Farrell Fan Posted April 23, 2002 Share Posted April 23, 2002 According to Stravinsky, the three Muses in the ballet Apollo were chosen for their suitability to choreography. "Calliope personified poetry and its rhythm; Polyhymnia represents mime; Terpsichore, combining in herself both the rhythm and the eloquence of gesture, reveals dancing to the world and thus among the Muses takes the place of honor beside Apollo." Calliope is actually the muse of epic poetry and eloquence, as she consistently demonstrates on this board. Polyhymnia is the Muse of oratory and sacred poetry. Terpsichore, of choral song and dance. There are six other Muses: Euterpe, of music or lyric poetry; Erato, of love poetry (and crossword puzzles); Clio, history; Melpomene, tragedy; Urania, astronomy; Thalia, comedy. Suppose that, in the immortal words of NYCB program inserts, "due to illness and injury" Calliope, Polyhymnia, and Terpsichore, were unable to perform. Which of the remaining Muses do you think would make suitable partners for Apollo? Feel free to change Balanchine's choreography as appropriate. Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted April 24, 2002 Share Posted April 24, 2002 I'd have to vote for Euterpe, Erato and Melpomene: I can see him with lyricism, love and tragedy. I think the pas de deux would be with Erato, the variation now belonging to Polyhymnia could go to Melpomene and the one now done by Calliope to Euterpe, but we might have to change the steps just a little. Link to comment
glebb Posted April 24, 2002 Share Posted April 24, 2002 If we could also have new music by Stravinsky, I would like to see Vicky Simon as Clio (History). Tanaquil LeClerq would have to be Melpomene (tragedy), and Sara Leland would be Thalia (comedy). Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted April 25, 2002 Author Share Posted April 25, 2002 Thanks for those two very fine answers. From the current company I'd pick Darci Kistler as Melpomene and Maria Kowroski as Thalia. But I'd bring back Heather Watts for a guest appearance as Urania, Muse of astronomy. Link to comment
glebb Posted April 26, 2002 Share Posted April 26, 2002 Delia Peters would also be a fine Thalia. Link to comment
Alymer Posted April 28, 2002 Share Posted April 28, 2002 Ashton featured Apollo and three muses in his Creatures of Prometheus and he chose Thalia, Melepomene and Terpsichore (who was strangely reminiscent of a former Royal Ballet director/ choreographer:). His Apollo was a largely mimed role however. I suspect he thought Balanchine had said everything about that particular God................ Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted April 28, 2002 Share Posted April 28, 2002 Alas for the muses, hooray for her, Delia Peters has been promoted from ordinary muse to Minerva herself, an arts attorney! Link to comment
Richard Jones Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 I'd choose Clio (or Melpomene if Clio is injured) for Calliope, Erato for Polyhymnia, and Euterpe for Terpsichore. Calliope appears with a writing tablet (good for history), and the music for her variation contains those dramatic 'stabbing' chords (which was what first made me think of Melpomene). However, the music is also based on that weighty verse form, the Alexandrine - there's a cello solo which almost sounds as if the phrases are too long: Stravinsky's sense of humour coming through. The music for Polyhymnia's variation moves more quickly; it's almost skittish. I could see Erato darting around to this (and it always seems to me that Cupid has a sense of fun, so perhaps Erato could follow his example). Euterpe as the muse of music and lyric poetry would seem to me to be the one most pleasing to Apollo - and the pas-de-deux is a very lyrical and gentle piece. I'm hope that Mr B, as a fine musician himself, would have approved! Link to comment
cargill Posted May 2, 2002 Share Posted May 2, 2002 I would nominate Nancy Reynolds as Clio, our muse of history, for her wonderful work on the Balanchine archive. Link to comment
Nanatchka Posted May 3, 2002 Share Posted May 3, 2002 I've seen a couple of performances where Thalia crept in--however, this wasn't intentional. But why not? Let Kowrowski play her, she has a knack for the screwball. Link to comment
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