Les Millions d'Arlequin
Encyclopedia
Les millions d'Arlequin (a.k.a. Harlequinade) is a ballet in two acts with libretto and choreography by Marius Petipa
and music by Riccardo Drigo
. First presented at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage by the Imperial Ballet
in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday, . The ballet was given a second premiere on the stage of the stage of the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre with the same cast on .
The Ballet Master
Fyodor Lopukhov later restaged the ballet as Harlequinade in a one act version for the Ballet of the Maly Theatre of Leningrad
. The production premiered on 13 June 1933. Audiences outside of Russia are perhaps most familiar with George Balanchine
's revival, which the Ballet Master staged as Harlequinade for the New York City Ballet
. This production that premiered at the New York State Theater in New York City
on 4 February 1965.
Riccardo Drigo's score spawned the popular piece known as the Serenade, which the composer later transformed into a song under the title Notturno d'amour.
and the composer Riccardo Drigo
for the Imperial Ballet
of St. Petersburg, Russia. It was first performed for the Imperial Court on February 10, 1900 at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage, and given a second premiere for the public on February 13, 1900 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre. The original cast for both performances was Mathilde Kschessinskaya as Columbine, Georgi Kiaksht as Harlequin, Olga Preobrajenska
as Pierrette, Sergei Lukianov as Pierrot, Enrico Cecchetti
as Casandré, and Anna Urakhova as the Good Fairy. Included at the first performance were Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorvna (to whom Drigo dedicated the score). So moved was the imperial audience by Drigo's music that the composer was mobbed during the final curtain calls.
Drigo's score spawned the popular salon repertory piece known as the Serenade, which the composer later re-wrote as a song called Nuttorno d'amore for Beniamino Gigli
. The Serenade has since been arranged for every conceivable instrument, particularly the violin and piano.
George Balanchine
staged an important revival of the work in honor of the ballet's 65th anniversary for the New York City Ballet
, premiering February 4, 1965 under the title Harlequinade. The leading dancers were Patricia McBride
as Columbine, Edward Vilella as Harlequin, Suki Schorer
as Pierrette, and Deni Lamont as Pierrot.
In April 2007, the Salt Creek Ballet of Westmont, Illinois performed a version of the Petipa/Drigo Harlequinade. Performed at College of DuPage, the program was a success and received outstanding reviews from several major newspapers. The principal cast was Alexander Kozadayev as Harlequin, and Katherine Bruno as Columbine, and Hartley Parrish as the Good Fairy.
Russian Ballet Master and choreographer Vladimir Issaev, created his own version of the entire ballet "Harlequinade". It was performed by Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale , Florida. His revival of the ballet includes special effects and costumes by Jorge Gallardo and sets by Elena Bondarenko. In 2011, the ballet will be performed again in Miami, Florida.
Marius Petipa
Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa was a French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer of ballet that has ever lived....
and music by Riccardo Drigo
Riccardo Drigo
Riccardo Eugenio Drigo , a.k.a. Richard Drigo was an Italian composer of ballet music and Italian Opera, a theatrical conductor, and a pianist....
. First presented at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage by the Imperial Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies...
in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday, . The ballet was given a second premiere on the stage of the stage of the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre with the same cast on .
The Ballet Master
Ballet Master
Ballet Master is the term used for an employee of a ballet company who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company...
Fyodor Lopukhov later restaged the ballet as Harlequinade in a one act version for the Ballet of the Maly Theatre of Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. The production premiered on 13 June 1933. Audiences outside of Russia are perhaps most familiar with George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
's revival, which the Ballet Master staged as Harlequinade for the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
. This production that premiered at the New York State Theater in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 4 February 1965.
Riccardo Drigo's score spawned the popular piece known as the Serenade, which the composer later transformed into a song under the title Notturno d'amour.
Performance history
Originally created by the choreographer Marius PetipaMarius Petipa
Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa was a French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer of ballet that has ever lived....
and the composer Riccardo Drigo
Riccardo Drigo
Riccardo Eugenio Drigo , a.k.a. Richard Drigo was an Italian composer of ballet music and Italian Opera, a theatrical conductor, and a pianist....
for the Imperial Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies...
of St. Petersburg, Russia. It was first performed for the Imperial Court on February 10, 1900 at the Imperial Theatre of the Hermitage, and given a second premiere for the public on February 13, 1900 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre. The original cast for both performances was Mathilde Kschessinskaya as Columbine, Georgi Kiaksht as Harlequin, Olga Preobrajenska
Olga Preobrajenska
Olga Iosifovna Preobrajenska was probably the best loved ballerina of the Russian Imperial Ballet....
as Pierrette, Sergei Lukianov as Pierrot, Enrico Cecchetti
Enrico Cecchetti
Enrico Cecchetti was an Italian ballet dancer, mime, and founder of the Cecchetti method. The son of two dancers from Civitanova Marche, he was born in the costuming room of the Teatro Tordinona in Rome. After an illustrious career as a dancer in Europe, he went to dance for the Imperial Ballet in...
as Casandré, and Anna Urakhova as the Good Fairy. Included at the first performance were Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorvna (to whom Drigo dedicated the score). So moved was the imperial audience by Drigo's music that the composer was mobbed during the final curtain calls.
Drigo's score spawned the popular salon repertory piece known as the Serenade, which the composer later re-wrote as a song called Nuttorno d'amore for Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli was an Italian opera singer. The most famous tenor of his generation, he was renowned internationally for the great beauty of his voice and the soundness of his vocal technique. Music critics sometimes took him to task, however, for what was perceived to be the over-emotionalism...
. The Serenade has since been arranged for every conceivable instrument, particularly the violin and piano.
George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
staged an important revival of the work in honor of the ballet's 65th anniversary for the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
, premiering February 4, 1965 under the title Harlequinade. The leading dancers were Patricia McBride
Patricia McBride
Patricia McBride is a ballerina who spent nearly 30 years dancing with the New York City Ballet....
as Columbine, Edward Vilella as Harlequin, Suki Schorer
Suki Schorer
Suki Schorer is an American ballet dancer, ballet mistress, teacher, and writer.She danced with George Balanchine's New York City Ballet from 1959 to 1972....
as Pierrette, and Deni Lamont as Pierrot.
In April 2007, the Salt Creek Ballet of Westmont, Illinois performed a version of the Petipa/Drigo Harlequinade. Performed at College of DuPage, the program was a success and received outstanding reviews from several major newspapers. The principal cast was Alexander Kozadayev as Harlequin, and Katherine Bruno as Columbine, and Hartley Parrish as the Good Fairy.
Russian Ballet Master and choreographer Vladimir Issaev, created his own version of the entire ballet "Harlequinade". It was performed by Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale , Florida. His revival of the ballet includes special effects and costumes by Jorge Gallardo and sets by Elena Bondarenko. In 2011, the ballet will be performed again in Miami, Florida.