Chopin: Les Sylphides

Description

Les Sylphides is a ballet blanc set to the music of Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) by Russian composer, teacher, and conductor Alexander Glazunov. Described as a "romantic reverie" by dance historian and critic Olga Maynard, the ballet has no overarching plot but conveys mood and emotion through dance. Some of the music had been set by Glazunov for his orchestral suite Chopiniana, Op. 46 prior to its use in Les Sylphides, a fact that makes identifying the premier performance of the ballet a challenge. It may have premiered in 1907 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, or possibly later by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russes in 1909. This edition was orchestrated by William McDermott. Instrumentation: 2(2dPicc).2.2.2: 3.2.2.0: Timp.Perc(1): Hp: Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set).