Maximilien Gardel
Encyclopedia
Maximilien Gardel was a French ballet dancer and choreographer of German descent (he was the son of Claude Gardel, ballet master
to king Stanisław Leszczyński, and elder brother of Pierre Gardel
, who succeeded Maximilien as ballet master of the Paris Opera on his death).
He débuted at the Académie royale de Musique in Paris
in 1759 and five years later became a soloist there. Sharing dance rôles with Gaëtan Vestris
, Gardel took over from him in 1772 : in the reprise of Castor et Pollux
by Rameau
, he danced with neither mask nor wig (then judged unimaginable) so as not to be deceived by his rival. In 1773 he and Jean Dauberval
became Vestris' assistants as ballet master then, in 1781, Gardel took over the role on his own (succeeding Noverre
).
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...
to king Stanisław Leszczyński, and elder brother of Pierre Gardel
Pierre Gardel
Pierre-Gabriel Gardel was a French ballet dancer and ballet master. He was the brother of Maximilien Gardel....
, who succeeded Maximilien as ballet master of the Paris Opera on his death).
He débuted at the Académie royale de Musique in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1759 and five years later became a soloist there. Sharing dance rôles with Gaëtan Vestris
Gaétan Vestris
Gaetano Apolline Baldassarre Vestris , French ballet dancer, was born in Florence and made his debut at the opera in 1749....
, Gardel took over from him in 1772 : in the reprise of Castor et Pollux
Castor et Pollux
Castor et Pollux is an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, first performed on 24 October 1737 at the Académie royale de musique in Paris. The librettist was Pierre-Joseph-Justin Bernard, whose reputation as a salon poet it made. This was the third opera by Rameau and his second in the form of the...
by Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is also considered the leading French composer for the harpsichord of his time, alongside François...
, he danced with neither mask nor wig (then judged unimaginable) so as not to be deceived by his rival. In 1773 he and Jean Dauberval
Jean Dauberval
Jean Dauberval, a.k.a Jean D’Auberval, , was a French dancer and ballet master...
became Vestris' assistants as ballet master then, in 1781, Gardel took over the role on his own (succeeding Noverre
Jean-Georges Noverre
Jean-Georges Noverre was a French dancer and balletmaster, and is generally considered the creator of ballet d'action, a precursor of the narrative ballets of the 19th century...
).
Selected works
- 1777 : La Chercheuse d'esprit
- 1777 : Ninette à la cour
- 1778 : Phaon
- 1779 : Mirza et Lindor
- 1781 : La Fête de Mirza
- 1783 : La Rosière
- 1784 : L'Oracle
- 1785 : Le Premier Navigateur
- 1786 : Les Sauvages
- 1786 : Le Pied de bœuf
- 1786 : Le Déserteur
- 1787 : Le Coq du village