The mythology inspired ballet Sylvia, is a three-act ballet set to the music of French Composer Lo Delibes. Often considered to be one of Delibes's greatest musical works, this ballet made its debut in 1876 in Paris. The inspiration for the ballet's story is believed to be the 1573 pastoral play 'Aminta' by Italian poet Torquato Tasso. It premiered at the Palais Garnier in Paris on June 14th 1876 was unfortunately met with a poor reception and subsequent productions of the ballet were also largely unsuccessful.
It wasn't until 1952 that Sylvia received greater acclaim and wider appeal, when legendary dancer and choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton resurrected the ballet. Critics however found the plotline too complicated, so Ashton reworked Sylvia into a one-act ballet but finally gave up on it in 1965. Ashton had expressed a desire to rework Sylvia once more into a three-act ballet and in 2001 a former student of Ashton's, Christopher Newton, realized his vision and recreated Sylvia into a three-act ballet with a less complicated narrative. The ballet has been performed in recent times and met with a better reception.
Sylvia has a pastoral theme and this is reflected in the ballet's opening act that features a minor cast of nymphs, dryads, fauns and goats. The main characters are of course the ballet's huntress protagonist Sylvia and Aminta, a young shepherd boy who is in love with Sylvia. The God of love Eros and Goddess of hunting Diana also feature along with the hunter Orion who appears as the villain in the story.
The first Act of Sylvia - A Sacred Wood - introduces us to all the main characters in the ballet. The ballet begins with a scene featuring the various woodland spirits and creatures dancing for Eros - the God of love. The huntress nymph Sylvia arrives with her hunt attendants and they begin to mock the ritual they see before them. Aminta, a young shepherd boy who is in love with Sylvia is hidden watching the whole episode unfold. Seeing someone hidden in the bushes Sylvia shoots an arrow not knowing it is Aminta but her arrow injures both Eros and Aminta. Also hidden in the bushes watching is Orion who is also in love with Sylvia he seizes the opportunity to kidnap Sylvia in the ensuing commotion and takes her away to his cave.
In the second Act of Sylvia, entitled Orion's Island Cave, we find Sylvia being held against her will by Orion. Sylvia refuses all of Orion's attempts to win her over and hatches a plan to get him drunk so she can escape. She appeals to the God of love Eros for help and he appears along with a vision for Sylvia of Aminta waiting for her at Diana's temple. Eros helps Sylvia to escape taking her to the temple to be reunited with Aminta.
The Sea Coast Near The Temple Of Diana is the title of the third act and it is here we see Sylvia and Aminta reunited. Orion is not far behind Sylvia though and when he also arrives at the temple he begins to fight with Aminta. In the ensuing confusion Orion enters the shrine of Diana, which is strictly forbidden and the enraged Goddess refuses to give Aminta and Sylvia her blessing. However Eros restores harmony be showing Diana a vision of her own first love who was also a shepherd boy. The memory makes Diana relent and Sylvia and Aminta are free to love one another with the blessing of the Gods. - 42265
It wasn't until 1952 that Sylvia received greater acclaim and wider appeal, when legendary dancer and choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton resurrected the ballet. Critics however found the plotline too complicated, so Ashton reworked Sylvia into a one-act ballet but finally gave up on it in 1965. Ashton had expressed a desire to rework Sylvia once more into a three-act ballet and in 2001 a former student of Ashton's, Christopher Newton, realized his vision and recreated Sylvia into a three-act ballet with a less complicated narrative. The ballet has been performed in recent times and met with a better reception.
Sylvia has a pastoral theme and this is reflected in the ballet's opening act that features a minor cast of nymphs, dryads, fauns and goats. The main characters are of course the ballet's huntress protagonist Sylvia and Aminta, a young shepherd boy who is in love with Sylvia. The God of love Eros and Goddess of hunting Diana also feature along with the hunter Orion who appears as the villain in the story.
The first Act of Sylvia - A Sacred Wood - introduces us to all the main characters in the ballet. The ballet begins with a scene featuring the various woodland spirits and creatures dancing for Eros - the God of love. The huntress nymph Sylvia arrives with her hunt attendants and they begin to mock the ritual they see before them. Aminta, a young shepherd boy who is in love with Sylvia is hidden watching the whole episode unfold. Seeing someone hidden in the bushes Sylvia shoots an arrow not knowing it is Aminta but her arrow injures both Eros and Aminta. Also hidden in the bushes watching is Orion who is also in love with Sylvia he seizes the opportunity to kidnap Sylvia in the ensuing commotion and takes her away to his cave.
In the second Act of Sylvia, entitled Orion's Island Cave, we find Sylvia being held against her will by Orion. Sylvia refuses all of Orion's attempts to win her over and hatches a plan to get him drunk so she can escape. She appeals to the God of love Eros for help and he appears along with a vision for Sylvia of Aminta waiting for her at Diana's temple. Eros helps Sylvia to escape taking her to the temple to be reunited with Aminta.
The Sea Coast Near The Temple Of Diana is the title of the third act and it is here we see Sylvia and Aminta reunited. Orion is not far behind Sylvia though and when he also arrives at the temple he begins to fight with Aminta. In the ensuing confusion Orion enters the shrine of Diana, which is strictly forbidden and the enraged Goddess refuses to give Aminta and Sylvia her blessing. However Eros restores harmony be showing Diana a vision of her own first love who was also a shepherd boy. The memory makes Diana relent and Sylvia and Aminta are free to love one another with the blessing of the Gods. - 42265
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