Marguerite and Armand
Encyclopedia
Marguerite and Armand is a ballet danced to Franz Liszt
's B minor piano sonata
. It was created in 1963 by renowned choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton
specifically for world-famous dancers Rudolf Nureyev
and Dame Margot Fonteyn
. The ballet takes its inspiration from the 19th-century novel La Dame aux Camélias
by Alexandre Dumas, fils
, and other adaptations of the same story such as Giuseppe Verdi
's opera La traviata
.
. In her delirium she recalls her love affair with a young man named Armand, which the ballet portrays using many dreamlike flashback sequences.
In the first flashback, Marguerite, wearing a red dress, is surrounded by admirers and suitors. She lets them flirt with her, but feels no real emotions. Armand enters and falls for Marguerite immediately, and she returns his feelings. At the end of this sequence, Marguerite tests Armand's love by throwing a white flower to the ground as her wealthy protector leads her away. Another suitor goes to pick up the flower, but when Armand moves to take it, the other man lets him. This symbolizes Marguerite and Armand as a couple.
Marguerite, now increasingly ill, deserts her wealthy protector to live in the countryside with Armand. However, Armand's father asks her to quit her lover; she agrees, but will not tell Armand why she must leave him. A despairing Marguerite is about to leave the country house when Armand enters, and becomes distressed upon seeing her so distraught. A passionate sequence follows, portraying the characters' love, Marguerite's sacrifice and Armand's confusion.
Armand, angered by Marguerite's lack of an explanation, publicly humiliates her by tearing the necklace given to her by her wealthy protector from her neck and throwing it to the floor, and throwing money in her face.
In the final scenes, sad and alone, Marguerite waits for inevitable death. However, Armand's father has revealed the truth to him, and Armand makes it back to the apartment to hold Marguerite one last time. She dies in his arms.
In the scenes following Armand's father's confrontation with Marguerite, the dance is much more passionate, more mature. They know what real love feels like, and it becomes clear that they would both willingly die for the other.
The death scene portrayed in heartbreaking detail, with Marguerite having to pause repeatedly to regain her strength. When she dies, Armand does not yet realize that she has gone, and only knows when her hand falls from his. Many people, after they had watched the ballet, commented that it was "like a private moment that they didn't want to intrude on."
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
's B minor piano sonata
Piano Sonata (Liszt)
The Piano Sonata in B minor , S.178, is a musical composition for solo piano by Franz Liszt, published in 1854 with a dedication to Robert Schumann. It is often considered Liszt's greatest composition for solo piano. The piece has been often analyzed, particularly regarding issues of form.-...
. It was created in 1963 by renowned choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
specifically for world-famous dancers Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Russian dancer, considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.In 1961 he...
and Dame Margot Fonteyn
Margot Fonteyn
Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias, DBE , was an English ballerina of the 20th century. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time...
. The ballet takes its inspiration from the 19th-century novel La Dame aux Camélias
The Lady of the Camellias
The Lady of the Camellias is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils, first published in 1848, and subsequently adapted for the stage. The Lady of the Camellias premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris, France on February 2, 1852. The play was an instant success, and Giuseppe Verdi immediately set...
by Alexandre Dumas, fils
Alexandre Dumas, fils
Alexandre Dumas, fils was a French author and dramatist. He was the son of Alexandre Dumas, père, also a writer and playwright.-Biography:...
, and other adaptations of the same story such as Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's opera La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
.
Plot
Marguerite Gautier, a Parisian courtesan, lies on her deathbed, gravely ill with tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. In her delirium she recalls her love affair with a young man named Armand, which the ballet portrays using many dreamlike flashback sequences.
In the first flashback, Marguerite, wearing a red dress, is surrounded by admirers and suitors. She lets them flirt with her, but feels no real emotions. Armand enters and falls for Marguerite immediately, and she returns his feelings. At the end of this sequence, Marguerite tests Armand's love by throwing a white flower to the ground as her wealthy protector leads her away. Another suitor goes to pick up the flower, but when Armand moves to take it, the other man lets him. This symbolizes Marguerite and Armand as a couple.
Marguerite, now increasingly ill, deserts her wealthy protector to live in the countryside with Armand. However, Armand's father asks her to quit her lover; she agrees, but will not tell Armand why she must leave him. A despairing Marguerite is about to leave the country house when Armand enters, and becomes distressed upon seeing her so distraught. A passionate sequence follows, portraying the characters' love, Marguerite's sacrifice and Armand's confusion.
Armand, angered by Marguerite's lack of an explanation, publicly humiliates her by tearing the necklace given to her by her wealthy protector from her neck and throwing it to the floor, and throwing money in her face.
In the final scenes, sad and alone, Marguerite waits for inevitable death. However, Armand's father has revealed the truth to him, and Armand makes it back to the apartment to hold Marguerite one last time. She dies in his arms.
Expression through the ballet
In the beginning scenes, at the party when Marguerite and Armand first meet, the mood of the dancing is rather naive, almost playful. There are plenty of sideways glances and loving gestures, but it is like they are testing each other to see if the feelings are true.In the scenes following Armand's father's confrontation with Marguerite, the dance is much more passionate, more mature. They know what real love feels like, and it becomes clear that they would both willingly die for the other.
The death scene portrayed in heartbreaking detail, with Marguerite having to pause repeatedly to regain her strength. When she dies, Armand does not yet realize that she has gone, and only knows when her hand falls from his. Many people, after they had watched the ballet, commented that it was "like a private moment that they didn't want to intrude on."
Nureyev and Fonteyn
As this was a piece choreographed specifically for Nureyev and Fonteyn, it was difficult for anybody to imagine anyone else in the title roles. After they died, it was forbidden for any other dancers to dance the piece, but this has changed recently, with a revival of the ballet starring Sylvie Guillem as Marguerite and Nicholas Le Riche as Armand.External links
- http://www.ballet.co.uk/contexts/marguerite.htm
- http://www.nureyev.org/rudolf-nureyev-main-roles-ballets/marguerite-and-armand-liszt-ashton-rudolf-nureyev
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSIz2DWZMbY