great 20th century ballet music

[Nick]

Sticking the big ballet trio of Prokofiev, Stravinsky, and Ravel (well, maybe I'd add Bartok), I guess I'm most impressed with these, in order . . .

1. Stravinsky: Rite of Spring
2. Prokofiev: Chout
3. Prokofiev: Cinderella
4. Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
5. Stravinsky: Agon
6. Stravinsky: Firebird
7. Bartok: Wooden Prince
8. Stravinsky: Petrushka
9. Ravel: Mother Goose
10. Bartok: Miraculous Mandarin
11. Stravinsky: Apollo
12. Prokofiev: Prodigal Son
13. Prokofiev: On the Dnieper
14. Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe
15. Prokofiev: Le Pas d'Acier
16. Stravinsky: Les Noces

[not edward]

Offhand, two 20th century ballets I'd rate above many of these would be Szymanowski's Harnasie (wonderful use of Goral folk melodies and a rhythmic drive almost matching the Rite) and Schnittke's Peer Gynt (on a scale and ambition rivalling Romeo, and to me just as emotionally devastating).

[jimmosk]

Sticking the big ballet trio of Prokofiev, Stravinsky, and Ravel (well, maybe I'd add Bartok), I guess I'm most impressed with these, in order . . .

[snip]


I'm heartbroken to see my favorite Prokofiev ballet didn't even get as much as a mention: his late three-act tunefest The Stone Flower, op.118.  In protest I'll listen to it right now (that's my idea of a protest -- it makes me happy and doesn't inconvenience you in the slightest)!

-J

[karlhenning]

I'm heartbroken to see my favorite Prokofiev ballet didn't even get as much as a mention: his late three-act tunefest The Stone Flower, op.118.

I like the Opus 118 very well . . . but it isn't my favorite (just saying).

[vandermolen]

Bliss: Adam Zero, Checkmate.

[71 dB]

Elgar: The Sanguine Fan

[Joe Barron]

Let's not overlook Aaron Copland's three great ballets: Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo.

[karlhenning]

How's The Minotaur, Joe?

[Nick]

Let's ot overlook Aaron Copland's three great ballets: Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo.

Yes, I probably should have thought of that.

Elgar: The Sanguine Fan

I don't know this one. Being 25 years old, I haven't gotten around to do a serious exploration on Elgar yet, but on one Prokofiev site, a big-time Prokofievan told me that he thought that after Prokofiev, the composer with the biggest melodic gift in the 20th century was Elgar.

[Nick]

I'm heartbroken to see my favorite Prokofiev ballet didn't even get as much as a mention: his late three-act tunefest The Stone Flower, op.118.  In protest I'll listen to it right now (that's my idea of a protest -- it makes me happy and doesn't inconvenience you in the slightest)!

People will disagree with me, but I feel like the inspiration isn't consistent all the way through in this one. The second half of this ballet doesn't match the music in the first to me; it sounds like bad Bartok.

[Maciek]

What Edward said.

(Well, at least the first half, since I've yet to hear the Schnittke. )

[Maciek]

Pawel Szymanski's Compartment 2, Car 7.

One reviewer had this to say: "music that was academic and bleak, modern in the 'difficult' sense... the music offered little possibility for catharsis or even connection... the point of the new piece, and the reason for this music, was frustratingly enigmatic." As Szymanski pieces go, this one probably isn't a favorite of mine - but with a great recommendation like that, how could I leave it unmentioned?

(source of quote: Alonzo King's Lines Ballet by Michael Wade Simpson here: http://www.culturevulture.net/Dance/AlonsoKing4.htm)

[Drasko]

Offhand, two 20th century ballets I'd rate above many of these would be Szymanowski's Harnasie (wonderful use of Goral folk melodies and a rhythmic drive almost matching the Rite)

Preferred recording?

What Edward said.
(Well, at least the first half, since I've yet to hear the Schnittke. )

Same question.

Not that many options though - two Wits, Stryja, Satanowski, Kord and Rattle. Rowicki not on CD?

[71 dB]

I don't know this one. Being 25 years old, I haven't gotten around to do a serious exploration on Elgar yet, but on one Prokofiev site, a big-time Prokofievan told me that he thought that after Prokofiev, the composer with the biggest melodic gift in the 20th century was Elgar.

Well, don't worry Nick. I am 38 and familiar with only a few works by Prokofiev.  

[Maciek]

Not that many options though - two Wits, Stryja, Satanowski, Kord and Rattle. Rowicki not on CD?

The Rowicki is available* on CD, and that's my favorite. I only know three of them, though: Wit on EMI, Rattle and Rowicki; Kord is on my wishlist.

* - Well, OK, "is available" is not the right phrase perhaps, it seems to be completely out of print.

(Oddly enough I was actually listening to it earlier today, a couple of hours before discovering this thread!)

[Christo]

Let me add a few lesser-known, personal favourites to the list: 

Eduard Tubin, Kratt (The Goblin, 1944)
Vagn Holmboe, Den Galsindede Tyrk (The Ill-tempered Turk, 1945)
Stevan Hristić, Ohridska legenda (The Legend of Ohrid, 1947)
Eugen Kapp, Kalevipoeg (1947)
Uuno Klami, Pyörteitä (Whirls, 1961)
Arnold Cooke, Jabez and the Devil (De duvel mag 'm aal'n, 1961) 
Joly Braga Santos, Encruzilhada (Crossings, 1967)

(Though I know most of these - except for Kratt - only from the orchestral suites extracted from them  0:) )

[karlhenning]

Vaughan Williams: Job, A Masque for Dancing

[Maciek]

Oh, and how could I have forgotten: Ludomir Różycki Pan Twardowski! Insanely popular in Poland (and some success abroad as well, I believe) before WWII. Good, old-fashioned, 19th-century-like (slightly Tchaikovskyan even) ballet music. Though the use of the orchestra is quite modern.

[Nick]

I haven't heard the Shostakovich ballets, but also haven't heard especially good things about them. Does anyone think they're top drawer material?

Still haven't gotten around to Hindemith's Der Damon, Nobilissima Visione, and Herodiade. Anyone heard these?

The Szymanowski is a big one on my must hear list. I've mostly been going through his complete piano music on the Martin Jones recording--thus far, some of it seems a bit too late-romantic for my taste, but much of the later material really hits me.

[karlhenning]

Still haven't gotten around to Hindemith's Der Damon, Nobilissima Visione, and Herodiade. Anyone heard these?

Only the suite from Nobilissima visione, which is lovely.

However, The Four Temperaments was also written for dance, and is an excellent work.