Composer

:

Charles Wuorinen

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1993 - 1994

Average_duration

:

25:16

"Mission of Virgil" is a ballet composed by Charles Wuorinen in 1984. The ballet is based on the epic poem "The Aeneid" by Virgil, which tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who travels to Italy to found a new city. The ballet is divided into three movements, each of which corresponds to a different part of the poem. The first movement, "The Storm," depicts the shipwreck that Aeneas and his crew experience on their journey to Italy. The music is chaotic and dissonant, reflecting the violence of the storm. The dancers move in frenzied, angular movements, struggling to stay afloat amidst the crashing waves. The second movement, "The Journey," follows Aeneas and his companions as they travel through the underworld. The music is eerie and atmospheric, with haunting melodies and sparse instrumentation. The dancers move slowly and gracefully, as if in a dream, encountering various spirits and monsters along the way. The third movement, "The Triumph," depicts Aeneas's victory over the native Italian tribes and his establishment of the city of Rome. The music is triumphant and celebratory, with bold brass fanfares and lively rhythms. The dancers move in energetic, athletic movements, celebrating their victory and the birth of a new civilization. Overall, "Mission of Virgil" is a complex and challenging ballet, both musically and choreographically. Wuorinen's score is highly dissonant and atonal, with complex rhythms and intricate textures. The choreography is similarly challenging, with angular, asymmetrical movements that require a high degree of technical skill and precision. Despite its difficulty, however, "Mission of Virgil" is a powerful and evocative work, capturing the epic scope and grandeur of Virgil's poem.

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