Knowledge Builders

what is the meaning of la sylphide

by Rose Morissette Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

La Sylphide (English: The Sylph; Danish: Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts.

Where is La Sylphide set?

Who played the role of La Sylphide?

Why did Taglioni design La Sylphide?

When was La Sylphide first performed?

Who was the principal actor in La Sylphide?

Who composed the music for La Sylphide?

What is the storyline of the Mountain Sylph based on?

See 4 more

About this website

image

What does La Sylphide mean in English?

The SylphLa Sylphide (English: The Sylph; Danish: Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts.

What is the story behind La Sylphide?

The story of La Sylphide concerns a young Scotsman, James, who is about to be married to Effie. The morning of the wedding day, James is dozing in a chair by the fire when a Sylphide appears beside him and wakens him with an airy kiss. She dances for him before she vanishes up the chimney.

What is the moral of La Sylphide?

La Sylphide is not one of Bournonville's rollicking ballets. Set in Scotland, it's a sad and moral story about the temptations of exoticism and the rewards of staying at home.

Why is La Sylphide important?

La Sylphide was the first major Romantic ballet and it is one of the oldest still regularly performed. Its story derives from the Romantic Period, more exactly from the obsessive stories of French writer Charles Nodier.

Who created La Sylphide?

Filippo TaglioniAugust Bournonville's La Sylphide, one of the oldest ballets in existence, was born from an 1832 French ballet by Filippo Taglioni which signalled the dawn of a new, Romantic era of ballet.

How do you pronounce La Sylphide?

0:290:58SYLPHIDE - HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT!? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSulphide I will repeat it more slower sulphide sulphide that's all thanks for watching if you likeMoreSulphide I will repeat it more slower sulphide sulphide that's all thanks for watching if you like this video please subscribe to my channel if you want to share your opinion.

When was La Sylphide invented?

1832discussed in biography. …and Filippo created his famous La Sylphide for her in 1832, the first of the “ballets blancs,” or Romantic “white ballets.”

What is the difference between Les Sylphides and La Sylphide?

​Les Sylphides, not to be confused with La Sylphide (a Romantic two-act ballet choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836) is considered the first plotless, or abstract, ballet.

Who composed the music for La Sylphide ballet?

Hermann LovenskjoldLa Sylphide is one of the classic themes of romantic ballet, a story of a Scotsman enticed away from his wedding celebrations by a winged spirit (the Sylphide)....Tracks:CompositionArtist Credit(La) SylphideHermann Lovenskjold, Composer David Garforth, Conductor Hermann Lovenskjold, Composer Royal Danish Orchestra

What is the story behind Giselle?

The ghost-filled ballet tells the tragic, romantic story of a beautiful young peasant girl who falls for the flirtations of the deceitful and disguised nobleman Albrecht. When the ruse is revealed, the fragile Giselle dies of heartbreak, and Albrecht must face the otherworldly consequences of his careless seduction.

What makes a ballet Romantic?

Romantic ballets emphasize emotion and storytelling—elements that elevate the performance art beyond classical ballet's focus on form.

The Story of La Sylphide — Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

La Sylphide | ballet by Filippo Taglioni | Britannica

Other articles where La Sylphide is discussed: stagecraft: Costume of the 18th and 19th centuries: …ballet with a production of La Sylphide. Eugène Lami designed a muslin dress, an ethereal costume that became the new uniform of the classical dancer, for Marie Taglioni, the greatest dancer of her day.

Les Sylphides - the Ballet

This ballet, because of its name, is quite often confused with La Sylphide. The two are quite different, in fact. Les Sylphides was originally called Chopiniana, after Chopin, the composer who wrote the music.

La Sylphide - the Ballet

Act I: La Sylphide takes place in Scotland. James is sitting in an armchair at the fireside at the dawn of the day of his marriage to Effie. Near him a winged spirit, a sylphide, (sylph), appears, gazes at him with love, and wakes him with a kiss.

What is the plot of La Sylphide?

Plot Summary of La Sylphide. On the morning of his wedding day, a Scottish farmer named James falls in love with a vision of a magical sylph, or spirit. An old witch appears before him, predicting that he will betray his fiancee. Although enchanted by the sylph, James disagrees, sending the witch away.

