The Bright Stream (ballet)
Encyclopedia
The Bright Stream is a ballet score, Op. 39, composed by Dmitri Shostakovich
on the libretto by Adrian Piotrovsky
and Fedor Lopukhov and choreography by Fedor Lopukhov, premiered in Leningrad
in 1935. The other two ballet scores written by this Russian composer are The Golden Age , from 1930, and The Bolt
, from 1931. "All three were banned shortly after their premieres, leaving Shostakovich's reputation so damaged that he was reluctant ever to write for the lyric stage again."http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2006/jul/19/classicalmusicandopera.dance The Bright Streams deliberately simple-minded melodies, banal harmonies, straightforward rhythms, and garish colors had the work playing successfully in both Leningrad
and Moscow
from June 1935 through February 1936. However, an editorial in Pravda
in early February 1936 condemned the ballet and, by implication, its musical suite, Op. 39a, and both works were withdrawn.
Alexei Ratmansky
, currently an artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre
and the former director of the Bolshoi Ballet
, first came across the full score of the ballet in a recording made by Gennady Rozhdestvensky
in Stockholm
in 1995. Unable to restore the original choreography of the ballet, which was never notated, Ratmansky wrote his own choreography and staged the new version of The Bright Stream with the Bolshoi Ballet
in Moscow in 2003.
In July 2005 the Bolshoi performed The Bright Stream at the Met
, and in August of 2006, at the Royal Opera House
, London.
In January 2011, American Ballet Theatre
performed The Bright Stream in Ratmansky's choreography, at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
.
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
on the libretto by Adrian Piotrovsky
Adrian Piotrovsky
Adrian Ivanovich Piotrovsky was a Russian dramaturge, responsible for creating the synopsis for Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet. He was the "acknowledged godfather" of the Theatre of Working Youth ....
and Fedor Lopukhov and choreography by Fedor Lopukhov, premiered in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in 1935. The other two ballet scores written by this Russian composer are The Golden Age , from 1930, and The Bolt
The Bolt (Shostakovich)
The Bolt , Op. 27, is a ballet music score written by Dmitri Shostakovich between 1930 and 1931. The score is for a full-length ballet with three acts and seven scenes, with a libretto by Vladimir Smirnov...
, from 1931. "All three were banned shortly after their premieres, leaving Shostakovich's reputation so damaged that he was reluctant ever to write for the lyric stage again."http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2006/jul/19/classicalmusicandopera.dance The Bright Streams deliberately simple-minded melodies, banal harmonies, straightforward rhythms, and garish colors had the work playing successfully in both Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
from June 1935 through February 1936. However, an editorial in Pravda
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
in early February 1936 condemned the ballet and, by implication, its musical suite, Op. 39a, and both works were withdrawn.
Alexei Ratmansky
Alexei Ratmansky
Alexei Osipovich Ratmansky is a choreographer and former ballet dancer. He is artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre and the former director of the Bolshoi Ballet. Ratmansky trained under Pyotr Pestov and Anna Markeyeva at the Bolshoi Ballet School...
, currently an artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
and the former director of the Bolshoi Ballet
Bolshoi Ballet
The Bolshoi Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Founded in 1776, the Bolshoi is among the world's oldest ballet companies, however it only achieved worldwide acclaim by the early 20th century, when Moscow became the...
, first came across the full score of the ballet in a recording made by Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Gennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky is a Russian conductor.-Biography:Rozhdestvensky was born in Moscow. His parents were the noted conductor and pedagogue Nikolai Anosov and soprano Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1995. Unable to restore the original choreography of the ballet, which was never notated, Ratmansky wrote his own choreography and staged the new version of The Bright Stream with the Bolshoi Ballet
Bolshoi Ballet
The Bolshoi Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Founded in 1776, the Bolshoi is among the world's oldest ballet companies, however it only achieved worldwide acclaim by the early 20th century, when Moscow became the...
in Moscow in 2003.
In July 2005 the Bolshoi performed The Bright Stream at the Met
Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center)
The Metropolitan Opera House is an opera house located on Broadway at Lincoln Square in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the theater opened in 1966. It replaced the former Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 39th St...
, and in August of 2006, at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, London.
In January 2011, American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
performed The Bright Stream in Ratmansky's choreography, at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.