The ballet Le Dieu Bleu (The Blue God) was commissioned by Diaghilev, who aimed to replicate the success of his earlier 'oriental' ballet, Scheherazade.
Interpretation
Since no recordings exist from the 1912 premiere, the performers went back to the original musical text to "reinvent this score as if it were the first time."
Album & Artwork
The album cover and poster feature an adaptation of a stage video created by Belgian visual artist Thomas Israël, which uses AI to animate oil paintings.
Historical Context
Le Dieu Bleu, premiering in 1912, is seen as concluding the 19th-century ballet tradition, while Stravinsky's Petrushka (1911) and Daphnis and Chloe (1912) opened new directions for dance music.
Critical Reception
Le Dieu Bleu was not well-received at its 1912 Paris premiere, partly because the orchestra's performance of its challenging score was deemed poor, leading to it being perceived as not modern.
Recording & Production
This album is a live recording, chosen to capture the immediate emotion of the orchestra and the audience's reception, without artificial alterations.
Performer Biography
Les Frivolités Parisiennes, founded in 2012 by musicians Benjamin El Arbi and Mathieu Franot, is a company dedicated to promoting the light French opera repertoire.
You might also enjoy...
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Opp.64a & b
Stravinsky Conducts "The Fairy's Kiss"
Prokofiev: Cinderella
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker & Swan Lake Suites
Prokofiev : Romeo & Juliet Suites Nos 1 & 2
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (Excerpts)
Beethoven: Creatures of Prometheus (The), Op. 43
Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Op.20
Kraus: Ballet Music
Stravinsky: Le Baiser De La Fee / Tchaikovsky: Bluebird Pax De Deux