What is the meaning of the ballet La Sylphide?

Sylph is a mythological creature or spirit. The ballet tells the story of an impossible love between a human and a spirit, and man's inherent temptation for the unknown and sometimes dangerous life. La Sylphide remains a captivating, fascinating ballet that appeals to both audiences and dancers. It offers something different than your typical romantic ballet due to the infusion of the sylph and the witch.

What does Sylph offer James?

He chases the sylph into the woods, where he again sees the old witch. She offers James a magical scarf. She tells him that the scarf will bind the sylph's wings, enabling him to catch her for himself. James is so enamored by the sylph that he wishes to catch her and keep her forever.

Who choreographed the ballet La Sylphide?

One of the first romantic ballets, La Sylphide was first performed in Paris in 1832. The original choreographer of the ballet was Philippe Taglioni, but most people are more familiar with the version of the show that was choreographed by August Bournonville.

What does James do when he sees the Sylph?

James is so enamored by the sylph that he wishes to catch her and keep her forever. James decides to take the magical scarf. He wraps it around the sylph's shoulders, but when he does, the Sylph's wings fall off and she dies. James is left all alone, heartbroken.

What does Sylph do in the forest?

In a sunnier part of the woodlands, the sylph and her friends dance for James, showing him their beautiful home, showering him with the sweet fruits that grow there, and refreshing him with the waters that flow through. He joins them but ultimately, they begin to flee to other parts of the forest. He endeavors to capture the one he loves, but ever-elusive, the sylph escapes him again.

Who choreographed the ballet La Sylphide?

An epitome of the romantic ballet genre, LA SYLPHIDE is also one of the oldest surviving ballets. The version choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836 is still performed, most prominently by the company for which he choreographed it for – The Royal Danish Ballet.

What is the story of La Sylphide?

Its story derives from the Romantic Period, more exactly from the obsessive stories of French writer Charles Nodier. In Nodier’s universe life would invariably “fluctuate between bliss and despair; the dream cannot be sustained for very long” and sorrow was “the only logical alternative to ecstasy, the only emotion to carry similar intensity”.  Thus, the Romantic concept of an unfortunate hero, forever chasing an elusive, supernatural force and ultimately facing a tragic destiny.

Who composed the music for La Sylphide?

Instantly recognizing its potential as a vehicle for his virtuoso daughter Taglioni commissioned music from Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhöffer and the ballet premiered on 12 March 1832. La Sylphide became an instant classic and cemented Marie Taglioni’s reputation as the most ethereal of ballerinas.

What is the second act of The Sylph and James?

The second act opens with Madge and her coven dancing around a boiling cauldron, out of which Madge pulls a scarf. The Sylph and James appear. She shows him her world, summoning other Sylphs to entertain him. He declares his love for her. They all dance together but she always evades his grasp. Frustrated he encounters Madge who – feigning good intentions – gives him the scarf and tells him to use it as a means to capture the Sylph.

Why did the ballet master re-choreograph La Sylphide?

He re-choreographed the ballet to suit his own abilities as a virtuoso dancer, thus giving a bigger role to the character of James, full of mighty leaps, turns and challenging beaten steps.

Who plays Madge in La Sylphide?

Jette Buchwald as Madge and Mads Blangstrup as James in RDB's La Sylphide. Photo: David Amzallag / RDB ©

Who borrowed the concept of the Sylph from previous 18 th century ballets?

Nourrit borrowed the concept of the Sylph from previous 18 th century ballets, only here he gave the Sylph more personality, making her a leading character. He also looked to Sir Walter Scott ’s The Heart of Midlothian for the names Effie and Madge and possibly to Shakespeare’s Macbeth for the witches.

Is La Sylphide still performed?

La Sylphide is claimed to be one of the oldest Romantic ballets and is still regularly performed . interestingly enough, there were two versions and only the remake survived. Of course I could tell the whole story and drama here but others have done that way better, so let me redirect you to Emilia of The Ballet Bag.

Why did Bournonville write La Sylphide?

The only reason Bournonville came up with his own take on La Sylphide was because the Paris Opera demanded too much money for the score by Jean-Madelina Schneitzhoeffer.

Who plays James in La Sylphide?

