Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1962

Average_duration

:

52:00

The Young Lady & the Hooligan is a ballet composed by Dmitry Shostakovich in 1929. The plot revolves around a young lady who is being harassed by a group of hooligans. One of the hooligans, however, falls in love with her and tries to protect her from the others. The ballet is divided into three movements. The first movement, titled "The Street," sets the scene for the ballet. The young lady is walking down the street when she is accosted by the hooligans. They taunt her and try to steal her purse. The hooligan who will later fall in love with her is among them, but he does not participate in the harassment. The second movement, titled "The Meeting," is the heart of the ballet. The young lady and the hooligan meet in a park. At first, she is afraid of him, but he convinces her that he is not like the others. They dance together, and he falls in love with her. The third movement, titled "The Arrest," is the climax of the ballet. The hooligan tries to protect the young lady from the other hooligans, but he is outnumbered. The police arrive and arrest all of the hooligans, including the one who fell in love with the young lady. The Young Lady & the Hooligan premiered on April 21, 1931, at the Leningrad State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The ballet was choreographed by Vladimir Ponomarev and Vasily Vainonen. The music is characterized by Shostakovich's use of dissonance and his incorporation of popular music styles, such as jazz and foxtrot. The ballet was controversial at the time of its premiere because of its depiction of hooliganism and its sympathetic portrayal of a criminal. However, it was also praised for its innovative music and choreography. The Young Lady & the Hooligan remains a popular ballet today and is often performed by ballet companies around the world.

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