Composer

:

Paul Hindemith

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1943

Average_duration

:

7:04

Amor & Psyche is a ballet composed by Paul Hindemith in 1928. The ballet premiered on June 4, 1928, at the Staatsoper in Berlin, Germany. The ballet is based on the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, which tells the story of a mortal woman, Psyche, who falls in love with the god of love, Cupid. The ballet consists of five movements, each of which represents a different aspect of the story. The first movement, "The Birth of Psyche," introduces the character of Psyche and her family. The second movement, "The Palace of Love," takes place in Cupid's palace, where Psyche is taken after she is abducted by Cupid. The third movement, "The Trials of Psyche," depicts the challenges that Psyche must overcome in order to prove her love for Cupid. The fourth movement, "The Triumph of Love," shows the resolution of the story, as Cupid and Psyche are reunited and their love is celebrated. The final movement, "The Apotheosis of Psyche," represents Psyche's transformation into a goddess. Hindemith's music for Amor & Psyche is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex rhythms. The music is often described as being "neoclassical," as it incorporates elements of classical music with modernist techniques. The score features a large orchestra, including percussion, brass, and woodwinds, as well as a choir. Overall, Amor & Psyche is considered to be one of Hindemith's most important works. The ballet's combination of classical mythology and modernist music was groundbreaking at the time of its premiere, and it has since become a staple of the ballet repertoire.

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