The ballets of Ludwig Minkus.

9781847184238

The ballets of Ludwig Minkus.

Letellier, Robert Ignatius.

Cambridge Scholars Publishing

2008

414 pages

$59.99

Hardcover

ML410

Minkus was highly influential in the Imperial ballet world of late-19th-century Russia, but he remains a shadowy figure. Letellier, a scholar of English literature and European Romantic opera and ballet, assembles what is known about his life, his career, and his work. The first section looks at his life, the reception of his ballets during his time, and their performance during the 20th century. Then he sets out the scenarios for 20 ballets, sometimes with photographs, and supplementary material. The final section focuses on the music, first generally with discussions of melody, dance forms and rhythms, orchestration, and other characteristics of style; then the music of four example ballets.

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