tone. Like all ballet, it runs a lot of tonalities along its numbers.
From the atril
The Source («The spring») premiered at the Paris Opera in 1866 and was the first ballet in which Delibes participated, then a young pianist accompanying the theatre. The score was divided between two composers: Ludwig Minkus, the future author of Don Quixote and The driveway, and Delibes, who wrote the second act and part of the third.
The story, set in a fantasy Caucasus, revolves around Naïla, the spirit of a spring, which is sacrificed for the love of a hunter. The interesting thing, listening to the work, is the difference between the two musicians: Minkus effectively writes a dance and conventional music, while Delibes' pages already have a richer orchestration, more memorable melodies and a sense of color that drew the attention of criticism. It was his letter of introduction: four years later, the Opera entrusted him Coppelia alone. Today it is played mainly in orchestral suites.
What to hear
- The dances of the second act, work of Delibes.
- The contrast of style with the Minkus pages.
- The coloring of the orchestration.
