On the Dnieper (Prokofiev)
Encyclopedia
On the Dnieper, Op. 51, also known by its French language title Sur le Borysthène
, is the fourth ballet written by Sergei Prokofiev
in 1930.
, the impresario who had led Ballets Russes
to distinguished success, died suddenly in 1929, hence ending Prokofiev's collaboration with the troupe. (The Prodigal Son was the last such collaboration). Seeing the success of the work, the Paris Opéra commissioned Prokofiev to write another ballet. Serge Lifar
, formerly a close associate with Diaghilev, was responsible for creating the setting and choreography. However, he did not place any significance to the scenario. Rather, the ballet was created as a sequence of dances. On the Dnieper was the result of this collaboration.
Lifar, in his 1965 book La danse, said that he was disappointed with Prokofiev's score. Lifar claimed to have been inspired by Russian folkdance but acknowledges that critics found his own choreography insufficiently Russian.
Preparations for the ballet were marked the sudden withdrawal of Olga Spessivtseva who was to have had the leading female role. Spessivsteva had had a series of successes with Lifar at the Paris Opera Ballet (Promethee, Giselle
) and had unrequited feelings for him. In his book The Three Graces: Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Olga Spessivtseva (1959) Lifar describes how their personal situation came to a head during rehearsals. "The two heroines of this ballet were named Natasha and Olga. I have already mentioned the friendship which had sprung up at this time between Natasha P... [Natalie Paley] and myself. It was, therefore, perhaps a little cruel to give these two names, Natasha and Olga, to the heroines. Be that as it may, the role of Olga was allotted to Spessivtseva, while the male part, Serge, was to be interpreted by me. The crisis came when, at one of the rehearsals, Spessivtseva suddenly realized that it was with Natasha ... that in pursuance of the plot, I was to find happiness, whereas the leading, and, from the choreographic point of view, the most important role had been allotted to her, Olga! This crisis, as always with her, developed with the speed of lightning. Just as I had announced at rehearsal, that this was where my pas de deux tendre with Natasha would begin, Spessivtseva all of a sudden made a dash for the window. In one bound I reached her, but, by that time she was already through it. I just managed to clutch her arm. My pianist, Leonide Gontcharov, who was hard on my heels, sprang to my assistance. Olga hung there, suspended from our arms, thirty feet above the Place Charles-Garnier. With great difficulty we managed to drag her back. She fought, bit and scratched in an effort to break free ... Next day she did not turn up at rehearsal, but sent word to me that she had left the Opera forever."
The ballet was premiered on 16 December, 1932, but it turned out to be a flop, especially when critics had been anticipating a work similar in character to The Prodigal Son. Because Prokofiev left for America the next day, he was unaware of the disappointed reviews. The ballet was withdrawn from stage after a few performances, although Stravinsky and Milhaud
warmly praised the music after the premiere. Afterwards, Prokofiev extracted an orchestral suite from the ballet (as he did to his other stage works) as Op. 51a.
.
danced the role of Sergei, Paloma Herrera
the role of Olga, Veronika Part the role of Natalia, and David Hallberg the role of Olga's Fiancé.
Borysthenes
Borysthenes is a geographical name from classical Antiquity. It usually refers to the Dnipro River, but occasionally to the Pontic Olbia, a town situated at the mouth of that river. The Borysthenes is mentioned numerous times in 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' by Edward...
, is the fourth ballet written by Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
in 1930.
Background
Sergei DiaghilevSergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev , usually referred to outside of Russia as Serge, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, from which many famous dancers and choreographers would arise.-Early life and career:...
, the impresario who had led Ballets Russes
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company from Russia which performed between 1909 and 1929 in many countries. Directed by Sergei Diaghilev, it is regarded as the greatest ballet company of the 20th century. Many of its dancers originated from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg...
to distinguished success, died suddenly in 1929, hence ending Prokofiev's collaboration with the troupe. (The Prodigal Son was the last such collaboration). Seeing the success of the work, the Paris Opéra commissioned Prokofiev to write another ballet. Serge Lifar
Serge Lifar
Serge Lifar ; 15 December 1986) was a French ballet dancer and choreographer of Ukrainian origin, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century.-Biography:Lifar was born in Kiev, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire...
, formerly a close associate with Diaghilev, was responsible for creating the setting and choreography. However, he did not place any significance to the scenario. Rather, the ballet was created as a sequence of dances. On the Dnieper was the result of this collaboration.
Lifar, in his 1965 book La danse, said that he was disappointed with Prokofiev's score. Lifar claimed to have been inspired by Russian folkdance but acknowledges that critics found his own choreography insufficiently Russian.