Jurgita Dronina as The Sylph and Isaac Hernández as James in La Sylphide English National Ballet

Act I

It’s wedding-day morning for James, a young Scottish farmer. As he dozes in a chair before the fire, a Sylph dances around him, but when he awakens, she disappears. James asks his friend Gürn about the mysterious creature, but Gürn didn’t see anything. The wedding guests and James’s bride, Effy, arrive.

ACT II

As James enjoys more time with the Sylph and her followers in the forest, he becomes increasingly frustrated that he can’t hold her in his arms. In search of a solution, he comes upon Madge, who gives him a magical scarf that will help his dream come true.

Where is La Sylphide set?

Matthew Bourne created an updated version of La Sylphide in his 1994 production, Highland Fling. This is set in contemporary Scotland (of the 1990s) and uses the original score by Herman Severin Løvenskiold.

Who played the role of La Sylphide?

Emma Livry in the title role of the Taglioni/Schneitzhoeffer La Sylphide. Paris, 1862

Why did Taglioni design La Sylphide?

Taglioni designed the work as a showcase for his daughter Marie. La Sylphide was the first ballet where dancing en pointe had an aesthetic rationale and was not merely an acrobatic stunt, often involving ungraceful arm movements and exertions, as had been the approach of dancers in the late 1820s. Marie was known for shortening her skirts in the performance of La Sylphide (to show off her excellent pointe work), which was considered highly scandalous at the time.

When was La Sylphide first performed?

On 12 March 1832 the first version of La Sylphide premiered at the Salle Le Peletier of the Paris Opéra with choreography by the groundbreaking Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni and music by Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhoeffer.

Who was the principal actor in La Sylphide?

In the end, Bournonville mounted his own production of La Sylphide based on the original libretto, with music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold. The premiere took place on 28 November 1836, with the prodigy Lucile Grahn and Bournonville in the principal roles.

Who composed the music for La Sylphide?

In 1892, Marius Petipa mounted a revival of Taglioni's original La Sylphide for the Imperial Ballet, with additional music by Riccardo Drigo. A variation Drigo composed for the ballerina Varvara Nikitina in Petipa's version is today the traditional solo danced by the lead ballerina of the famous Paquita Grand Pas Classique.

What is the storyline of the Mountain Sylph based on?

John Barnett 's 1834 opera The Mountain Sylph is based on the storyline of La Sylphide; this opera's plot was in turn satirized by W. S. Gilbert in the 1882 Savoy opera, Iolanthe.

image

1.La Sylphide - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Sylphide

22 hours ago Wikipedia (0.00 / 0 votes) Rate this definition: La Sylphide. La Sylphide (English: The Sylph; Danish: Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts. There were two versions of the ballet; the original …

2.What does la sylphide mean? - definitions

Url:https://www.definitions.net/definition/la+sylphide

22 hours ago The meaning of SYLPHID is a young or diminutive sylph.

3.La Sylphide | Ballet Story, Characters, Music

Url:https://www.balletherald.com/la-sylphide-ballet/

13 hours ago 3) The beauty of youth. Bournonville himself originally wanted to do a revival of Taglioni’s 1832 version of the ballet. The only reason Bournonville came up with his own take on La Sylphide …

4.Sylphid Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Url:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sylphid

17 hours ago The Story of La Sylphide. A Magical World of Forbidden Love. Bournonville’s La Sylphide is part of SF Ballet’s 2022 Season. It was performed in Program 4 from March 15–20, 2022.

5.La Sylphide | The Ballet Bag

Url:http://www.theballetbag.com/2010/02/10/la-sylphide/

27 hours ago La Sylphide (English: The Sylph; Danish: Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts. There were two versions of the ballet; the original choreographed by Filippo Taglioni in 1832, and a second …

6.Five things about La Sylpide — Google Arts & Culture

Url:https://artsandculture.google.com/story/jQVhgwnB263ikg

35 hours ago La Sylphide is the first major Romantic Ballet, and it's still being performed regularly. Its story is rooted in the Romantic Period and more precisely the obsessive stories by Charles Nodier, a …

7.The Story of La Sylphide - San Francisco Ballet

Url:https://www.sfballet.org/the-story-of-la-sylphide/

7 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9