This site introduces unknown composer Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach). This English version was translated from Japanese one by ChatGPT.
I asked ChatGPT4o: “Tchaikovskyʼs ballets are often performed as ballets, but Stravinskyʼs ballets are usually performed in concerts without the ballet. Why is that?”
Thatʼs a very insightful question.
The difference in the "form of performance" between Tchaikovskyʼs and Stravinskyʼs ballet music can be explained by several historical and aesthetic factors. Here are the main ones:
Tchaikovskyʼs ballets (such as “Swan Lake,” “The Sleeping Beauty,” and “The Nutcracker”) have very straightforward fairy tale-like plots and are rich in visual appeal with lavish stage sets and costumes. Therefore, the narrative and visual presentation are essential, and performances as ballets are emphasized.
On the other hand, Stravinskyʼs ballets (such as “The Rite of Spring,” “The Firebird,” and “Petrushka”) emphasize rhythm, sound effects, and abstract symbolism over narrative, and visual presentation is not necessarily essential. Especially in “The Rite of Spring,” the original choreography (by Nijinsky) was not well-received, and the music alone came to be highly regarded.
Stravinskyʼs music is highly independent and leaves a strong impression even on its own. Therefore, even without being performed as a ballet, the music alone is often seen as a complete work of art.
Conversely, while Tchaikovskyʼs ballet music is beautiful, it is rare for the entire piece to be performed in concert without the ballet, and it is generally excerpted as a suite.
Stravinskyʼs ballets require very challenging choreography and demand modern and abstract expression, necessitating high artistic standards and investment for re-performance. In contrast, many ballet companies have Tchaikovskyʼs ballets in their repertoire, and the know-how for re-performance is well-established.
Stravinskyʼs ballets are considered revolutionary works of 20th-century music and form a core part of the concert repertoire, often treated as symphonic works rather than "ballet music."
For example, “The Firebird,” “Petrushka,” and “The Rite of Spring” have **concert arrangements (suites)** separate from the original ballet versions, which are often performed. These do not follow the balletʼs flow but extract musically effective parts.
In summary,
Tchaikovskyʼs ballets emphasize "the narrative and visual appeal on stage,"
while Stravinskyʼs ballets focus on "the music itself,"
which explains the difference.
If youʼre interested, I can also introduce examples of Stravinskyʼs ballets being re-performed as ballets (such as Pina Bauschʼs version of “The Rite of Spring”).
I asked ChatGPT4o: “Why is the choreography of Stravinskyʼs ballets considered very difficult?”
Thatʼs a very good point.
The reasons why the choreography of Stravinskyʼs ballets is considered "very difficult" include the following musical, structural, and physical reasons. Letʼs look at each one:
Stravinsky is particularly famous for “The Rite of Spring,” where the meter changes frequently, and **irregular meters (e.g., 5/8, 7/8, 11/16, etc.)** are used.
The rhythmic center is constantly shifting, and accents are intentionally displaced, making it difficult for dancers to feel the beat and synchronize their movements.
Example: In “The Rite of Spring,” the "Sacrificial Dance (Danse sacrale)" features a rhythmic structure that changes meter every few measures.
In Stravinskyʼs music, the "appearance" and "sound" of the music often do not match.
Even if the score appears orderly, in reality, **polyrhythms (multiple different rhythms progressing simultaneously) and hemiolas (cross-rhythms)** are frequently used, causing a discrepancy in "perception" between dancers and choreographers.
In Nijinskyʼs version of “The Rite of Spring,” instead of standing on tiptoe, movements like stomping with turned-in feet were used extensively, which is the opposite of the graceful and flowing movements of classical ballet.
To match the primitive and wild energy of Stravinskyʼs music, the choreography also requires athletic and impactful movements. As a result, the dance becomes physically and mentally very demanding.
Tchaikovskyʼs ballets have clear narratives that dancers can follow. However, Stravinskyʼs ballets (especially “The Rite of Spring”) often contain symbolic and abstract content, requiring dancers to perform according to the "musical structure" rather than emotions or narrative.
Therefore, choreographers need high compositional and musical analysis skills, and dancers face the challenge of "dancing" the structure.
Nijinskyʼs choreography for the premiere (1913) was heavily criticized as "not matching the music" and was long considered impossible to restore (though reconstructed versions now exist).
In other words, the difficulty of the choreography was historically recognized and not easily passed down.
Stravinskyʼs music is challenging in terms of rhythm, meter, structure, and aesthetics,
and "dancing to show" this complexity with the body itself is extremely difficult.
If you wish, I can also introduce specific examples of choreography, such as the differences between Nijinskyʼs and Pina Bauschʼs versions of “The Rite of Spring.”
I asked ChatGPT4o: “Has Stravinskyʼs ballet ever been performed as a ballet and highly praised?”
Yes, there are many historical and contemporary examples where Stravinskyʼs ballets have been performed "as ballets" and highly praised. Here are some representative examples:
The 1913 premiere in Paris (choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky) is famously known as a **"scandal."** The audience caused such an uproar that the music could not be heard, as both the choreography and music were too radical for the time.
However, subsequent performances with new choreography (e.g., by Maurice Béjart, Merce Cunningham) were highly praised. Notably:
👉 Extremely high praise and establishment**
Directed and choreographed by the German contemporary dance master, Pina Bausch.
The performance, where dancers move primitively on a stage covered with soil, is said to express the wildness and essence of the music through the body, and is now considered one of the "definitive versions" of “The Rite of Spring” worldwide.
It has been highly praised since its premiere and is still re-performed by many ballet companies around the world.
French choreographer Béjart had a strong interest in Stravinskyʼs music and added symbolic and visual interpretations to reconstruct it.
Especially in “The Firebird,” he revived the visual appeal of the ballet and was highly praised for modernly realizing the fusion of music and dance.
Many prestigious ballet companies have incorporated “The Rite of Spring,” “Petrushka,” and “The Firebird” into their repertoire as ballets.
At events like the Igor Stravinsky International Competition, numerous creative ballets using these ballet scores have appeared, receiving high praise as deep interpretations of the music and fusion with dance.
Stravinskyʼs ballets were controversial at the time of their premiere,
but over time they have been "rediscovered and reconstructed as ballets,"
and there are now many highly praised performances.
If youʼre interested, I can also look up specific information on "which ballet companyʼs" and "which choreographerʼs" performances are available on video.