… or The Three-Cornered Hat, if you’d prefer.
Given its roots in Spanish folk music, in flamenco and its cante jondo [deep song], it’s rather surprising to discover that the first complete performance of Manuel de Falla’s ballet was given in the Alhambra Theatre in London.
The reason? Between 1918 and 1922 – in the aftermath of the First World War and the Russian Revolution – Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes decided to base themselves in the relative safety and financial security of United Kingdom. And so the 1919 premières of Le tricorne (El sombrero de tres picos was first performed under this, its French title) and Respighi’s arrangement(?) of Rossini, La Boutique Fantasque, took place in the West End, on Leicester Square
After the opening flourish and the cante jondo, the ballet begins…
w
Course materials:
Part 3 of the Daphnis libretto/themes is now available for viewing below and for download from the box on the right.
Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as “fair use/dealing”, for the purpose of study, and critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of the copyright owner(s).
The Art of Listening 