While on the island of Bali in 1956, Britten discovered Balinese gamelan music, which he then incorporated into The Prince of the Pagodas to create an authentic 'Eastern' sound.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Britten's The Prince of the Pagodas is an homage to the great Russian ballet tradition, drawing inspiration from masterly scores by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky.
Compositional Technique
Britten used distinctive melodies and instrumental colours to define characters in The Prince of the Pagodas, such as an oboe for Belle Rose and a jagged string melody for Belle Epine.
Composition History
Benjamin Britten's ballet, The Prince of the Pagodas, was commissioned by the Sadler's Wells Ballet and was the company's first evening-length score.
Composition History
The scenario for The Prince of the Pagodas, devised by choreographer John Cranko, blended elements from King Lear, Beauty and the Beast, and Madame D'Aulnoy's fairy-tale Serpentin Vert.
Composer Biography
Britten found the process of composing The Prince of the Pagodas extremely challenging, miscalculating the time needed and even experiencing 'writer's block', a rare occurrence for him.
Critical Reception
The Prince of the Pagodas was premiered in 1957 and remained in the Sadler's Wells Ballet repertory until 1960, but Britten's interest in the work waned, and he never created his own suite from the score.
You might also enjoy...
Bax, A.: Orchestral Works, Vol. 9: the Truth About the Russian Dancers / From Dusk Till Dawn (London Philharmonic, Thomson)
Bliss: Checkmate / Melee Fantasque
Sullivan: Ile Enchantee (L') / Thespis
Sullivan: Victoria and Merrie England
Sullivan: L'île enchantée & Thespis (Excerpts)
Sullivan: Victoria and Merrie England
Holst: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1
Sullivan: Victoria and Merrie England
SULLIVAN: Ile Enchantee (L') / Thespis
Lord Berners: A Wedding Bouquet, March & Luna Park
