FRENCH BALLET AT THE END OF THE XIXTH CENTURY (JAVOTTE, 1896)

DOI: 10.36871/hon.202001011

Authors

A. P. Grutsynova
Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russian Federation; Russian Institute of Theater Arts, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract

The article is devoted to the Camille Saint-Saëns ballet Javotte. This ballet is considered in the context of the development of the French choreographic theater of the late XIXth century. The author briefly reviews the history of the productions of Javotte in different cities (Lyon, Royan, Paris) and specifies the information about the authors of the choreography in each version. Based on critical responses related to performances at the turn of the century, it is proved that the tradition of playing male roles by travesty dancers was not common even at that time. The performance of the role of Jean in the ballet Javotte by male dancer confirms this thesis (Lyon, 1896 — Jean Soyer de Tondeur; Paris, 1909 — Léo Staats). It is concluded that the plot of the ballet continues the tradition of the comic ballet, while musically (along with many scores of other French ballets) it starts a series of ballets of the XXth century, striving for miniaturization and unity of musical development. The article uses a rare graphic material that visualizes the production of Javotte.

Keywords

Camille Saint-Saëns, ballet, choreographer, production, dancer, musical score