Composer

:

Eduardas Balsys

Genre

:

Chamber

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

5:39

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Eduardas Balsys' "Eglė, Queen of the Serpents" is a Lithuanian ballet that premiered on December 23, 1957, at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Vilnius. The ballet is based on a Lithuanian folk tale about a young girl named Eglė who marries a serpent prince and becomes the queen of the serpents. The ballet consists of three acts and nine scenes. The first act introduces Eglė and her family, who live in a forest. Eglė is courted by several suitors, but she rejects them all. One day, she meets a handsome young man who turns out to be the serpent prince. They fall in love and get married. The second act takes place in the serpent kingdom, where Eglė is crowned queen. She is happy in her new life, but she misses her family and asks the serpent prince to let her visit them. He agrees, but warns her not to reveal his true identity to anyone. In the third act, Eglė returns to her family and introduces them to her husband. However, her brothers are suspicious of the serpent prince and kill him. Eglė is devastated and returns to the serpent kingdom, where she is transformed into a tree. The ballet ends with a chorus of serpents mourning Eglė's death. The music for "Eglė, Queen of the Serpents" is characterized by its use of Lithuanian folk melodies and rhythms. Balsys incorporates traditional instruments such as the kanklės (a Lithuanian zither) and the birbynė (a Lithuanian flute) into the score. The music is also notable for its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. The choreography for the ballet was created by Pranas Dapšys, who was inspired by Lithuanian folk dance. The dancers wear colorful costumes that reflect traditional Lithuanian dress. "Eglė, Queen of the Serpents" is considered a masterpiece of Lithuanian ballet and has been performed numerous times since its premiere. It is a testament to the enduring power of folk tales and the importance of preserving cultural traditions.

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