Medea (ballet)

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Medea is a ballet in two acts by John Neumeier . Not only did the choreography come from him , but also the libretto . It is based on the Medea saga in Greek mythology . Neumeier based his ballet on compositions by Béla Bartók , Alfred Schnittke , Johann Sebastian Bach as well as traditional music from Bulgaria and Burundi . He has dedicated the work of the great theater director and actress Ida Ehre and the thought of reconciliation she lived out. It was premiered by the Stuttgart Ballet on January 21, 1990 in the Small House of the Württemberg State Theater in Stuttgart . Marcia Haydée danced the title role . The other leading roles saw Wolfgang Stollwitzer, Benito Marcellino, Susanne Hanke, Vladimir Klos, Thierry Michel and Frédéric Gafner. A performance lasts about two and a half hours (with a break between the acts).

people

  • Medea, priestess in Colchis
  • Jason , Greek Argonaut from Jolkos
  • Apsyrtus , Medea's brother
  • Chalkiope , confidante of Medea
  • Creon , ruler of Corinth
  • Creusa, his daughter
  • Mermeros, the older son
  • Pheres, the younger son

action

Using her magic powers, the priestess Medea succeeded in bringing Jason into possession of the Golden Fleece. She is so addicted to this man that she kills her own brother because of him. Fearing her family's revenge, she flees to Corinth with Jason and their two children. There Jason's heart flares up for Creusa, the daughter of King Creon. The wedding is not long in coming. He justified his actions towards Medea by saying that he only did this for the benefit of the children, because he wanted to spare them a refugee fate. Creon then banishes Medea from his court. But she is now looking for revenge: Creon, Jason and Creusa - they should all perish. But that's not all: her frenzy increases into a true orgy of revenge in which she also kills their children.

Sequence of scenes and music used

In the first act

  1. The Argo
    Michael Galasso: Scenes - Scene VI
  2. Kolchis - Medea - The ritual
    Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares : Mushrooms Pee, Trenke Todorke
    Burundi - Musiques Traditional: Chant avec Cithare, Suite de Cithare, Inanga avec Voix Chuchotée
    Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares: Messetchinko Lio
    Burundi - Musiques Traditional: Akazehe pour deux Jeunes Filles, Groupes de Tambours Royaux avec Appels de Trompes
    Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares: Erghen Diado, Spis Li, Milke Le
  3. Jason - Medea
    Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 2 Op. 17
    1st movement - Moderato
  4. Murder - robbery - farewell
    2nd movement - Allegro molto capriccioso
  5. To Greece
    3rd movement - Lento

In the second act

  1. Corinth - Kreon
    Alfred Schnittke: Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra
    1st Movement - Pesante
    Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba / Violoncello and Harpsichord / Piano BWV 1027
    3rd Movement - Andante
  2. Jason - Creusa - Treason - Banishment
    Alfred Schnittke: Concerto for violoncello and orchestra
    2nd movement - Largo
  3. Vengeance - Black Ritual
    3rd Movement - Allegro Vivace
  4. The two children - repentance - homecoming
    4th movement - Largo