Composer

:

Samuel Barber

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1947

Average_duration

:

23:49

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

"Medea: Cave of the Heart" is a ballet composed by Samuel Barber in 1946. The ballet premiered on February 20, 1947, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. The ballet is divided into three movements, each depicting a different aspect of the story of Medea, a character from Greek mythology. The first movement, "Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance," begins with a solo for Medea, in which she reflects on her situation and contemplates her revenge. The music is slow and mournful, with a sense of foreboding. As the movement progresses, the music becomes more intense and frenzied, reflecting Medea's growing anger and determination. The second movement, "The Young Princess and the Two Snakes," tells the story of how Medea tricks the young princess into taking a poisoned robe, which kills her. The music is light and playful, with a sense of mischief and deception. The final movement, "Medea's Dance of Sacrifice," depicts Medea's final act of revenge, in which she kills her own children to punish her husband for his betrayal. The music is dark and intense, with a sense of tragedy and despair. Overall, "Medea: Cave of the Heart" is a powerful and emotional work, with music that perfectly captures the drama and intensity of the story. Barber's use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies adds to the sense of unease and tension, while his lyrical melodies and rich orchestration create a sense of beauty and depth. The ballet remains a popular and influential work in the repertoire of modern dance.

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