 The ballet Don Juan (1761) by Christoph Willibald
Gluck (1714 Erasbach/Oberpfalz - 1787 Vienna) counts as
the turning-point in the form of descriptive dance for a
variety of reasons: it is the first time a ballet was
based on a play, the music plays an important role, and
the choreography was inspired by classical antiquity
(unfortunately none of the original choreography has
survived). In contrast to the late Reform Operas, where
the music is the servant of the text, music is the
leading element here. Dance is supposed to underline the
meaning of the music. Gluck also attempts to create unity
by using related musical themes. For example, the same
kind of whole-tone harmonies accompany the death of the
Commander as well as Don Juan's journey to Hell. (E.
Stadler) Picture: The frontespiece of
Molière's Dom Juan, which had been
performed shortly before Gluck's ballet and can, at
least, be considered as the inspiration for the ballet.
|
