Composer

:

Béla Bartók

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1914 - 1917

Average_duration

:

46:54

The Wooden Prince is a ballet composed by Béla Bartók between 1914 and 1916. The plot of the ballet revolves around a prince made of wood who comes to life and falls in love with a princess. The ballet is divided into four movements, each of which represents a different scene in the story. The first movement, titled "The Fairy Tale Begins," introduces the audience to the world of the ballet. The music is light and playful, with a sense of magic and wonder. The scene is set in a forest, where the prince is created by a wizard. The prince is then brought to life by the wizard's magic, and the two dance together in celebration. The second movement, titled "The Prince and the Princess," introduces the audience to the two main characters of the ballet. The music is romantic and dreamy, with a sense of longing and desire. The prince falls in love with the princess at first sight, and the two dance together in a beautiful duet. The third movement, titled "The Dance of the Trees," is a lively and energetic dance that represents the forest coming to life. The trees dance and sway to the music, creating a sense of chaos and excitement. The prince and princess dance together in the midst of the chaos, but their love is threatened by the wizard, who wants to keep the prince for himself. The fourth and final movement, titled "The Battle and the Defeat of the Wizard," is a dramatic and intense scene that represents the final showdown between the prince and the wizard. The music is dark and ominous, with a sense of danger and suspense. The prince and the wizard engage in a fierce battle, but in the end, the prince emerges victorious. The ballet ends with the prince and princess reunited, dancing together in a joyful celebration. The Wooden Prince premiered in Budapest in 1917, and was met with mixed reviews. Some critics praised the music and choreography, while others found the story confusing and disjointed. Despite the mixed reception, The Wooden Prince has since become a beloved classic of the ballet repertoire, known for its innovative use of folk music and its imaginative storytelling.

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