Original id:
10790
Start date:
1 January 1781
Degree of relationship to ancient play:
Distant relative
Production notes:
This work, described as 'a serious dance', was an afterpiece at performances of the opera Giunio Bruto. The libretto for the opera contains, on the last three pages, a list of Dramatis Personae for the ballet and its synopsis. The ballet begins with Admeto and Alceste celebrating their wedding anniversary in a temple, when the celebratory atmosphere is overshadowed by the oracle that Admeto must die or someone in his stead. From then onwards the story follows the familiar outline. The production seems to have drawn heavily on spectacle, with the oracle spelt out in 'letters of fire' amidst thunder and flashes of lightning, above the altar itself engulfed in fire. Noverre's work for this production was doubtless informed by his contribution to Gluck's opera Alceste in Vienna in 1767 (see Production ID 5912).
Media of production:
Choreographic work (dance, ballet, mime etc)
Languages:
English
Italian