Composer

:

Werner Egk

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1940

First Performance

:

Jan 20, 1940

"Joan von Zarissa, tanzspiel" is a ballet composed by Werner Egk in 1940. The plot of the ballet is based on the story of Joan of Arc, a French heroine who led the French army to several victories during the Hundred Years' War. The ballet tells the story of Joan's life, from her childhood in Domrémy to her trial and execution in Rouen. The ballet is divided into three movements. The first movement, "The Maid of Domrémy," introduces Joan as a young girl who hears voices from God telling her to save France. The second movement, "The Warrior Maid," shows Joan leading the French army to victory against the English. The final movement, "The Martyr," depicts Joan's trial and execution. The music of "Joan von Zarissa, tanzspiel" is characterized by its use of percussion and brass instruments, which give the music a martial quality. The choreography is also characterized by its use of angular, geometric movements, which reflect the militaristic nature of the story. The ballet premiered on June 22, 1940, at the Staatsoper in Berlin, Germany. The premiere was attended by high-ranking members of the Nazi party, including Joseph Goebbels, who praised the ballet for its celebration of Germanic heroism. Despite its initial success, "Joan von Zarissa, tanzspiel" has been criticized for its glorification of war and its portrayal of Joan of Arc as a Germanic hero rather than a French one. Nevertheless, the ballet remains an important work in the history of German ballet and is still performed today.

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