Les Biches

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Les Biches (German: Die Hindinnen ) is the title of a one-act ballet and dance suite by Francis Poulenc from 1923, which brought the composer recognition in the music world. The work was commissioned by Serge Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes . The original choreography came from Bronislava Nijinska , the set and costumes were designed by Marie Laurencin . The work was premiered on January 6, 1924 in the Monte Carlo Casino under the direction of Édouard Flament . In Paris, it was on the program from May 26th of that year at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées .

Scenery and music

The setting is a salon from the 1920s, in which around 20 sophisticated people, young women, smoking, and three sporty young men flirt, flirt , have fun and dance. In the center of the stage is a large blue sofa that is used in many ways. The background is white. The facade of these people is superficial pleasure, but behind the sophistication hide darker thoughts and intrigues .

Poulenc's music was influenced by the surrealists of the 1920s, who represented the dreamlike and unreal in literature and art. The strange title for the ballet music Les biches can be traced back to the paintings of young women that Antoine Watteau in the Parc aux Biches by King Louis XV. painted, lead back, the title is said to have occurred to Poulenc in the taxi. The composer belonged to the Groupe des Six , which opposed the modern German music direction of Arnold Schönberg and Ferruccio Busoni with a neoclassicism . Accordingly, his music in Les Biches is full of allusions to traditional music of the 19th century, but also to jazz and dance music . In 1939 Poulenc wrote a new orchestration for his ballet suite , in which it is still performed by numerous performers today. The work is part of the repertoire of the New York City Ballet and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.

photos

Les Biches consists of an overture and five pictures, some of the actions of which are commented on by a choir:

  1. Rondeau, très lent - subito allegro molto ( Rondo , very slow, then very cheerful and fast) and Chanson dansée: Qu'est-ce qu'Amour? (Tanzlied: What is love? ): The young people flirt and chat, but darker thoughts hide behind the carefree facade. Three young, tanned athletic men appear and present themselves like young roosters in the chicken yard
  2. Adagietto (very calm) and Jeu: J'ai quatre filles à marier! (Game: I have four girls to marry! ): The sexy girl in blue slides onto the stage and attracts the attention of one of the young men, both of them withdraw.
  3. Rag-Mazurka - presto ( Rag - Mazurka , quick): Great appearance by the lady of the house, she is wearing exaggerated pearl jewelry and an over-long cigarette holder . Everyone looks at her who is no longer young, but healthy and elegant . She slides seductively onto the blue sofa and the two young men woo their attention. After playing with their advances, she runs away, pursued by the two men.
  4. Andantino (walking a little faster) and Petite chanson dansée: J'ai un joli laurier! (Little dance song: I'm wearing beautiful laurel ): The first young man comes back with the girl in blue, they dance a pas de deux and he carries her out at shoulder height.
  5. Finale - presto (quickly) : The stage is filling up and the party is now getting momentum.

Web link

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Marie-Françoise Christout: Les Biches, website of the Dossiers pédagogiques ( Memento of March 13, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ Paul Serotsky: Suite Les Biches on Music web
  3. ^ Leon Botstein: Suite from les Biches , America Symphony Orchestra website
  4. ↑ Paul Serotsky: Suite Les Biches