Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1921

Average_duration

:

2:53

Les mariés de la Tour Eiffel is a ballet composed by Francis Poulenc in 1921. The plot revolves around a group of surreal characters who gather at the Eiffel Tower for a wedding ceremony. The ballet is divided into ten movements, each with its own unique character and musical style. The ballet opens with a prologue in which a group of characters, including a policeman, a street vendor, and a bride and groom, gather at the base of the Eiffel Tower. The first movement, titled "The Engulfed Cathedral," features a solo piano playing a haunting melody as the characters ascend the tower. In the second movement, "The Polish Girl," a group of dancers perform a lively polka. This is followed by "The American Girl," a jazzy number featuring a saxophone solo. The fourth movement, "The Egyptian Girl," is a sultry dance performed by a solo female dancer. This is followed by "The Chinese Girl," a delicate and ethereal dance featuring a solo flute. The sixth movement, "The Spanish Girl," is a fiery flamenco dance performed by a group of dancers. This is followed by "The Russian Girl," a lively folk dance featuring a solo violin. The eighth movement, "The Norwegian Girl," is a hauntingly beautiful dance featuring a solo cello. This is followed by "The Brazilian Girl," a lively samba dance featuring a solo trumpet. The final movement, "The Wedding," features the bride and groom exchanging vows as the other characters dance around them. The ballet ends with a reprise of the prologue music. Les mariés de la Tour Eiffel premiered in Paris on June 18, 1921, and was met with mixed reviews. Some critics praised the innovative music and choreography, while others found the surreal plot and disjointed movements confusing. Despite the mixed reception, Les mariés de la Tour Eiffel is now considered a landmark work of 20th-century ballet. Its innovative use of music and dance styles, as well as its surreal plot and characters, paved the way for future experimental works in the genre.

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