Composer

:

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

First Performance

:

Nov 22, 1660

Movement_count

:

14

Movement ....

Xerxès is a ballet composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully in 1660. The plot of the ballet is based on the story of Xerxes I, the Persian king who invaded Greece in 480 BC. The ballet is divided into five movements, each of which depicts a different aspect of the story. The first movement, titled "The Triumph of Xerxes," depicts the Persian king's victorious return to his palace after his conquest of Greece. The movement is characterized by grand, triumphant music and elaborate choreography that emphasizes the king's power and majesty. The second movement, titled "The Love of Xerxes," focuses on the king's infatuation with a beautiful Greek princess named Romilda. The movement is characterized by more delicate and romantic music, as well as intricate choreography that emphasizes the tension between the two cultures. The third movement, titled "The Jealousy of Xerxes," depicts the king's growing jealousy and suspicion as he becomes convinced that Romilda is in love with another man. The movement is characterized by tense, dramatic music and choreography that emphasizes the king's paranoia and anger. The fourth movement, titled "The Betrayal of Xerxes," depicts the king's discovery that Romilda has indeed fallen in love with another man, a Greek warrior named Arsamene. The movement is characterized by mournful music and choreography that emphasizes the tragedy of the situation. The final movement, titled "The Defeat of Xerxes," depicts the Persian king's ultimate defeat at the hands of the Greeks. The movement is characterized by somber, mournful music and choreography that emphasizes the futility of war and the inevitability of defeat. Xerxes premiered at the court of Louis XIV in 1660 and was an immediate success. The ballet was notable for its elaborate sets and costumes, as well as its innovative use of dance to tell a complex story. Lully's music was also praised for its ability to convey a wide range of emotions and moods, from triumph and joy to despair and tragedy. Overall, Xerxes is a powerful and moving ballet that tells a timeless story of love, jealousy, and war. Its innovative use of dance and music helped to establish Lully as one of the most important composers of his time, and its enduring popularity has ensured its place in the canon of classical ballet.

More....