Composer

:

Sergey Prokofiev

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Incidental Music

Compose Date

:

1937 - 1938

Average_duration

:

24:01

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

Hamlet, Op. 77 is a ballet composed by Sergey Prokofiev in 1938. The ballet is based on William Shakespeare's play Hamlet and was commissioned by the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad. The premiere of the ballet took place on December 28, 1938, at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad, with choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky. The ballet consists of four movements, each corresponding to a different act of the play. The first movement, titled "Introduction," sets the scene with a dark and brooding atmosphere. The second movement, "Ghost," features the appearance of Hamlet's father's ghost and is characterized by eerie and haunting music. The third movement, "Ballroom Scene," takes place at the court of King Claudius and features lively and festive music. The final movement, "Death of Hamlet," is a tragic and dramatic conclusion to the ballet. Prokofiev's music for Hamlet, Op. 77 is characterized by its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. The composer employs a wide range of orchestral colors and textures, from the dark and foreboding to the bright and festive. The music is highly expressive and conveys the emotional depth and complexity of Shakespeare's play. The ballet was not initially well-received by audiences or critics, who found it too dark and depressing. However, it has since become recognized as a masterpiece of 20th-century ballet, with its innovative choreography and powerful music. The ballet has been performed by many of the world's leading ballet companies, including the Bolshoi Ballet and the Royal Ballet. In conclusion, Hamlet, Op. 77 is a ballet composed by Sergey Prokofiev in 1938, based on William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The ballet consists of four movements, each corresponding to a different act of the play, and is characterized by its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. Despite its initial reception, the ballet has become recognized as a masterpiece of 20th-century ballet and continues to be performed by leading ballet companies around the world.

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