Preparations for the ballet were marked the sudden withdrawal of Olga Spessivtseva who was to have had the leading female role. Spessivsteva had had a series of successes with Lifar at the Paris Opera Ballet (Promethee, Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
) and had unrequited feelings for him. In his book The Three Graces: Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Olga Spessivtseva (1959) Lifar describes how their personal situation came to a head during rehearsals. "The two heroines of this ballet were named Natasha and Olga. I have already mentioned the friendship which had sprung up at this time between Natasha P... [Natalie Paley] and myself. It was, therefore, perhaps a little cruel to give these two names, Natasha and Olga, to the heroines. Be that as it may, the role of Olga was allotted to Spessivtseva, while the male part, Serge, was to be interpreted by me. The crisis came when, at one of the rehearsals, Spessivtseva suddenly realized that it was with Natasha ... that in pursuance of the plot, I was to find happiness, whereas the leading, and, from the choreographic point of view, the most important role had been allotted to her, Olga! This crisis, as always with her, developed with the speed of lightning. Just as I had announced at rehearsal, that this was where my pas de deux tendre with Natasha would begin, Spessivtseva all of a sudden made a dash for the window. In one bound I reached her, but, by that time she was already through it. I just managed to clutch her arm. My pianist, Leonide Gontcharov, who was hard on my heels, sprang to my assistance. Olga hung there, suspended from our arms, thirty feet above the Place Charles-Garnier. With great difficulty we managed to drag her back. She fought, bit and scratched in an effort to break free ... Next day she did not turn up at rehearsal, but sent word to me that she had left the Opera forever."
The ballet was premiered on 16 December, 1932, but it turned out to be a flop, especially when critics had been anticipating a work similar in character to The Prodigal Son. Because Prokofiev left for America the next day, he was unaware of the disappointed reviews. The ballet was withdrawn from stage after a few performances, although Stravinsky and Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
warmly praised the music after the premiere. Afterwards, Prokofiev extracted an orchestral suite from the ballet (as he did to his other stage works) as Op. 51a.
Analysis
Prokofiev continued to develop his lyrical line of composition in On the Dnieper, even more so than in The Prodigal Son. These two lyrical ballets provided much experience for the composer, who was about to start writing his first ballet in the Russian tradition: Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)
Romeo and Juliet is a ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It is one of the most enduringly popular ballets...
.
Plot
The ballet contains 12 numbers, lasting around 40 minutes:- Prelude
- Scene 1: The Meeting
- Scene 1: Mime Scene
- Scene 1: Pas de deuxPas de deuxIn ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable Pas de deux:...
- Scene 1: Variation of the First Dancer
- Scene 2: Betrothal
- Scene 2: Bridegroom's Dance
- Scene 2: Bride's Dance
- Scene 2: Men's Dance
- Scene 2: The Quarrel
- Scene 2: Mime Scene
- Epilogue
Revival
In 2009 Alexei Ratmansky choreographed the Prokofiev score anew for American Ballet Theatre. In his version, Sergei returns his village to discover that he no longer loves his sweetheart, Natalia, but is instead attracted to Olga, who is to wed another man. "Grief-stricken yet noble, Natalia unselfishly helps the young lovers, Sergei and Olga, to escape together to a life of happiness." In the premiere of this version, Marcelo GomesMarcelo Gomes
Marcelo Gomes may refer to:* Marcelo Gomes , Brazilian ballet dancer* Marcelo Gomes , Brazilian film director* Marcelo Gomes Inocencio, Brazilian footballer...
danced the role of Sergei, Paloma Herrera
Paloma Herrera
Paloma Herrera , is a principal ballet dancer with the American Ballet Theatre.Ms. Herrera was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and began studying ballet there at the age of seven with teacher Olga Ferri...
the role of Olga, Veronika Part the role of Natalia, and David Hallberg the role of Olga's Fiancé.
Recordings
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russian State Symphony Orchestra Russian State Symphony Orchestra Russian State Symphony Orchestra is a name confusingly used by two distinct ensembles:* The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation, which was formerly the USSR State Symphony Orchestra... |
Valeri Polyansky | Chandos Records Chandos Records Chandos Records is an independent classical music recording company based in Colchester, Essex, in the United Kingdom, founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.- Background :... |
2003 | CD |
| WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln | Michail Jurowski | CPO CPO -Officers:* Chief Performance Officer of the United States* Chief Petty Officer, a military rank* Chief privacy officer, an executive responsible for managing issues of privacy laws and policies... |
1998 | CD |
| USSR Ministry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra | Gennadi Rozhdestvensky | Melodiya Melodiya Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"... |
1982 | CD/LP |
Suite from On the Dnieper
Suite from On The Dnieper, Op. 51a, is intended for concert performance and contains 6 movements, lasting for around 20 minutes:- Prelude
- Variation of the First Dancer
- The Betrothal
- The Quarrel
- Scene
- Epilogue
Recordings
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is one of the principle orchestras of Ukraine.... |
Theodore Kuchar Theodore Kuchar Theodore Kuchar is a Ukrainian American conductor of classical music and a violist.-Biography:Kuchar was born in 1960 in New York City. He started to learn to play the violin at ten years of age, later switching to viola... |
Naxos Records Naxos Records Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest... |
1994 | CD |
| Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra | James DePreist James DePreist James Anderson DePreist is an American conductor. One of the few African American conductors on the world stage, he is currently the director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School and laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony.-Biography:DePreist was born in Philadelphia... |
Koch Koch Koch may refer to:* Koch , a type of Arctic boat* Koch people , an ethnic group originally from the ancient Koch kingdom in north east India* Koch , people with this surname* Koch, Łódź Voivodeship, a village in central Poland... |
2001 | CD |