Arthur Saint-Leon’s The Little Humpbacked Horse in Context
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Date
2011-06
Authors
Manela, Aaron Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
In this study I examine representations of antisemitism, fantasy, and cultural
imperialism in the 1864 ballet The Little Humpbacked Horse, composed by Cesare Pugni
and choreographed by Arthur Saint-Leon. As the creative team adapted the story from
verse to ballet, they literally morphed the titular character into new fantastical forms.
They also added Jewish, Muslim, and other oriental characters and ended the ballet with a
parade of the Russian nations. Drawing on the works of Richard S. Wortman, Julie
Kalman, and Roger Bartra, I place these transformations in the context of a larger
Russian ambivalence around the shift from a rural and woodland economy to an urban
one, the inclusion of Eastern provinces in the rapidly expanding nation, and the
emancipation – and inclusion of – internal minorities. I then explain how the music,
choreography, and focus of the ballet change as the relevance of these mid-nineteenth
century concerns fades.
Description
x, 91 p. : ill., music
Keywords
Music, Dance, Russian history, Alexander II, Emperor of Russia, 1818-1881, Little humpbacked horse, Konek Gorbunok, Shchedrin, Rodion Konstantinovich, 1932- Konek-gorbunok, Pugni, Cesare, 1802-1870, Saint-Leon, Arthur, 1821-1870, Tsar Maiden